Friday night

is Pizza night

 

Do you ever watch those adverts on the telly where a group of twenty somethings are all sitting around watching football on the idiot box, when one of them has that brilliant idea that to order 12 pizzas and to get them delivered would be just the best idea ever?

 

 

GET A LIFE WHY DON'T YOU !

 

Did you know, that in the UK. now, they have a phone app. that allows you to search takeaway food outlets in your area, search their menus and order and get the "food" delivered to you door. What the hell is the world coming to ?  As far as I can remember, when I was young, a fish and chip shop was all you got, and you had to get off your arse to go outside (heaven forbid) to buy it. I still do love my fish and chips and am always on a quest to find the ultimate fish and chip shop. My younger brother is quite an aficionado of the fish and chippy and bought a book that rated, by the star system, the eateries of the UK. who provided this sumptuous meal, I've tried a few, and believe me, this particular British delicacy takes some beating.

 

I make pizzas usually here on a Friday evening. It is dead simple and saves you a shedload of money, AND what's more, you know what's in it !! 

 

This Friday, why don't you have a go ? (doesn't have to be a friday by the way) anytime will do. There's plenty of recipes out there, but this is what I do.

 

Pizza base.

 

375 grams bread flour. or I use plain fine flour.

5 grams quick bread yeast

2 pinches salt

about 30 grams olive oil made up to 262 grams with water.

 

Chuck the whole lot together and mix first before you start to knead the dough as you would bread.  I  don't knead too much, just enough to make sure all ingredients are evenly distributed and the resulting dough is smooth.

Let rest to increase in size a bit. Then put your fist in the risen mass to expel the air and then divide into three (about 220 grams each lump) and on a well floured board roll out to your required thickness (my lot like thin crust) mine are about 12 to 14 inches in diameter, place on a metal baking tray, or rather 3 trays and preheat the oven to about 220 deg C.

 

When we were on holiday this year, a pizza van came to the site once a week. This guy made pizzas to die for, he had a largish van with a wood fired oven stuck in the back and he had a menu of all the different pizzas he made (about 20 in all). All the pizzas had their toppings listed, so I borrowed one of these menus to give me inspiration here at home. Usually we just buy the tomato sauce if my stock of home made has been exhausted, cheese, onions, peppers and thin Italian ham and let everybody make their own, usually adding a load more different stuff if they wish (pineapple is a no no !) perhaps a sprinkling of blue cheese lumps or sausage, whatever takes your fancy!! One of my favourites is Creme Fraiche mixed with lightly boiled onions and small chunks of cooked potatoes, together with grated cheese of choice and small pieces of thin smoked bacon, lather that lot on top of your base and get a taste of eastern France. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

 

10 mins. in the oven should be long enough, just make sure the base is cooked through. I always have a few chips with mine cos I'm English and have no sense of food finesse so I've been told.

 

 

 

That's my lads pizza (cheese, tomato and a few peppers)

 

 

 my dearest wife's with and without rocket ( with asparagus spears)

 

 

 

mine with a bit of black pudding  (thought I'd try it out) tomato sauce, cheese and thin bacon.

 

5 minutes for the base

10 minutes to put the thing together

10 minutes cooking

That is quicker than waiting for the pizza delivery boy !!!!

Have a go, I bet you won't regret it.