Sausage & Squash Pizza

Sausage & Squash Pizza

Serves: 3-4

OBJ: TCW be able to apply her dough making skills she learned from cooking class and bake a pizza fit for a hungry husband and health-conscious wifeJ

Dough: Adapted from Diana Albanese, Classic Thyme Cooking School

2 tsp active dry yeast

¾ C + 2 TBS warm water

2 ½ C all-purpose flour

2 TBS extra virgin olive oil

½ tsp kosher salt

Procedures:

1.      In a large bowl, combine ¼ cup warm water and ¼ cup flour. Let sit for 30 minutes

2.      Add remaining flour, ½ cup + 2 TBS warm water, oil and salt

3.      Mix dough with wooden spoon or hands and turn out onto a well- floured work surface

4.      Knead until smooth, elastic and a little sticky to the touch, about 5 minutes

5.      Shape into a ball and place in a large oiled bowl. Rub excess olive oil on dough ball

6.      Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place ( I put my heat on 75!) for about 90 minutes, it should double in size

Sweet Sauce:

½ small onion, diced

2 garlic cloves, minced

3 TBS extra virgin olive oil

¼ Cup dry red wine (I used merlot, but use what you booze:)

I 14 ounce can Italian style stewed tomatoes

½ can 6 ounce tomato paste

½ can 14 ounce diced tomatoes with juices

1 tsp dried parsley

S & P, salt and pepper

Procedures:

1.      In a large sauté pan or medium sauce pot, heat olive oil over medium flame

2.      Add onions, garlic, parsley and a pinch of S & P, cook over medium heat until veggies are translucent, about 5-8 minutes

3.       Add wine,  all tomato products, and mix well,  turn heat to high and bring sauce to a boil

4.      Once it has reached a boil, turn heat to low and bring to simmer, cover while simmering for 20 minutes

5.      Take off cover and add another pinch of S & P, keep heat on low and stir frequently for about an hour to allow sauce to thicken

Toppings:

2 Italian Sausage links (I used one sweet and one hot, but do what suits you)

1 yellow zucchini or squash, cut into ¼ in rounds

3 TBS extra virgin olive oil

S & P, salt and pepper

Procedures:

1.      Preheat oven to 450 degrees

2.      In a small baking dish, place links inside and loosely cover with foil, bake for 40 minutes turning once

3.      Place sliced zucs on a large baking sheet, toss well with olive oil and a tsp each of S & P

4.      Bake for 20 minutes or until bottoms are browned

Pizza……Finally

1 pizza dough (from above or purchased or prepared)

1 ½  Cup sweet sauce (use more or less depending on your sauce amount preference)

2 sausage links sliced into rounds

1 yellow zucchini or squash rounds, baked/roasted as above

1 Cup shredded mozzarella

¼ freshly grated parmesan cheese

Extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling

Procedures:

1.      Preheat your oven to 475 degrees and preferably place your baking stone in oven right away

2.      Roll dough out to about a 14 inch wide circle or any shape you can get it to look like, anything works with cheese and sauce on top!

3.      At this point, I quickly take out my preheated stone and place dough on it

4.      Quickly spread the sauce, sprinkle mozz all around, spread sausage out on one side, zuc on the other, sprinkle parmesan on top of entire pie and drizzle with olive oil

5.      Place stone with assembled pizza on top back in oven and bake for about 12 minutes or until bubbly and lightly browned crust

6.      Place stone on a large cutting board, bring to table, slice away and enjoy