I'm finally doing it. This pizza dough thing has been on my mind for a while. After my recent success with yeast (ie. the Hot Cross Buns which didn't suck) I feel some positive momentum, buoyed by it, dizzy with it... even a little... maybe...

Well, as if you all haven't seen a pizza post from a foodie blog before *Yawn* I know, I can be a hater too! Nevertheless, I'm gonna try. Definitely, the yeast success is egging me on but also I recently discovered fresh mozzarella at a couple of my local supermarkets. It's probably been there for a really long time but for some reason (probably a grocery trip sans kids - meaning a grocery trip in which I can meander down aisles, pick things up and look them over, nobody actually distracting my brain with some kind of conversation/question - capiche?) I stumbled upon it recently and thought that it merited some special use at some point.


Lastly, I'm on the hunt for some interesting vegetarian recipes. I've just picked up a new cookbook (more to come on that later! - trust me) and there were some simple, rustic and completely divine looking pizzette's in the book. One thing that I hate about making pizza is stretching out that *&%$ crust. It always springs back, it gets holes in it. I've gotten so frustrated stretching pizza dough out over a whole big pan that I've resorted to using cans of beans to hold all the sides down. Making little pizzettes however, fixes a lot of that fuss and frustration. As the book says (the cookbook that is), keep these little lovies simple. I roasted some veggies (mushroom, pepper strips and zucchini) and put them on a couple of little lovies and on the kids own were pepperoni. Simple. Topped with fresh mozzarella (wow - what a difference people!!!!) and maybe you could top with a little parmesan if you were so inclined. After the oven and before going into my mouth, my pizzette got sprinkled with some hot pepper flakes too!

1 pkg (1/4 oz) active dry yeast (I used traditional)
1 cup warm water
1 tsp honey
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp olive oil

Place warm water (about 100 degrees F), honey and yeast together in a bowl. Mix together lightly and set aside for about 10 min. or until the yeast gets foamy.

Put flour and salt into a bowl.
Mix with the water/yeast until it's all incorporated.
Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 10 min. (you could use your stand mixer here too - taking significantly less time I would imagine. However, the reality is I only kneaded for about 5 min and the results were quite fine). Just make sure that the dough is both silky and stretchy.
Rest the dough in an oiled bowl and cover. Set it in a warm dry place for about 1 hr (until it doubles approximately).

Punch the dough down.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

On pizza baker, pizza stone or (in my case) cookie sheets sprinkle cornmeal (this prevents the pizza from sticking and makes a nice little additional crunch on the crust). I spread my little pizza's into shape on a baking mat which seemed easier somehow - whatever way you do it, grab about a fistful of dough and shape to your desired thickness.

I topped mine with some simple passata (adding some salt, sugar), roasted veggies, fresh mozzarella. I think a white version would be lovely with something green and maybe smoked salmon. The possibilities are endless really but simple is key.


Everyone loved the pizzette's. Just what we needed today.....