I make pizza.

It’s impossible to hate pizza! (via eatsleepdraw)

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:08:04 -0500

It’s impossible to hate pizza!

Ah, pizza; theres something about it that can make your day...

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:17:00 -0500

Ah, pizza; theres something about it that can make your day brighter, even if it’s gloomy and terrible. Where do you go for pizza? Who has the best? Send me a review of a local pizza joint and we can chronicle the pizza in and around Youngstown, Ohio. That includes Cleveland and Pittsburgh. Heck, if you want to tell me about that great pizza you had from Phoenix, Arizona that’s alright too. You can submit them here or send it to imakepizzamail at gmail.com.

Here are some things to think about when you write your review: What kind of pizza is it? Is it more a greasy, corner joint style that would go well with a beer or is it an elegant flatbread that would be complimented with a glass of wine? What’s the crust like? Is it a good value? Also, make sure to send any photos of the pizza and the location.

If you have a great recipe or would like to chronicle your home making pizza experiences drop me a line as well. Last but not least, eat more pizza!

I decided one of the first steps I should take towards great...

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:14:00 -0500

I decided one of the first steps I should take towards great pizza was purchasing a pizza stone. I read that unglazed quarry tiles can be an inexpensive alternative but I couldn’t find anyone nearby that sold them. That left me two choices. The reviews of chain store pizza stones weren’t good, they were thin and prone to breaking. Now I could buy a better quality one offered online but they are expensive and I’d have to wait until it arrived. I had planned on making pizza that night and didn’t want to spend a ton of money on a stone right away so I decided to chance it and buy one locally. It was only $20 so I figure I can get some practice on it and when it eventually breaks my pizza will be so great I’ll have no choice but to upgrade (that’s the goal anyway).

I put the stone in the oven and slowly raised the temperature over a span of a few hours. That way any moisture inside will have a chance to evaporate slowly as opposed to all at once which could crack it. I plan on leaving it in the oven from now on, although if you remove the stone for any length of time or if somehow the stone could have picked up moisture it’s best to repeat this step just to be safe. After patiently waiting this was my first pizza effort. Not bad if I say so myself!

I used this dough recipe which can be made and baked immediately. Considering how convenient it is I’m delighted with the result. Nothing will compare to a properly aged dough but this is the best recipe I’ve found so far for pizza in a snap.

Thai tofu pizza

firm tofu
soy sauce (to cook tofu in)
olive oil (for crust)
tomato garlic (or any complimentary) seasoning (for crust-optional)
mozzarella cheese
provolone cheese
asiago cheese
chopped peanuts

Cook tofu in soy sauce. Stretch out dough and brush with olive oil. Sprinkle seasoning around the perimeter of crust. Add cheese, scatter tofu on top and add the chopped peanuts. Cook until crust is golden and cheese is melted.