Two Day Magazine

Between the holiday events, parties and social gatherings, a couple has to plan a quiet evening.

Now that you’ve found a special night with your honey, what should you eat?  How about pizza?  No, it’s not what you’re thinking.  It doesn’t take a lot of time, it’s economical and you don’t have to wait for a delivery person.  Yes, you CAN make your own pizza!

This does involve a bit of planning but most cities have a bakery or a grocery store that sells pre-made dough balls for pizza.  In Pittsburgh, I suggest Mancini’s in the Strip District, McKees Rocks or Market Square in downtown Pittsburgh for a proper dough ball to speed the process along.  Not interested in pre-made dough?  Try this link to making dough but plan on having your pizza in about 1 ½ hours.

Dough balls are the way to go on this one!

Enjoy this recipe for thin crust pizza with garlic, tomato, basil, ricotta cheese and balsamic reduction!

Ingredients:

• One (1) Plain flour dough ball  - the weight might vary depending where you decide to purchase your dough ball but they usually are about a pound

• 2 tablespoons of basil (fresh is best but dried will also work.)

• 2 tablespoons of garlic

• 1 tablespoon of virgin olive oil

• 1 tomato of choice

• 6-8oz of ricotta cheese

• Balsamic reduction and salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

• Pre-heat the oven to 500-degrees

• Place a small amount of flour on clean counter top

• Place your dough ball in the middle of the flour

• Using a rolling pin or your hands, apply pressure to spread the dough ball out into a circle ( circle is best but be creative with your design and you can really surprise your honey). Dough conforms easily by gently applying pressure and then letting the dough relax.

• Once you have shaped your crust, move the dough to a large pan or a pizza stone and apply your olive oil.

• Add garlic.

• Add basil.

• Add ricotta cheese.

• Top your pizza with thinly slice tomatoes.

• Place into the oven and bake for 20-mins until the crust is golden brown; NOTE: all ovens cook at different temperatures;  500-degrees in your oven may be 475-degrees in another oven. This will make a difference in cooking time so the color of your crust is the best indicator of when your pizza is done.

• Remove the pizza from the oven and coat liberally with the balsamic reduction as well as a light coating of kosher salt and coarse pepper.

• Your pizza is now ready to be served! This entire process should take less than 20 minutes, cost less than $4.00 and no tip necessary! (Well, you can always kiss the cook!)

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