friday night = pizza night

We have started a little tradition around here.  For the last few months most Friday nights are "pizza nights".  Homemade pizza nights.

It is easier than you might think. During the summer months we grill them on the barbecue- yummmm.  I use my bread maker to mix and knead the dough.  The cycle takes 1 hour and 20 minutes and makes two crusts. I just dump in the ingredients and wait for the beep that tells me it is done. I know that bread makers have kind of gone out of fashion these days.  They are plentiful at thrift and second hand stores for less than $10- but I love mine and use it a lot. Here is the recipe that I use for the crust:

1 cup + 2 TBS water

2 T olive oil

1.5 cups of whole wheat bread flour (regular whole wheat flour works too)

1.5 cups of white bread flour

1 tsp sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp (approx) Italian seasoning

2 T grated Parmesan cheese

2.5 tsp yeast (for bread machines)

Place ingredients in the machine in the order listed.  Use the dough cycle which will knead and allow for rising. Remove dough and divide in two.  Roll each section out according to the thickness that you prefer and top with favorite toppings.  Bake 400 degrees for 15-20 min. ** Bread machines vary and you may have to adjust the water and flour measurements.

I just use the ready made sauce in the jar (how "un-Martha" I know) and our favorite toppings include canadian bacon and pineapple for the kids and tomatoes, artichokes, fresh basil and mozzarella for the adults.  Recently, we invested in a pizza stone- although I don't really notice any major improvements in the taste of the crust.  The round pizza baking sheets work fine too. 

The girls really look forward to pizza night and are starting to get creative with it.  Tonight Hannah asked me if there was any way that we could incorporate shrimp on to her side of the "kid" pizza.  I told her I would have to think about that one.

Cheers to Fridays and preparing/eating wholesome homemade meals together!