Sundays have religiously been "pizza night" at our home since my husband and I moved in together. This was something we could easily afford while we were still living it up without a baby, but once our little bundle of joy came along it didn't seem practical to be spending a $100 a month on take-out pizzas. That being said, we were not willing to give up our Sunday night pies so I decided to try making our weekly pizza in-house. I quickly learned that I could save us money and calories by making our pizza at home. It is very easy, quick and just as tasty as ordering out!
I know, I know...I used to frown at the thought of a homemade pizza too. Trust me, my homemade pizzas are like no Tombstone, Red Barons or DiGiorno that I have ever tasted. My pizzas are better!
Making a pizza at home is also a great way to include your kids in the kitchen. It's never too early to start showing your children how to cook. Use recipes like this one to teach your children what food groups the different ingredients come from and talk about healthy food choices! You can easily turn this into a very valuable learning experience! I can't wait until my daughter is big enough to help because kids LOVE helping make a pizza! Mommy (or Daddy) can chop up the ingredients and then let the kiddos decorate the pizza. Chop up some extra veggies and have the kids "hide" them under all that cheese. No questions asked; the kids will eat all those veggies right up!
This recipe is one of mine that I would refer to as a "semi-homemade" meal because it is so very simple and uses ingredients that require no pre-cooking.
First, I lay the crust out on a cutting board. Building my pizza on a cutting board allows me to slide it right in the oven when it is ready to be cooked.
First, I lay the crust out on a cutting board. Building my pizza on a cutting board allows me to slide it right in the oven when it is ready to be cooked.
I pour at least a cup of sauce onto the center of the pizza crust. Don't worry about looking for and buying the sauce that says it is specifically made to be used as pizza sauce. Just buy a jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce. It is much cheaper (in most cases) and will taste just as good.
I use the back of a spoon to spread the sauce evenly over the crust. Some people say, "The cheese makes the pizza." Well, my husband would tell you that you are wrong, my friends. My husband swears that the sauce is the most important ingredient when making a pizza. Needless to say, I typically go a little heavy on the sauce. I like to make my honey happy!
I use the back of a spoon to spread the sauce evenly over the crust. Some people say, "The cheese makes the pizza." Well, my husband would tell you that you are wrong, my friends. My husband swears that the sauce is the most important ingredient when making a pizza. Needless to say, I typically go a little heavy on the sauce. I like to make my honey happy!
After I have a good coating of sauce I sprinkle the cheese evenly over the pizza crust.
I dug around in our fridge before I started putting the pizza together and I found some banana pepper rings and pepperoni. I was feeling a little lazy, so I just grabbed those items and decided that would work for our pizza this evening. When I am really in a "cooking mood" I will chop up green pepper, onion, mushrooms and any other fresh vegetables we have on hand. You probably have more than enough items on hand at any given time that you could use to top a pizza! Don't be scared to try new combinations. You could even try making a taco, buffalo chicken or Thai flavored pizza. The possibilities are endless! MMMmmmmm...
I cover the cheese with tons of toppings...
I cover the cheese with tons of toppings...
...and then sprinkle the entire pizza with a little more cheese.
I cook the pizza at 450 degrees for about 10 minutes. I always cook my pizza directly on the rack because I love the crisp that it gives to the crust. Once the cheese is melted and bubbly I remove it from the oven and let it set for about 5 minutes before I cut into slices. Yummy! Looks and tastes delicious. Why order take out when you can just as easily make your own pizza at home?
Semi-Homemade Pizza
Ingredients
1 store bought pizza crust (I typically buy Mama Mary's because you get two crusts in the package for the price of one)
1 cup jarred spaghetti sauce
2 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Your choice toppings
1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
2. Lay the crust onto a cutting board and pour one cup sauce into the center of the crust.
3. Use a spatula or back of a spoon to evenly spread the sauce over the crust.
4. Use approximately 2 cups of the cheese to create an even layer of cheese over the sauce.
5. Load the pizza with your choice of toppings. Don't hold back!
6. Bake the pizza directly on the middle rack for 10 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and melted.
7. Enjoy!
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