Anyone who knows me well…knows I LOVE pizza….authentic Italian pizza, the tasty American version, and of course, our homemade ‘Zza!  I remember when Ryan and I were planning our wedding in 2005, he asked me what I wanted for the rehearsal dinner and without hesitation, I insisted PIZZA!  And not just any pizza, but the pizza we grew up eating together…the pizza we still look forward to when we go home to Marshfield, WI…the pizza we buy unbaked and frozen just so we can lug it back to Iowa…Scotty’s Pizza.  My mouth is watering just thinking about it.  For those of you who are unfamiliar, be sure to check it out if you ever roll through Marshfield.  (http://scottyspizza.com)  You won’t be disappointed!  And  to think that some swear I am high-maintenance….man, this little lady just wants a slice!

So last week, before I headed off to my brief stay in the Sunshine State with good friends, Jeremy & Stephanie, and my longer stay in Philadelphia for work, I wanted nothing other than our homemade pizza.  Over the last several years Ryan & I  have tailored it specifcally to our tastes….so much so that we began to wonder if anyone else would like it as much as we do.  So…the taste tests began.  First with my Mom & Dad.  Mom said it was “wonderful!”…but then again, she is my Mom!  And my Dad, well he loved it too…but let’s be honest, he’d eat just about anything!  So, on the night before my departure, I invited my friend Kendra over to taste test…her review was, “I.Love.It”.  

And with that, I share our favorite mix…

BOODRO’s Homemade ‘Zza

Serves 2-3

• Pizza Crust Mix (Jiffy or HyVee brand usually)
• HyVee Canned Pizza Sauce (to be doctored up)
• Garlic Salt
• Garlic Powder
• Crushed Red Pepper
• Presti’s Spicy Italian Seasoning
• EVOO
• Pepperoni
• Baby bella mushrooms
• Red Onion
• Green Pepper
• Green Olives
• Low Moisture Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (approx 12 oz)
• Pepperoncinis

Start by making the pizza crust.  Follow the instructions on the back of the box but ADD a dash or two of Presti’s Spicy Italian seasoning, garlic salt,  and garlic powder prior to adding the water.  Be careful not to add too much water.

Thoroughly flour your rolling pin and pizza stone.  Roll dough to shape and thickness of your liking…we make ours as big as the stone allows…and as thin as possible.  We love the crunch of a perfectly baked thin crust pizza!  Bake as directed on package.  Once crust is lightly browned, pull it out of the oven and beginning building your pie!

In a small prep bowl, mix ~3 Tbls of EVOO and a dash of garlic salt and a larger dash of garlic powder.  With a small brush, cover the crust completely in a thin layer of this garlic salt/EVOO mixture.  (At Scotty’s in Marshfield WI, Scotty serves a butter-crust pizza – this is our rendition of Scotty’s classic.  YUM!)

Pour half a can of HyVee (or brand of your choosing) pizza sauce into a prep bowl (save the remaining sauce for a second pizza).  Add Crushed Red Pepper (to your liking) to sauce and mix.  Pour sauce onto crust and spread with the back of spoon until evenly distributed.

Dress toppings listed above or substitute your own!  We start by layering pepperoni on top of the sauce, next a layer of thinly sliced baby bella mushrooms, slivers of red onion, green peppers, and green olives (on Ryan’s half only…ick…no olives for me!).  Top with ~12oz shredded Mozzarella cheese.

Bake for 10-15 minutes…until golden brown.  Serve with a pepperoncini or two and enjoy with a cold beer…diet cola…or a chilled glass of Sauvignon Blanc! 

Pizza….one of life’s little treasures! 

Indulge.  In Life.  In Love.  In Food.