{"id":58,"date":"2021-03-28T18:17:25","date_gmt":"2021-03-28T18:17:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blakeneycreative.com\/?p=58"},"modified":"2023-03-12T22:27:59","modified_gmt":"2023-03-12T22:27:59","slug":"do-you-like-pizza","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blakeneycreative.com\/index.php\/2021\/03\/28\/do-you-like-pizza\/","title":{"rendered":"Do You Like Pizza?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\"P1000451\"<\/a>\n<\/div>
Cast Iron Pizza<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I like pizza – EVERYONE – likes pizza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A while back I bought a cast iron skillet because I like what they do when searing and baking meats. (If I ever write \u201cproteins\u201d in these posts instead of \u201cmeats\u201d unfriend me at once<\/em>.) Chicken and chops made golden on the cooktop in cast iron and then finished in the oven are worlds better than when simply baked or roasted. Its not even close.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\"P1000431\"<\/a>\n<\/div>
Ready for the oven<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

But this post is about pizza. While I was looking for new ways to use the skillet I discovered that people were using them to make pizza! I went straight to the store to buy ingredients to make one myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the market I bought pre-made pizza dough. I\u2019ve tried two kinds thus far and they both worked fine. I am, admittedly,  bread and baking curious – but the videos I\u2019ve seen make dough making look really messy and I won\u2019t try it until I am ready to remodel the kitchen. Speaking solely for myself, cooking is fun and is supposed to be, avoiding making a mess I won\u2019t enjoy cleaning up isn\u2019t lazy – its smart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\"Pizza<\/a>\n<\/div>
Ingredients from the market. Many of these are store brand or prepared for you, I might one day make my own dough and sauce but this was just fine. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I bought a jarred pizza sauce too. Next time I might make my own but since this is menu research and not recipe development I don\u2019t feel bad about about this choice either. I went really cheap on the sauce too. which has as much to do with living alone as it does to saving money. I\u2019m not making several pizzas in a short amount of time, what I don’t use this time will likely go bad, so cheap seemed the way to go here. I hate when things go bad in my fridge. Both sauces I tried were okay but not impressive. There is ample information about making your own sauce and it looks pretty easy.  Next time\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Deli department I bought two links of sweet Italian sausage and two pieces of brown sugar bacon. The Meat guy raised an eyebrow at these odd and small increments (like, “WTF is this guy doing?<\/em>“) \u201cPizza Toppings!\u201d I smiled. \u201cBrilliant,\u201d he said with renewed respect as his other eyebrow joined its partner in the middle of his forehead. I always have pepperoni at home so I didn\u2019t need to pick that up this time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the way, the Deli is your Friend<\/strong>! Whether you live solo or are trying new recipes the ability to buy exactly<\/em> how much you need of something is a god-send.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I grabbed shredded storebrand Mozzarella and headed home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\"P1000422\"<\/a>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I turned the oven on and browned bacon and Italian sausage in the skillet on the stove top pulling them into a bowl just before they were done. I unrolled the dough on my cutting board and made it as close to a 12 inch circle as I could (pre-made dough comes in rectangles.) I dumped some of the oil from the skillet but left quite a bit for under the crust – this turned out to be a very good thing. I sprinkled some cornmeal in the oil in the pan (because I had corn meal) and dropped the blanket of dough into the skillet. It SIZZLED.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Working quickly I pushed the dough to the edges and hit it with a thin layer of sauce that went right to the side of the pan. I threw the italian sausage and the bacon all over too and then the cheese. The cheese goes right to the edge of the pan too, where it turnes into tomato\/cheese candy in the oven. Then I dropped spoonfuls of sauce on top of the cheese like I was making drop cookies or maybe dumplings – you get the idea. Then some pepperoni on top and sprinkles of dried oregano and basil from the spice rack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The oven was at 425\u00ba and the dough directions said to bake it for 15 to 20 minutes. Here\u2019s what I know about baking times on boxes – set your timer on the shorter time and check it at that point<\/em>. Do not split the difference and say to yourself, \u201cHmmm, 15 to 20 minutes. I\u2019ll set it for 17 and a half.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

15 minutes later the Pizza was ready for a photo session. Sizzling, saucy, seductive. It came out of the oven like Halle Barry came out of the ocean in that James Bond Movie.  Hellooo Beautiful!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n