A Scientist in the Kitchen

May is just a few days away, and I can’t believe I’ve only made one post in April. I have a backlog of posts in the coming days so please bear with me.

I made this pizza from scratch when I was still living in Los Baños. This was my first time to make pizza from scratch and I so love it I made pizza on consecutive weekends. By scratch, I meant making my own thin crust topped with whatever ingredients we had at hand. It’s easy to do, not much kneading required (which I like a lot). The highlight was finding out how great freshly chopped garlic goes with the rest of the toppings. Garlic pizza, anyone?

I am saving for an oven in my new home in Gen San (perhaps the oven that blogging bought?) and pizza will probably be the first dish that I will cook on it!

pizza

My first ever thin crust pizza
(Modified from Yummy magazine)

1/2 tbsp yeast
1/4 cup lukewarm water
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cool water
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp salt

Whisk yeast, lukewarm water, 1/4 cup flour in a bowl. Dust lightly with flour then let rest for about 20 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups of flour, water, olive oil and salt. Knead then gradually add remaining flour. Knead the dough until elastic. Shape into a ball, dust with flolur and leave to rise double in bulk. Flatten the ball with a rolling pin to your desired shape and thickness (or thinness). I didn’t use a rolling pin (I knew we had one, but I couldn’t find it!) so I just flattened the dough with the palm of my hands and let it fit an 8-inch pie pan.

To dress up the crust, drizzle the crust with olive oil. Add some chopped garlic. Spread catsup and pesto all over the crust. Add the toppings you have at hand. In my case, I added black and green olives, onions, bell pepper and salami. Top with grated cheese, fresh tarragon, and more chopped garlic. Bake at 300 F for about 20 minutes.

Ben April 28, 2009 at 7:03 PM -

Hmmmm garlic pizza! I always thought making my own crust for pizza was the most difficult thing to do, until I try making it, hehe. Now I make homemade pizza at least once a week.
Joelen April 28, 2009 at 11:04 PM -

I’m so craving pizza with all the recent pizza recipes being posted! Looks fabulous!
Katie April 29, 2009 at 1:58 AM -

Now I want pizza. I’ve been without an oven for 6 months… First thing I’m going to make.. Looks wonderful!
maggie May 5, 2009 at 9:34 PM -

now, that is an idea…an oven that blogging bought, luvit!
Judd May 6, 2009 at 10:01 PM -

That looks really good! Reminds me of Shakey’s Manager’s Choice, but this one looks meatier. I like it!
Gay May 7, 2009 at 8:17 AM -

Thanks. I actually went to Shakey’s and tried their thin crust pizza, just to check how thin should the crust be!
Jescel May 7, 2009 at 12:58 PM -

awesome! that pizza is just my kind — with everything on it.. hope you’ll be able to buy your oven soon.
Jasper Jugan May 10, 2009 at 11:22 PM -

and i honestly got hungry because of this!
Lou May 20, 2009 at 2:17 AM -

I believe in the power of a good thincrust pizza
corrine May 23, 2009 at 1:50 PM -

I have made pizza crust from scratch and I’ve learned some good lessons. You may want to try them. Try using bread flour instead of AP. You can buy from small shops selling baking supplies. I found bread flour is crusty after baking. Also, try substituting about half of your water with milk ( my italian friend taught me this one). Try preheating your overn 220C or 400F to 420F instead of 300F and better to use pizza stone or even a marble slab. I don’t but I know it will be better because of heat retention.

Arugula is a really nice substitute for basil. I tried it in Italianni’s.

Buon appetito!
Gay May 24, 2009 at 4:55 AM -

Thanks Corrine, will certainly try your suggestions. I love a crusty thin crust pizza.
sheng June 1, 2009 at 9:55 AM -

Miss, pwede bang umuwi ka na at gawaan mo na kami niyan? Miss you gay!
Gay June 1, 2009 at 11:43 AM -

Hayaan mo, lapit na uwi ko… ilang tulog na lang!
abi June 6, 2009 at 4:44 PM -

this really looks good gay! o ayan dumaan ako ha!
Gay June 6, 2009 at 6:08 PM -

Hahaha! Thanks!
maggie June 30, 2009 at 10:55 AM -

hello gay! i have an award for you, please pick it up at my blog. thanks!
Arlene July 1, 2009 at 8:51 AM -

Hi Gay, thanks for the visit and the comments. Nice to meet you here in the blogsphere! I had the chance to be in Gen San last year during the 2nd Mindanao Bloggers Summit.
Gay July 1, 2009 at 9:29 AM -

I wasn’t here in Gen San yet at that time. Just came here last December. I’ll be visiting Iligan this Sept. Hope to touch base with you then.