Brief Summary
Renee from Little Village Homestead shares her recipes and process for making homemade pizzas to freeze, offering a cost-effective and tastier alternative to store-bought options. She provides recipes for both the pizza dough (no rise) and a no-cook pizza sauce, along with tips for preparing and par-baking the pizzas for easy cooking later.
- Cost-effective alternative to store-bought pizzas.
- Recipes for no-rise pizza dough and no-cook pizza sauce.
- Tips for preparing, par-baking, and freezing pizzas.
Toppings Preparation
Renee begins by preparing a variety of toppings, including red onions, Roma tomatoes, small tomatoes, and canned mushrooms (as fresh ones weren't available). She emphasizes using what you have on hand and mentions other favorites like cherry tomatoes and spinach, which she substitutes with power greens due to being out of spinach. She also includes sundried tomatoes, pepper rings, jalapenos, and cheese among her toppings.
No-Cook Pizza Sauce Recipe
Renee introduces her easy, no-cook pizza sauce recipe, which saves time by eliminating the need for cooking. She combines tomato paste with water to achieve the desired consistency, then adds Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, salt, sugar, and olive oil. She advises tasting and adjusting the seasonings to personal preference, providing a base recipe in the description box.
Pizza Dough Recipe
Renee shares her pizza dough recipe, starting by blooming yeast with sugar and hot water in a mixer. She then adds olive oil, flour, and salt. After the ingredients are incorporated, she kneads the dough for 10 minutes using the mixer. This dough doesn't require rising, making it quick to prepare and use immediately.
Dough Shaping and Resting
After kneading, Renee divides the dough into eight equal portions, aiming for approximately 12-inch pizzas. She shapes each portion into a ball and allows them to rest for 20-30 minutes. This resting period is not for rising but to allow the dough to relax, making it easier to roll out later.
Pan Preparation
Renee prepares her 12-inch cast iron pans by lightly oiling them to prevent the dough from sticking. She mentions purchasing these pans from Family Dollar for $12 each, highlighting their suitability for pizza making.
Rolling and Par-Baking the Dough
Renee rolls out each dough ball to fit the 12-inch pans, stretching it as needed. She emphasizes that the dough rolls out easily after resting. She creates a small crust and pokes the dough with a fork to prevent bubbling during baking. The dough is then par-baked in a 450°F oven for 5-7 minutes, aiming for about 80% cooked.
Assembling the Pizzas
Renee applies the no-cook pizza sauce to the par-baked crusts, followed by a layer of cheese. She then customizes each pizza with various toppings according to preferences, including pepperoni, ham, peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, and jalapenos. She finishes with a sprinkle of Italian seasoning and sometimes additional cheese.
Custom Pizza Creations
Renee makes a pepperoni pizza and a meat pizza for a friend, carefully layering the toppings and adding extra cheese. She also creates a pizza with a variety of toppings, including peppers, mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, onions, and jalapenos, ensuring the toppings extend to the edge of the pizza.
Final Touches and Baking
Renee continues assembling pizzas with different topping combinations, including pepperoni and mushrooms, ham and peppers, and a vegetable-loaded option. She bakes a couple of the pizzas with pepperoni, peppers, onions, banana peppers, and sundried tomatoes.
Wrapping and Freezing
Renee double-wraps the assembled pizzas for freezing, noting that they will be used within a couple of weeks. She skips labeling and dating them due to their short storage time. She mentions that par-baking the pizzas makes them freeze beautifully.
Taste Test and Final Thoughts
Renee and her husband try the freshly baked pizzas, expressing their enjoyment of the crust and sauce. She reiterates the cost-saving benefits of making homemade pizzas and encourages viewers to stock their freezers with them. She provides the recipes in the description box and thanks viewers for watching.
