Pizza Pizza

I was planning a Sunday-night-in together with my husband (and a old Woody Allen film), and needed a simple not-so-ordinary dinner idea. My sister-in-law (thanks, Rivky!) gave me her always-awesome pizza dough recipe, and within 5 spare minutes- i spruced it up a bit to give Freida a fully nutritionally balanced meal in one slice of pizza, and a comfort-food treat for Manasseh. The Pizza Dough Recipe:

- 2 packets dry Yeast

- 1 cup lukewarm Water

- 2 teaspoons Sugar

- 5 cups Flour (I used 2 regular, 3 whole wheat)

- 1⁄2 teaspoon Salt

- 4 tablespoons Oil

- 1 cup Apple Juice

I used a small bowl to dissolve the yeast in the water, added the sugar, and let that sit and bubble. Meanwhile, I fitted my Mixer with the dough hook, and put together the rest of the ingredients, pouring the apple juice and yeast mixture in together and started the machine. Let it mix until there is no more dry flour, and then let it get kneaded a bit too. Oil a large bowl, put the dough in, and cover with a towel to rise.

When you are ready to make the pizza, cut your dough to separate it (it can make 3 medium pies), stretch the dough, set it onto a baking tray (or whatever you intend to bake it on), and poke holes with a fork. Layer the sauce and cheese, and bake for about 20-30 minutes on °350 (you may want to bake the dough alone for about 5 minutes before topping it if your like crisper pizza).

For Freida I steamed a bag of broccoli, mashed it with a fork, and mixed it up with the pizza sauce. I spread that on the pizza, topped with mozzarella cheese, sprinkled it with some salt and oregano - and she devoured it!! I froze the rest of that great broccoli sauce to use later (over pasta, pizza bagel etc.). You can do this with any vegetable - just steam, puree, and mix with the sauce!

For Manasseh, I cut up some of our favorite pizza veggies, some fresh basil (i had leftover from a pesto for shabbos), and topped with mozzarella, parmesan, salt, oregano, and some crushed red pepper flakes --- totally kicked! Threw together a salad, and viola!

dough after rising...

Broccoli sauce...

Finished pies...