Friday Night Pizza

Laila Uljas

Last week was filled with outdoor skating and a trip to the Tampere area and a visit to Mummo and Pappa’s house. It is always a highlight for the kids to visit their grandparents. While the older kids went skating at Mummo and Pappa’s house, little Isabella and I took a little kicksled outing down a curvy little road that had just the perfect amount of hills to get a tickle belly.

All the exercise and outdoor air made for great appetites. Pizza was on the menu last week and it disappeared without complaint. I usually make a large amount and freeze the left overs. Then when we’re in a pinch, we have “frozen pizzas” ready in a minute. The recipe for the crust is large enough to make two pizzas and one small loaf of bread. I love having fresh bread the next morning ready to go and it really is no extra work. As much as I like to cook and bake, I usually try to multi-task in the kitchen so that I have more time to do other things (such as going on little outings with kids).

The crust has some rye flour, wheat germ and bran and a bit of brown sugar in it, which gives a great flavor to the pizza. And the sauce is where I hide all the vitamins and the kids don’t even realize it. Occassionally I will sprinkle extra toppings on top, as in the recipe below.

pizza

Pizza crust:

6 dl/2.5 c warm water

1 package (11 g) of dry yeast or a block of fresh yeast (50 g)

1 heaping tablespoon of brown sugar

1 tsp salt

1/2 dl/ 0.2 c wheat germ

1/2 dl/0.2 c wheat bran

3 dl/1.3 c rye flour

about 8 dl flour

1/3 dl/3 tbsp olive oil

Disolve the yeast into the warm water. Add the brown sugar and salt. Next mix in the rye flour, wheat bran and germ. Allow to sit for about ten minutes so that the water is able to absorb into the grains. The less all-purpose flour used will result in a softer dough and crust. Add two thirds of the flour and knead well. This amount works great in the Kitchen Aid and I usually let it knead for me. Add the rest of the flour as needed. This pizza crust will be a bit stickier than the traditional crust due to the rye flour which has less gluten than white flour. While the dough rises prepare the sauce. If you know that your day will be busy the sauce can be easily be prepared the day before and refrigerated.

Pizza sauce

1 package ( 170 g/6 oz bacon) cut into small pieces

1-2 onions

2-3 stalks of celery

1 small zucchini

1 dl/0.4 c sliced mushrooms (dried and rehydrated mushrooms work as well)

2 cans of diced/ground tomatoes

20 g/0.7 oz tomato paste

oregano

basil

thyme

black pepper

10 fennel seeds

salt

3 tbsp balsamic vinegar

Brown the bacon with the onions and celery. Add the zucchini and mushrooms. Sautée for a few minutes. Add the canned tomatoes and the rest of the ingredients and allow to simmer at low heat. Check taste and add additional herbs, pepper and salt as needed.

Divide the pizza dough into three sections. Roll out two parts and place on two baking sheets lined with baking paper. Spread sauce on the pizza and sprinkle with cheese of your choice. If preferred sprinkle with cherry tomato halves, thin rings of red onion and a little oregano.  Shape the remaining third part of dough and place into a greased bread pan or a lined baking sheet. Allow to rise while the pizzas bake. Bake the loaf at 200 C/390 F for about 20 minutes or until it has a nice color on the bottom and sounds hollow.

unbaked pizza

Bake at 200 C/ 390 F until the cheese and the bottom of the crust have gotten a little color. Serve with fresh tossed salad.

pizza closeup

51 Comments

  2. Delicious. I always put a little wheat germ in my pizza dough but it will be interesting to try the wheat bran and rye flour as well. I also hide the vegetables. It is a good trick!

    Reply

    1. I have become really good at hiding vegetables. If they ask what’s in it…I usually tell them after they take a bite and taste. I don’t make a big deal if someone leaves a few zucchini pieces on the side of their plate…they most like didn’t find them all anyways 🙂 and eventually they might learn to like them after being exposed enough times!

      Reply

      2. The funny thing is that older people sometimes become fussy about food and my sister and I are always trying to figure out ways to disguise certain healthy foods for our parents. However they are a bit smarter than children at picking out what we try to hide.:)

  6. Your pizza looks and sounds very good! Our pizza night was Saturday since we couldn’t eat meat on Fridays. It was a tradition that we kept, even after the Church allowed us to eat meat on Fridays. I have many pleasant memories of pizza night and I’m sure your children will, too. 🙂

    Reply

    1. Thank you for your comment! I hope that my children will have many pleasant memories of their childhood…and not remember the moments that their Mom had remind to do their homework or chores or to behave…or maybe they will better understand why I had to stay on their case when they get a bit older! 🙂

      Reply

  12. Your pizza is positively one of the best I have seen. I love the crust and your pizza sauce. Looks delicious!!

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much Judy, you are so kind! After acquiring the taste to a more whole grain crust…I haven’t been able to go back to the “regular” crust. We have been making pizza with this recipe for a few years now.

      Reply

  13. If a picture is worth a thousand words then these say it all! What a fun Friday this looks to be. And your pizza looks amazing. I love that you put rye in the crust. I’m pinning this one to try!

    Reply

  14. Ooooh, I’m getting hungry!! I’m usually hard to convince when it comes to trying some other pizza recipe than my mum’s – but this is definitely one I’m gonna try!! 🙂

    Reply

  15. I have seen and tasted tons of pizza in my life. I don’t even have to taste it anymore…I can judge from the look and yours looks superb. Very nicely done. 🙂

    Reply

    1. I love her hat too, it is a hand-me-down from her big brother. 🙂 Isabella’s hat is handmade by a women in Helsinki. She has her own business called UNQ and they make apparel out of fleece.

      Reply
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