I've been on a pizza kick.
A few years ago, I got on the same kick. I do these things, find something I want to do and immerse myself until I feel I've mastered it to my satisfaction. At some point, and I don't remember the inspiration, I decided that I wanted to make my own pizza, and I wanted it to be just like Pizza Hut's pizza. I researched at the library and on the internet for a copy-cat crust recipe, but never did find one. In my search, however, I came up with a few keepers. My magnum opus was a deep-dish pizza that my husband's co-workers still discuss to this day.
And then something happened. I can't remember what, but the storm blew over as quickly as it came. Likely, something more fresh and challenging crossed my path, like cheesecake, or knitting, or braided rugs (none of which I've mastered to my satisfaction, but all of which I've gotten about knee-deep and am still slogging through). And I set pizza aside.
Well, now that I have a wonderfully appointed kitchen suitable for cooking and baking, with adequate counter space and three sinks, and now that I've been Freecycled a breadmaker that saves my arthritic hands from cramping up after two and a third minutes of kneading, I'm on that pizza kick again.
Every weekend, I make several balls of dough, harvest several sprigs of basil and a few tomatoes, and pull out the plethora of toppings that sound fitting for the evening. So far, the pizzas have been a huge hit. I've made semolina crust, regular crust, and, tonight, I'm venturing into new territory, pepper-lard crust, made with naturally rendered pork lard (mmmm...doesn't that sound healthy?). Lucky for me I live in a community that still bakes. There's no shortage of flour choices: semolina, hi-gluten, pastry, unbleached/nonbromated, white whole wheat, bread flour, cake flour, buckwheat flour--you name it, I can probably find it within ten minutes of my house.
So, if you unique pizza recipe you'd like to share that works for you, I'm interested. You have my attention.
And if this pepper-lard dough works out, I'll publish the results along with a recipe, if you want.
In the meantime, tell me:
what's your favorite pizza place?
What do you like on your pizza?
What's the worst pizza you've ever eaten?
What's the best memory you have that's triggered by pizza?
And now, I'm off to throw some dough.
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