The Amazing HPC Whole Wheat Thin Crust Dream Pie

I’ve recently been asked to post the recipe for the HPC Dream Pizza Pie on the blog. This recipe has been around for over 4 years now and is available for FREE download however I thought I would re-post it on the blog as well. If you want the downloadable version simply grab it from the links resources to the right of this post.

If you’ve never tried this pizza give it a try as it’s a favorite for our readers here at HomePizzaChef.

Suggestion – Make your dough the night before you plan to bake your pizza, this will allow plenty of time for the dough to rise and also adds to the flavor of your crust) OK… here we go!

Ingredients:
* 1 teaspoon white sugar
* 1 1/2 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C- No need to boil the water)
* 2 packages of Active Dry Yeast (AYD) – Easily obtained form any grocery store
* 1 small bottle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
* 1-teaspoon salt
* 1 ¼ cups of Stone Ground Whole Wheat Flour
* 1 ¾ cups of Enriched Unbleached Bread Flour
Accessories
1- Roller Pin (Or a rollable surface to flatten the dough)
1- 14” Perforated Pizza Pan (The kind with the holes punched into the bottom of the pan)
2- Large Bowls for Mixing
2- Kitchen towels or equivalent

Making The Pizza Dough
Pour 1-½ cups of warm water in a bowl (Approx 105 –115 degrees)
Empty the 2 packages of Active Dry Yeast into the bowl and stir until fully dissolved. Set to the side for approximately 20 minutes.

In a separate bowl mix the remaining dry ingredients (Whole wheat flour, enriched unbleached bread flour, salt, and the sugar).

Check the yeast mixture to ensure that the yeast has become active. It will appear to have increased in volume.

Slowly began to pour small amounts of the dry ingredients into the yeast and water mixture, stirring as you add the mixture. Continue to add the dry mixture until the mixture becomes solid and somewhat “clumpy”. Once you have added all of the dry ingredients to the yeast and water mixture, add approximately 1-½ teaspoons of olive oil to the mixture and continue to knead by hand. If needed, add a little more water to insure the dough is manageable. The kneading process can take 15 -25 minutes to make sure the dough is well blended.

Once the dough is well blended, cut the dough in half and roll (by hand) into (2) small dough balls. Roll the dough balls around in any leftover flour (plain white) that is available. Finally, with a small amount of olive oil, brush the dough balls lightly to moisten and place in separate bowls that you will cover with a wet kitchen cloth and place in the refrigerator overnight. For best results I suggest at least 8-12 hours… however you can use the dough if needed after 2-3 hours.

Preparing The Pizza Sauce

Ingredients:
1 –15 ounce can of tomato sauce
1- 6 ounce can of tomato paste
1 ½ teaspoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 teaspoon of minced garlic
1 teaspoon of ground oregano (Mediterranean preferred)
1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon of Basil Leaves (Mediterranean preferred)

Pour the tomato paste and tomato sauce into a bowl. Add all seasonings including the olive oil. Stir until all ingredients are thoroughly blended. This should result in a smooth tomato sauce… if more smoothness is desired add just a touch more olive oil. Set aside for 3-5 minutes.

Creating the pizza pie….

Once you’re ready to assemble the pizza, remove the dough from the refrigerator and let sit for approximately 15 minutes. The goal is to raise the temperature of the dough to room temperature…

Grab one of the dough balls and begin to shape the dough… refrigerate the leftover dough ball for future use.

Use a rolling pin to roll the dough out until it is “paper thin”… this can take 15-20 minutes… make the dough as thin as possible without tearing the dough.

Oil your pizza pan with olive oil by placing a fair amount of olive oil on a brush or a kitchen cloth. Spread evenly across the perforated pizza pan. Using a perforated pan will help create the quick baking effect that produces a crispier pizza crust. At this point we’re going to try something a little different. Pre-heat your oven to 300-325 degrees.

Once the oven is hot and BEFORE you dress your pizza… slide your pizza dough that you’ve stretched across your perforated pizza pan into the oven for NO MORE THAN 2 ½ minutes.

Remove the dough from the oven.

Now place your pizza stone in the oven. The dough has now been pre-heated and should be fairly warm. Crank your oven up to 425-450 degrees to make sue it is plenty hot prior to resuming the pizza bake.

