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Megans Cookin: The Daring Bakers Strike Again! That's A'more

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

The Daring Bakers Strike Again! That's A'more

This months Daring Bakers Challenge was to make homemade pizza. Not really a challenge, your thinking. Well, how about trying to toss a pizza like an authinic Pizziolo. Or, try tossing said pizza and getting a picture. Or better yet, try tossing said pizza and get a GOOD picture! Now thats a challenge.



This months DB challenge was hosted by Rosa of Rosa's Yummy Yum. She was to co host with Glenna of A Fridge Full of Food and Sher of What Did You Eat? Tragically, Sher died on July 20Th of a massive heartattack. Nine days before her death, she suggested to Rosa about doing pizzeria style pizza. Today, thousands of DB'ers are honoring Sher.


To prove I got into the spirit, I give to you my one and only decent picture of dough flying through the air. What fun and nerve wracking those first few tosses were. But after awhile I was tossing out pizza faster then could blink an eye. A real pizzaiolo would have watched in envy. They were going higher and higher with each crust I threw. What a site I had going on in my kitchen. O.K, not really. But it makes for a better story so just keep that image in your head.



My first pizza pie was a rip off of my SIL's idea. A couple of weeks ago, the darling daughter and I helped out at a wedding that my SIL catered. You see, she's the best caterer around. She served a Gorgonzola, golden raisin and honey foccica that I just loved.


So I put it on my pizza and served this as my bread to one of our lovely Sunday suppers. I think it was a Sunday. It doesn't really matter when, but it was a lovely supper. It was a hit!


My second pizza was a Mexican pizza. Salsa was my sauce, with seasoned taco meat, cheese, and a drizzle of sour cream. I was gonna put shredded cabbage on top but I forgot till it was cut and served. The Hubby said not to add it on his account, so I didn't. This was a success also.

So I still have my breakfast pizza and my dessert pizza to offer up to you, BUT, unfortunately, their unassembled in the fridge. But they are there. So the beginning of November, whan you are all eating leftover Halloween candy for your quick meal, I'll be enjoying fresh, tossed, homemade pizza. Just like the authentic Italian Pizzeria. Now that's A"more!


~ BASIC PIZZA DOUGH ~

Original recipe taken from “The Bread Baker’s Apprentice
by Peter Reinhart.

Makes 6 pizza crusts (about 9-12 inches).

Ingredients:
4 1/2 Cups bread flour or all purpose flour, chilled
1 3/4 Tsp Salt
1 Tsp Instant yeast
1/4 Cup (2 ounces/60g) Olive oil or vegetable oil (both optional, but it’s better with)
1 3/4 Cups (14 ounces) Water, ice cold (40° F/4.5° C)
1 Tb sugar -

1. Mix together the flour, salt and instant yeast in a big bowl (or in the bowl of your stand mixer).
2. Add the oil, sugar and cold water and mix well (with the help of a large wooden spoon or with the paddle attachment, on low speed) in order to form a sticky ball of dough. On a clean surface, knead for about 5-7 minutes, until the dough is smooth and the ingredients are homogeneously distributed. If it is too wet, add a little flour (not too much, though) and if it is too dry add 1 or 2 teaspoons extra water
NOTE: If you are using an electric mixer, switch to the dough hook and mix on medium speed for the same amount of time.The dough should clear the sides of the bowl but stick to the bottom of the bowl. If the dough is too wet, sprinkle in a little more flour, so that it clears the sides. If, on the contrary, it clears the bottom of the bowl, dribble in a teaspoon or two of cold water.The finished dough should be springy, elastic, and sticky, not just tacky, and register 50°-55° F/10°-13° C.
3. Flour a work surface or counter. Line a jelly pan with baking paper/parchment. Lightly oil the paper.
4. With the help of a metal or plastic dough scraper, cut the dough into 6 equal pieces (or larger if you want to make larger pizzas).NOTE: To avoid the dough from sticking to the scraper, dip the scraper into water between cuts.
5. Sprinkle some flour over the dough. Make sure your hands are dry and then flour them. Gently round each piece into a ball.NOTE: If the dough sticks to your hands, then dip your hands into the flour again.
6. Transfer the dough balls to the lined jelly pan and mist them generously with spray oil. Slip the pan into plastic bag or enclose in plastic food wrap.
7. Put the pan into the refrigerator and let the dough rest overnight or for up to thee days.
NOTE: You can store the dough balls in a zippered freezer bag if you want to save some of the dough for any future baking. In that case, pour some oil (a few tablespoons only) in a medium bowl and dip each dough ball into the oil, so that it is completely covered in oil. Then put each ball into a separate bag. Store the bags in the freezer for no longer than 3 months. The day before you plan to make pizza, remember to transfer the dough balls from the freezer to the refrigerator..








