I was reading through my favorite cookbook the other day, “How to be a Domestic Goddess” by Nigella Lawson and came across a great pizza recipe and thought I might share it with you. I’ve adapted it a little bit to suit a more American style, the original maybe a little too Italian or rather English since that’s what Nigella is.

Pizzeria Pizza Pie

For the dough

1 2/3 cups cake flour

1 heaping tsp yeast

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup plus 2 Tbs warm water

2 Tbs extra virgin olive oil

a sprinkling of cornmeal (optional)

1 baking sheet

For the toppings

1 cup or 8 oz. Canned petite tomatoes (preferably the basil, onion, and garlic kind)

salt and pepper to taste

1 Tbs Italian blend spices

1/2 lb of cooked Italian sausage or beef (you can use pepperoni if you like)

Shredded Italian blend cheese or your favorite cheese any other topping you’d like to add, it’s your pie!

Combine the flour, yest, and salt in a large bowl, and stir in the warm water and the olive oil, adding more water a necessary to form the dough. When you’ve got ‘a shaggy mess’ as Nigella says, tip the contents onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about five minutes or until the dough is smooth and bouncy, though expect it to be a little on the sticky side. Put it into an oiled bowl and turn it to cover it lightly with the oil. Then cover the bowl with plastic wrap and leave it somewhere warm for about an hour till the dough’s doubled in size.

Preheat oven to 500.

Knock the air out of the dough by using well oiled hands, knead a little, and press on baking sheet in a rectangle. I like to sprinkle a little cornmeal on the bottom of the dough to give that authentic taste and texture. Cover with your tomatoes and seasonings. Put into the very hot oven for about 20 minutes or until the dough has a hollow sound when thumped.

Add your toppings and cook for a further five to ten minutes or until the cheese is melted and your crust is as crispy as you like. Sometimes I like a little marinara sauce or garlic butter for dipping the crust in!

Until next time…..have fun in the kitchen, experiment, and indulge your cravings!