Now we’re ready to add our pizza sauce. With a large spoon, spread your pizza sauce evenly across the pizza dough. Make sure the sauce is spread evenly across the entire pie.

Adding your pizza toppings…

OK… now we’re ready for the good stuff… here are the toppings that I use for this pizza…

Ingredients:
½ cup white or red onions (I prefer the red onions for the bold flavor…)
½ cup green pepper all seeds removed
½ cup small mushrooms
½ cup uncooked Italian Sausage - Usually found packaged in a plastic roll at any grocer
10- 15 small round slices of Canadian bacon
10- 15 small round slices of pepperoni
2 cup s finely shredded mozzarella cheese (you may use less or more depending on your taste)
1 cup finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese (measure to taste)

A sprinkle of freshly ground pepper

If you have a small automatic chopping machine use it… It’s perfect for this recipe. Place the onions,  peppers and mushrooms into the chopping machine and chop until very fine and small…

You should actually have to remove these ingredients from the chopping cup with a spoon. That’s how fine these ingredients should be… If no automatic machine is used, make sure you chop the onions, peppers and mushrooms into very small and fine portions…

Now evenly spread your cheeses across the warm pizza crust. Once your pizza sauce layer and cheese layer have been added, sprinkle the finely chopped mixture of onions, peppers and mushrooms evenly across the pizza.

Using very small pinches of Italian sausage, strategically place the Italian sausage across your pie. Once completed, add your slices of Canadian bacon and pepperoni evenly across the pizza. For better cooking, try not to overlap the meats. Once this is completed we’ll sprinkle the fresh ground pepper lightly across the entire pie.

We’re ready to slide the pizza back into the HOT oven for 6-8 minutes or until the edges of the crust are golden brown.

What’s left? Pull up a chair in the kitchen and anxiously wait for your masterpiece to complete the baking process. Once baked, carefully remove the hot pie and cut with a pizza cutter. WARNING – By this time family members and friend are probably gathering around your kitchen waiting to dig in…

Hide this secret recipe in a safe place so you can refer to it later…
ENJOY!

Boboli Style Pizza crust is a great crust that can be used for a variety of homemade pizzas. Today we will make a Boboli style pizza crust that taste great an can be used with your favorite pizza recipe for a unique flavor that’s light and delicious.

Boboli Style Pizza Crust Recipe

Ingredients:
* 1 package Dry Yeast
* 1/4 cup Water
* 2 1/4 cups Warm water
* 6 tablespoons olive oil, + extra for pans
* 6 cups Flour
* 1 teaspoon Salt

Directions:

Dissolve yeast in warm water (105 degrees F is perfect). Let the mixture sit for about two minutes. Once this is done add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.

Turn your blend out onto board and knead for ten minutes and place back in bowl covered with a damp towel. Allow the blend to rise 30 to 40 minutes.

Divide the dough into 3 parts and place in 3 olive-oiled pie pans. Dimpling the dough can easily be accomplished with your fingers. Once dimpled, place these ingredients on top of the following mixture:

Coarse sea (or Kosher) salt, fresh ground pepper, chopped rosemary and thyme. If herbs are dried, soak them in water for 10 minutes and then pat dry on paper towels. This will bring out the flavor of the dried herbs.

Let rise once more for about 50 to 60 minutes. Bake at 350 F for 25 minutes. You may also dip in each piece olive oil.

This pizza crust is great when you are trying to achieve a light but flavorful crust that accentuates unique pizza toppings. Give it a try, I’m sure you’ll absolutely love it.

Spring is here and from time to time you may want to create a quick pizza that’s easy to make and also delicious. Here’s the answer. Using one of my favorite breads, French bread, we’re going to show you how to create a quick and easy pizza that all will love.

Give it a shot!

French Bread Pizza Recipe

Ingredients:

* 1/2 pound sausage, browned & drained
* 1/2 pound sliced pepperoni
* 1 loaf French bread
* 30 ounces jar spaghetti or pizza sauce
* Sliced black olives
* Sliced fresh mushrooms
* 16 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
* Optional Toppings: Candied bacon, green peppers, onion, ground beef

Directions:

Cut bread in half lengthwise. Place on cookie sheets. Cover bread
with the sauce all the way to the edges. Top with sausage and
pepperoni; then with whatever toppings are desired, ending with
the shredded cheese. Bake the bread pizzas 20 minutes at 350
degrees. Cut into pieces. To freeze, wrap unbaked pizza tightly
in foil. Then freeze. Unwrap and thaw the pizzas before baking.

