21 | 05 | 2012
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Flag Day Pizza

For the Pizza Dough 2 cups warm water (105 -110-degrees) 2 packages active dry yeast 1 teaspoon honey 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 teaspoons salt 4-4 1/3 cups all-purpose flour For the Topping 1 cup prepared pizza sauce 1 package (8 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese, divided 6-8 extra-large pitted black olives, halved 1/4 pound thinly sliced pepperoni Vegetarian Variation For the Pizza Dough 2 cups warm water (105 -110-degrees) 2 packages active dry yeast 1 teaspoon honey 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 teaspoons salt 4-4 1/3 cups all-purpose flour For the Vegetarian Topping 1 cup prepared pizza sauce 1 package (8 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese, divided 6-8 extra-large pitted black olives, halved Making the Dough In a large bowl, combine water, yeast and honey; let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. Stir in oil and salt. Using a large wooden spoon, stir in 4 cups flour, a little at a time, until a soft dough forms. Transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, 8-10 minutes, adding just enough flour to prevent stickiness. Grease a large bowl. Transfer dough to the prepared bowl, turning to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, 1-1/2-2 hours. Assembling and Baking the Pizza Preheat oven to 450-degrees. Grease a 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan. Punch down dough; turn onto a lightly floured surface. Roll dough into a large rectangle; transfer dough to the prepared pan. Using your fingers, press dough to the edges of the pan. 818 Spoon sauce onto dough, leaving about a 1/2-inch border around edges. Sprinkle 1/2 cup mozzarella over the sauce in a 5-inch square in the top left corner of pizza. Arrange olives on cheese square to resemble the stars on a flag. Arrange pepperoni and remaining mozzarella in alternating horizontal stripes to cover the rest of pizza. Bake pizza until cheese is melted and crust is browned, 12-14 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack; cool for 5 minutes. Transfer pizza to a cutting board; cut and serve immediately. Making the Dough In a large bowl, combine water, yeast and honey; let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. Stir in oil and salt. Using a large wooden spoon, stir in 4 cups flour, a little at a time, until a soft dough forms. Transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, 8-10 minutes, adding just enough flour to prevent stickiness. Grease a large bowl. Transfer dough to the prepared bowl, turning to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, 1 1/2-2 hours. Assembling and Baking the Pizza Preheat oven to 450-degrees. Grease a 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan. Punch down dough; turn onto a lightly floured surface. Roll dough into a large rectangle; transfer dough to the prepared pan. Using your fingers, press dough to the edges of the pan. Spoon sauce onto dough, leaving about a 1/2-inch border around edges. Sprinkle 1/2 cup mozzarella over the sauce in a 5-inch square in the top left corner of pizza. Arrange olives on cheese square to resemble the stars on a flag. Arrange pepperoni and remaining mozzarella in alternating horizontal stripes to cover the rest of pizza. Bake pizza until cheese is melted and crust is browned, 12-14 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack; cool for 5 minutes. Transfer pizza to a cutting board; cut and serve immediately.