Marie’s Basil and Tomato Mozzarella Pizza

Begin by making the dough for the pizza crust. I will be using my recipe from the calzones. The dough must rise for 1 hour so plan ahead, it can also be made the day before if desired.Take 1 packet of dry yeast and measure out 1 tbsp; add it to 1/2 cup warm water (about 105 degrees). Mix it up and let it sit 5 minutes.In a large mixing bowl add 1/2 a cup of cold water, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 tsp brown sugar, and mix with a whisk. Add 3 cups wheat flour and the yeast water mix then combine with your hand (pick one hand because it will stick to your hand for a while). Continue mixing adding approximately 1/2 cup more flour (if the dough continues to be sticky continue to add flour). Rub hands together and remove dough from hands, create a flat ball with the dough and cover and let sit 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Wash and chop 1 cup of basil, 1 medium vine ripened tomato, and slice a ball of mozzarella into ¼” slices.

When the dough has risen for an hour pull in half and roll out. Roll into the size of a round pizza pan (if you are only feeding 2 people save the other half of dough for a later time by freezing it in a zip lock bag).

Cover pizza with your favorite pizza sauce leaving an inch around the edge. Add 1 cup low fat mozzarella, sprinkle with ½ cup basil. Add the sliced tomato and ½ the ball of mozzarella, sprinkle the ½ cup of basil and slide the pizza to the oven.

Place the pizza in the oven and cook for 10-15 minutes.

Portions:

Male: 3-4 slices

Female: 1-2 slices

Man this is a Friday night treat! Enjoy!
~Mario