Once baked cut into manageable slices and serve. Everyone will love this creation at your next outdoor get together.

Before we make today’s pizza let’s first talk a bit about Fontina Cheese…

Fontina is a cow’s milk Italian cheese of sorts. Fontina cheese has a rich historical background and has been made in the Aosta Valley, in the Alps since the 12th century.

The milk fat content of this type of cheese is around 45%. As with many original varieties, the name “Fontina” has been imposed upon by such derivatives as “Fontinella”, “Fontal”, and “Fontella”.

Italian Fontina can be identified by a Consorzio (Consortium) stamp of the Matterhorn including the script “FONTINA”. Although the version from Aosta is the original and the most famous, Fontina production occurs in other parts of Italy, as well as Denmark, Sweden and France.

The original Fontina cheese from Italy is fairly pungent and has quite an intense flavor, although cheeses labeled Fontina that are produced in other countries tend to be much milder without the profound flavor associated with the distinct original Fontina intensity.

Let’s try our hand at a unique pizza with a flavor that you’re sure to remember.

Pizza With Fontina Cheese, Artichoke Hearts And Red Onions

Ingredients:

* 1 pound Frozen white bread dough; thawed according to package directions
* 2 tablespoons Olive oil; divided
* 2 tablespoons Wheat bran or cornmeal
* 1 clove garlic; chopped finely
* 1/2 medium Red onion; thinly sliced
* 1 package (9 oz. size) frozen artichokes; thawed
* Salt
* Freshly ground black pepper
* 1 cup shredded Fontina cheese

Directions:
Drain and slice artichoke hearts. Preheat oven to 450F. On lightly oiled baking
sheet, press chilled dough into 9 x 12 inch rectangle, crimp edges to form a rim.
Brush with half the oil. Evenly sprinkle with bran or cornmeal; press lightly into
dough. Sprinkle with garlic. Arrange onion in 1 layer over dough; top with
artichoke hearts. Drizzle with remaining oil.

Lightly season with salt and pepper. Evenly sprinkle with cheese. Do not let
dough rise. The pizza may be held briefly in the refrigerator before baking. Bake
15 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

Cut into manageable slices and enjoy!

Here in Tennessee it was 75 degrees, then a
few days later…35 degrees and today it’s warm again…

The weather is complicated… my goodness!

Well… today I’ve got a great pizza recipe for you that
combines simplicity with flavor that’s tremendously
boastful… it’s one of my favorites and I’m sure it will
become one of your favorites also… an it’s NOT
complicated at all…

This recipe uses “basil”, one of the most important culinary herbs used in salads, casseroles, sauces and even some liqueurs …

We’ll combine this ingredient with three distinct cheeses that will have your pizza pie bursting with flavor…

Let me introduce you to the….
Three-Cheese Pizza With Mushrooms and Basil

We’ll be using parmesan cheese, skim ricotta cheese and skim mozzarella cheese for those of you who enjoy
the flavor of a lighter cheese blend…

Here’s the recipe

Three-Cheese Pizza With Mushrooms and Basil

Ingredients:

* Cooking spray
* 1 (8-ounce) package pre-sliced mushrooms
* 1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
* 1/4 cup shredded fresh Parmesan cheese
* 1 (10-ounce) Italian cheese-flavored pizza crust
(you can use Boboli or traditional for this one))
* 1 cup chunky vegetable pasta sauce
* 1/2 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
* 2 tablespoons thinly-sliced fresh basil

Directions:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Heat a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat.

Add mushrooms; sauté 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

Combine ricotta and Parmesan cheeses.

Place pizza crust on a baking sheet. (you can use the crust recipe found in the HomePizzaChef Crust Tutorial for this one also)…  http://homepizzachef.com/dough.html

Spread pasta sauce over crust, leaving a 1-inch border.

Dollop the ricotta cheese mixture evenly over sauce and top with mushrooms.

Sprinkle with mozzarella…

Bake 12 minutes or until crust is crisp. Sprinkle with basil; cut into wedges.

Serve and watch your family and friends beg you to make another!