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25 Comments:

Blogger Barbara Bakes said...

Nice tossing! Your pizzas sound wonderful. What a beautiful setting for a wedding!

October 29, 2008 at 7:56 AM  
Blogger Shelby said...

At least you got yours in the air! I wasn't that successful! The pizza looks YUMMY!

October 29, 2008 at 8:00 AM  
Blogger April said...

Very nice tossing!! Your pizzas look wonderful!

October 29, 2008 at 8:21 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I like the idea of pizza that you got from your SIL foccica, that sounds really great. It also looked wonderful.

October 29, 2008 at 8:27 AM  
Blogger Mary said...

Gorganzola, honey and raisin sounds unbelievable! And your dough flying through the air is the photo I was trying to get, but it just didn't happen!

October 29, 2008 at 8:38 AM  
Blogger Carla said...

Anything with gorgonzola sounds amazing. You should really try beets, swiss chard, and chevre (goat's cheese). I wonder if that would make a good pizza? Hmm.

October 29, 2008 at 8:46 AM  
Blogger MyKitchenInHalfCups said...

Gorgonzola, golden raisin and honey - I'll be delighted to sit at your pizza table Megan! Beautiful.
Most impressive toss!!
Oh yes the breakfast pizza, I did one and loved it.

October 29, 2008 at 8:53 AM  
Blogger glamah16 said...

Oh Megan I love all of them. Especially the Gorganzola one!

October 29, 2008 at 8:56 AM  
Blogger Patsyk said...

Oh, I could eat both of the pizzas by myself! Can't wait to see your 3rd one! My fav picture is the dough in the air!

October 29, 2008 at 9:25 AM  
Blogger Judy@nofearentertaining said...

Great job on the challenge! Your pizza looks great. Love the ingredients you chose for your first one!

October 29, 2008 at 9:30 AM  
Blogger Lynne Daley said...

A great pizza toss and your toppings sound so good!

October 29, 2008 at 1:18 PM  
Blogger Teresa Cordero Cordell said...

Bravo Megan. You did it. What a wonderful job. I like the Mexican Pizza. Good job my friend.

October 29, 2008 at 2:38 PM  
Blogger Ally said...

Yum, I love both your pizza ingredients. I almost made a mexican pizza, sounds delicious. I love your toss too!

October 29, 2008 at 5:09 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yummy AND fun - how's that for a winning combination?

October 29, 2008 at 5:31 PM  
Blogger Lori said...

Good toss. I love the raisins and gorgonzola, great idea.

October 29, 2008 at 6:04 PM  
Blogger rubybean77 said...

Serious! That mid-air photo is GREAT!!!!

October 29, 2008 at 7:11 PM  
Blogger Cristine said...

What a wonderful post! Great job tossing and your pizza looks yummy!

October 30, 2008 at 6:01 AM  
Blogger Gloria Chadwick said...

Your pizza toss looks like so much fun! That's part of the joy of cooking.

October 30, 2008 at 6:01 AM  
Blogger Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

You tossed, rolled and topped your way to pizza perfection Megan:D

October 30, 2008 at 6:32 AM  
Blogger Laurie said...

Hi Megan!! I love your toppings choices for your pizzas.. gorgonzola though would be one of my favorites.. it's a wonderful choice!

I totally lost track of time. This will be my first pass on the DB challenge, but I'm going to do a late post. Of all challenges to miss.. an italian favorite! :)

October 30, 2008 at 11:38 AM  
Blogger Shari said...

Your gorgonzola, raisin and honey pizza sounds delicious!

October 31, 2008 at 7:22 AM  
Blogger Liz Harrell said...

YUMMY!
Happy Halloween!
Hugs,
Liz & Mabel

October 31, 2008 at 7:56 AM  
Blogger Deborah said...

I love the versions you made - especially the taco one! I can't wait to see the others!

October 31, 2008 at 2:11 PM  
Blogger Glenna said...

Yay Megan! Great dough toss and lovely pizza ideas. The gorgonzola/raisin one sounds so fab!

November 1, 2008 at 1:42 PM  
Blogger test it comm said...

That Mexican pizza sounds really good!

November 4, 2008 at 6:41 PM  

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