Home Made Pizza...Ummmmmm

Hello. Made my pizza tonight. Oh how yummy it was. Very simple and took no time at all.

I start by getting a cheese pizza kit at the store. There is a certain kind that we, as a family, really like. I use the crust mix, sauce and that is it. Here is where it gets interesting.

I start by following the package directions on making the dough. Then I let it sit while I get my stones ready. To prepare the stones I melt some butter (or margarine) in a small bowl with some finely minced garlic. I take the garlic butter and brush the stones with it. It will add flavour like you've never had. I would say, 1 clove of garlic to one stick of butter. Once you have the stones OR pans brushed well with the butter mixture, go ahead and divide your dough between pans. Before I start to push the dough into the pans, I like to spray my hands with a non-stick spray made with olive oil! Again, it will just add flavor. Then I fit the dough to the pans. When the dough has been spread out, put it in the oven for 8 or 9 min. to pre-cook. I do this because if you put your toppings on this raw pizza dough it will take such a long time to cook and you run the risk of burning your pizza and making the crust chewey and tough. While it's cooking, you can get your other ingredients ready. Here is what I do.

I cut up some onion and green pepper and put it in a small skillet with some olive oil. About 1/2 Tbsp.of olive oil and cook it till it's not quite done. I like it to have a little crunch. Once it's done to your liking, put it in a bowl and set it aside. Next I cook 1/2 lb ground chuck with 1/2lb of Italian sausage. By the time you get all this cooked, your crusts should be done. Pull your crusts out of the oven and set aside. Next you need to put on your sauce. I just use what came in the pizza kit. If there is another sauce out there you like please feel free to use it. 1 HINT with pizza kits - go name brand. This is one of those things you can't skimp on. Believe me, I have tried. Anyway, I spread out my sauce between my 2 pans and make sure it's covered almost all the pizza. Next I add the meat mixture, green pepper and onion mixture and then I add some mushrooms. Next I add pepperoni and then top with a mozzarella cheese blend that I found. It has provolone, Parmesan, mozzarella etc. in it. Then I put it in the oven until the cheese is a golden brown and bubbly. I do not time it. I do not time it according to package directions. Everyones oven is different and so are the pans you cook it in. This is something folks that you need to watch. Once it's a beautiful golden color, I pull it out and serve it up! The crust will be crunchy on the bottom and soft on the inside. It's perfect. I know you will LOVE it.

Now as far as toppings go, you can add what you want. This is what my family likes. Sometimes in the summer I will add slices of fresh tomato and maybe some artichoke hearts. The sky is the limit.
Enjoy my friend,
Kathy!