Pizza nirvana has been acheived!

[hippywife]

Thanx to all the contributions from folks in this forum, especially Stinky. I've been experimenting every Friday night and finally got what I think is the end product I was going for. As an addition to the raw sauce recipe, I added fennel seed, and finally achieved just the right balance of provolone with other cheeses to make it just right. :9

With our favorite toppings of baby bellas, onion, and hot banana peppers:

[Stinky The Clown]

1. That's a thing of beauty!

That would make anyone hungry!

[hippywife]

2. I'm honored to have

such high praise from the master!

[housewolf]

3. Gorgeous!

It looks PERFECT!

Congratulations! I'm sure it tastes every bit as wonderful as it looks!

[hippywife]

4. Thanx, sweetie!

It was very delicious. The fennel seed was definitely a good addition. I added only about a tsp. to the sauce. Husband said he didn't notice it, but I sure did.

:hug:

[Stinky The Clown]

5. Fennel is a good addition to tomatoes

I add it to gravy sometimes. One of Sparkly's favorites is a ragu I make with tuna in it. I take the fennel and pan toast it then grind it in a mortal and pestle. It adds that 'something extra' that makes everyone go 'wow' and then wonder what they tasted.

That was a good decision!

[NMDemDist2]

6. damn woman!

that looks freaking awesome!!

:yourock:

[hippywife]

8. Wish we could

have had everyone over for pizza last night. It was very good! :hi:

[Callalily]

7. That looks very

tasty. And I like your combination of baby bellas, onion, and hot banana peppers. I'm definitely going have to try this.

[hippywife]

9. It's what we always have

regardless of what kind of pizza we're making. You gotta try Stinky's raw sauce with the addition of the fennel seed. That's what really made it. :hi:

[Callalily]

15. Yes, I read in above

thread about your addition of fennel. I typically use fennel too, so I'm sure that your sauce was great.

Is the recipe someplace? I'd love to try it.

:hi:

[hippywife]

16. It's Stinky's Raw Sauce Recipe

found here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=236&topic_id=43927#43965

Very easy and just the taste it needed!

Good luck! :hi:

[Callalily]

17. Thanks! I've copied

it, and the next time I make homemade pizza, I'll try this sauce.

:hi:

[Mind_your_head]

10. That looks absolutely BEAUTIFIC!

Well Done! :applause:

Can you share your recipe for the sauce and the pizza dough?

[Stinky The Clown]

12. Raw Sauce ..... here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=236&topic_id=43927#43965

[hippywife]

13. I meant to post that link yesterday.

I thought I had and missed it in all the todo around here yesterday. Thanx, Stinky! :hi:

[Mind_your_head]

21. Thanks very much for this

The sauce sounds delicious - I can't wait to try this :hi:

[hippywife]

14. I see Stinky posted the sauce for you and

here's the crust I use:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Pizza-Dough-III/Detail.aspx

I use 1 1/2 c. bread flour and 1/2 c. whole wheat flour. I also stirred a just a wee bit of honey, maybe a tsp., into the warm water before adding the yeast and omitted the sugar in the flour.

:hi:

[Mind_your_head]

22. Thanks hippywife

I can't wait to try this pizza. Thanks for the recipe and the inspiration. :hi:

[hippywife]

23. You're welcome.

Don't forget to sub in grated provolone cheese for about 1/3 of your cheese topping. The rest of mine was a blend of 5 different Italian cheeses, finely grated.

Hope it comes out as good for you! :hi:

[NashVegas]

11. that looks yummy!

*sigh*

[hippywife]

18. Thanx, Crisco.

Just took a little experimenting and lots of good advice from the good folks in this group. :hi:

[Tab]

19. Two things really impressed me

It's not the toppings, or even the sauce - important both, but not elusive.

First, you got it to be round. My homemade pizzas are delicious (IMHO) but they ain't round.

Second, your crust looks great. I've found it's not the crust recipe - although that's important - but the first key thing is to properly cook it, which is really darn hard at home without commercial equipment. I found that heating at least one pizza stone at 450 for nearly an hour will get it about right, and I actually put another on the shelf above it for downward radiant heat. It's a labor of love (because God knows I don't love labor).

How did you do yours?

[hippywife]

20. I didn't roll it, I stretched it.

I wish I could toss but I'm a klutz. And I didn't use a pizza stone, altho I do have one. I made sure the pan was oiled and sprinkled with corn meal. After I stretched it, I drizzled it with olive oil and spread it all over the surface, including the edges, with my fingers. A brush just wasn't going to work. Stuck it with a fork in a coupla places and baked it for 10 minutes in my oven which was preheated to 400. After I topped it, I kicked the oven up to 425 and baked it for almost 20 minutes.

Easy as that.

And I'll still take delicious over round any day of the week. :hi: