Frugal Recipes: Pizza

Friday is coming!! Are you ready? What I mean is, will you have a 5pm break down and decide it’s all over, you’re in the mood for pizza and a movie? Well why not decide that now, and plan to make your own? It’s much cheaper and healthier than even the storemade take-and-bakes. And pretty easy if you ask me. I guess it’s also a tradition in my home…My mom made us pizza every Friday night as we watched “TGIF” with good ol’ Full House and Family Matters. Now it’s precious time for Hubby and I to relax and unwind with a good movie. In my opinion, this pizza pairs nicely with a full bodied ale or black and tan (porter and ale)- If you catch my drift.

Homemade Pizza
Crust: 1 1/4 cup water
1 tsp Kosher salt
1 tbs honey
1 tsp EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
1 1/2 cup bread flour
1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp active dry yeast (or one package)

Crust Directions: If you have a bread machine, put liquids and salt in first, then flours and yeast. Put on dough setting, and let it run through its first kneading cycle. Then turn off, and let dough rise for 1 hour. Then remove from machine and shape on your favorite pizza pan. I like to put cornmeal and a bit of salt on the bottom of the pan! YUM.
**If you do not have a bread machine, combine warm water (no hotter than 100F), yeast, salt, oil and honey- Stir with a whisk. Yeast does not have to be completely dissolved, but mostly. Then on in another bowl, mix the two flours together. Pour in yeast/liquid mixture and knead for 10-15 minutes. In a clean, lightly oiled bowel, let the dough rise for one hour. Punch down and let rest for 5 minutes, then shape as desired.

Pizza Sauce:
1 sm. can tomato paste
(1) 15oz can tomato sauce
Spices to taste (the following are what we like): Some dry onion, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, oregano, basil, salt.
Directions: Mix all together! If using things like dried onion flakes, it will taste better the next day, but you can use it now and it will still be yummy. Just don’t over do it- We use like 1 tsp. Then use about 1/4 of this mixture (more or less to your liking) on the pizza crust.

Preheat your oven to 425F. Once you have your crust formed and the sauce spread on it, you can put down your Mozzarella cheese, and any toppings you’d like. Mushrooms, pepperoni, tomatoes, olives, feta cheese, spinach, ground beef- The possibilities are endless!! And I have used the soy cheese at Trader Joes in the past. I think its yummy!

Bake for 15-16 minutes in the 425F oven, or until cheese begins to brown. Let cool for 5 minutes, then divide!

**This recipe costs me about $1.50 to make, depending on the toppings. Sometimes if we get fancy it will cost me $3 a pizza. Hubby and I eat it every Friday night and then Saturday for lunch!

Healthnote: Using whole grain flour in the crust, smart balance (or any other nonhydrogenated spread) as the grease in the pan, low fat cheese and healthy toppings can turn normal greasy pizza into a true meal. Get creative- Try a Mediterranean theme with spinach, olives, feta cheese and tomatoes. Now that would be packed full of antioxidants!

Here’s to living- Happier, Healthier more FRUGAL lives!

~FrugalMegan~