Homemade Veggie Pizza

Pizza is one of those foods that always sounds good to me.  Maybe it's because my hometown used to hold the world record for having the most pizza joints per square mile...  Regardless, I love pizza!  Thin crust, thick crust, deep dish, spicy sauce, sweet sauce--I'll take it anyway.  Since moving to Columbus almost a year ago, I have discovered and indulged in some pretty terrific slices of cheesy goodness.  But, in an effort to stick to my dental school student budget and prevent packing on the pounds, I started to make my own pizza creations.  Things just seem to taste better when you make them yourself.  It's not only satisfying to make something with your own hands, but it is also comforting to know every single ingredient you're putting into your body.

This is my go-to pizza crust and sauce recipe.  If I'm in an extra saucy mood I'll add a little pesto or a variety of fine cheeses (fontina is my favorite)!  Get creative with your toppings.  I usually resort to tomatoes, sweet onions, zucchini, squash, spinach, basil, and a little sprinkle of feta.  Bonus points if you grow your own vegetables!

Easy Whole Grain Pizza Dough (adapted from food.com)


Ingredients:
4 1/2 cups King Arthur Whole Wheat Flour
1 3/4 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon instant yeast
1/4 cup olive oil
1 3/4 cup water, ice cold
Dried oregano, rosemary, and thyme

Directions:
Combine the flour, salt, and yeast in a large bowl suited for a stand mixer.  Add olive oil and water and stir with a wooden spoon until all of the flour is absorbed.  Add about 1 tablespoon each of oregano, rosemary, and thyme.

Assemble bowl on a stand mixer with a bread hook.  Mix at medium speed for about 5 minutes.  No dough should stick to the sides when mixing is complete.

Separate dough into 6-8 even sized balls.  Place in a large ziplock bag, pour a little olive oil into the bag to prevent sticking, and place in the refrigerator for at least one hour before making pizza.

Exquisite Pizza Sauce Recipe (from allrecipes.com)

Ingredients:
1 6 ounce can tomato paste
6 fluid ounces warm water
3 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons honey
3/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon chili powder
1/8 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes

Directions:
Combine all ingredients into a medium sized bowl, stir well, and allow flavors to blend together for at least 30 minutes.

When you are ready to assemble your pizza, preheat the oven to 450 degrees.  Place a piece of aluminum foil on a cookie sheet and spray with non-stick cooking spray.  Using a rolling pin, spread the dough out to a desired thickness then add the sauce and toppings.