Pizza Dough

Pizza Dough

I don't know where we found this recipe but I've used it for a few years now.  I think Mike did a search for Papa Johns Pizza or something if I remember correctly.  Anyway, this is the one I use primarily (I also use a wheat one)

3 Cups flour
1 1/4 cups warm water
2 Tbs sugar
1 Tbs honey
1 Tbs oil
2 tsp salt
1 pkg yeast

Mix four and salt, then mix half the flour and the yeast.  Mix sugar, honey and water.  Pour into the flour mixture.  Stir for 2 minutes.  Add oil and the rest of the flour.  Knead 6 minutes.  Let rest for 5 minutes then knead for 6 more minutes.  Add flour as needed.

Papa Murphys Garlic Chicken Pizza Recipe

Mandy posted about a ranch garlic sauce she made to mimic the sauce on Papa Murphy's Chicken Ranch Garlic Pizza. It sounded great so I decided to make my own and see how it turned out. We loved it. Mike thought it was a little too juicy the first time but the next day it was perfect for him. The juice didn't bother me at all. We will definitely make this again! I don't have measurements for the toppings so just put on how ever much of each as you like. I found this recipe from Group Recipes.com and then adjusted it to work for us. For our pizza dough we make a Papa Johns Pizza Dough recipe (listed at the end) but we wanted a flatter dough so we cut the rising and kneading in half this time.

Papa Murphys Garlic Chicken Pizza Recipe

1 Cup of Ranch dressing
1 Tablespoon of minced garlic (garlic in a jar is perfectly fine)

Toppings
cooked, diced chicken
red onion (cut in rings)
tomato (chopped)
sliced mushrooms
mozzarella cheese (shredded) (we didn't have mozzarella so instead I did a mixture of cheddar and fresh Parmesan cheese)

Papa John's Pizza Dough Recipe
3 cups flour

1 1/4 cup warm water

2 Tbsp sugar

1 Tbsp honey

1 Tbsp oil

2 tsp salt

1 pkg yeast

Mix flour and salt. Take half the flour and salt mixture and add yeast. In a separate bowl mix, sugar, honey and water. Pour into flour mixture. Stir for two minutes. Add oil and rest of flour. Knead for six minutes. Let sit for five minutes. Knead for six more minutes. Add flour as needed. Roll dough and cook at 500 degrees for 6-8 minutes.

Pizza roll-up with sauce on side

This recipe was actually an accident. I meant to make a ham and cheese roll-up from Kraft foods but when I went to use my ham that hadn't expired, I noticed it smelled like yeast. So, I had to make some adjustments.

Pillsbury Pizza dough

Pizza toppings

Mozzarella cheese

One egg

Parmesan cheese

Roll the dough out on a cookie sheet. Put toppings and cheese inside. Fold all four sides up but not so that they are touching--you just want them slightly folded in so the stuff won't come out when you roll it. Roll the dough up like you would a cinnamon roll. Brush on the egg wash and sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top. Cook at 350 degrees until lightly brown.

Sauce:

For those in the Clark family, you have this recipe in the white recipe binder from mom. For the rest of you,

1 8 oz. can tomato sauce

1 4 oz. can tomato paste (I don't usually use the paste)

Stir over medium head. Add 1/4 teaspoon of each: Thyme, Rosemary, and Oregano. Add 1 clove garlic and 1 bay leaf. Simmer and cool slightly.

Like I said, I had started to make the ham roll so I had already spread Mayo on the dough and I didn't notice that it tasted too funky with the Mayo on. So, you could do that if you wanted too.

Fruit Pizza

This is a favorite among hosts when I do parties and has been in Pampered Chef cookbooks for years. You must try it!

Ingredients:

Sugar cookie dough (homemade or storebought)
If you use the store bought dough, be sure to have a little white flour on hand or powdered sugar to help roll out the dough so it isn't so sticky.
1 package 8 oz. cream cheese low fat is fine, do not get fat free
1/3 cup of white sugar or splenda
Assorted Fresh Fruit of your choice. (I think Strawberries, grapes and granny smith apples are best on this pizza)

Instructions:

Roll out sugar cookie dough on Large flat Stone until it is within 1 inch of the edge. Bake at 350 degrees or until very lightly golden brown. Watch it closely as it tends to get too hard quickly if you overbake.

Cool cookie completely.

Mix together cream cheese and sugar or sugar substitute

Spread the cream cheese mixture on top of cooled cookie.

Top with fresh fruit of your choice.

Cook's tips: If you aren't going to be eating the entire thing in one sitting, then save the frosting seperate from the cookie and only frost your piece of cookie before you eat it. This keeps the cookie crust from getting soggy like the fruit pizzas in the grocery stores.

For parties I have tried everything on this cookie from mandarian oranges in a can to fresh kiwis and bananas. All fruit is awesome. And try designs with the fruit to spell out stuff on special occasions like "Happy Birthday" written in blueberries etc.

For fruits that turn brown quickly when cut, soak them in Sprite for just a second then top them on the dessert. They won't turn brown. It's amazing!

BBQ Chicken Pizza

Ingredients:

1 + 1/2 cups BBQ sauce ( I recommend Cookies BBQ sauce)
2 chicken breasts or enough chicken for 2 cups of chopped chicken
1/4 cup chopped red onion (this is the sweet onion)
1/2 cup green bell pepper
1 pizza crust
2-3 cups of your favorite shredded cheese (best is sharp or colby/jack)

Instructions:

Cook Chicken in a Microwave cooker (this way it only takes 6-8 minutes) Then dice it up to make 2 cups of chopped chicken.

Take out a large bowl. Mix together BBQ sauce, red onion, bell pepper and chicken. Pour this mixture over a prepared pizza crust. Top with cheese.

Bake 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until crust looks golden brown.

Aloha Chicken Pizza

I tend to like quick food (unless someone else is making it) so here is a recipe for a fairly quick and tasty meal.

2 Cups diced chicken
2 green onions
1 red pepper
1/2 cup barbecue sauce, divided.
1 pizza crust - I cheat and get the pre-made crust
As much cheese as you want
1 can of pineapple

Chop the top half of each green onion off and place it in a small bowl of cold water (save for a garnish is you are feeling frisky). Slice the remaining lower half and place into a mixing bowl.
Dice half of the red pepper and place it into the mixing bowl with the onion.
Add the chicken (this can be pre-marinated in BBQ sauce if you want) and mix all three ingredients briefly.
Roll out the crust and spread about 1/4 cup of barbecue sauce on the crust.
Spoon the veggie and chicken mixture evenly around the pizza, add as much cheese as you want (I like sharp chedder and mozzarella) and bake in a 400 degree oven for about 10 minutes.
Immediately add the pineapple.

For a classy Iowa finish (somewhat of an oxymoron, I know), put the remaining 1/4 cup of BBQ sauce in to a ziplock bag, clip the corner and dizzle the sauce across the top the the pizza. Finally, for the coup d' etat, take the top half of the onions that you so dilligently saved, cut them into long strips and place them around the pizza. Gordon Ramsey couldn't make it look any better. This recipe tastes great, and can be modified to fit your taste buds anyway you like.