Let's do the Pizza Twist!

Almost every Friday night we do something really original here at the Ewald home - we have pizza! What? You do too?? What a crazy coincidence!
Well, my friends, this recipe may change Friday Family Pizza Night in your home forever! Never again will you be satisfied with the  2 medium delivery pizzas that are too sweet, too salty and too greasy for $30 + again! Unless it is one of those Friday nights when you just feel like flopping in front of a good movie and don't give a shhhhh...........'sugar' about making sure that everyone has their veggies, (but of course, that would never happen in a dietitian's kitchen, no, no, never......)

Make this pizza twist and you will have your friends and family exclaiming," You made that! Really?!" And you will be thinking, "Oh Edie, thank you for sharing this recipe and making our Friday Family Pizza Night so wonderful!!!"

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      



Whole Wheat Pizza Crust Dough:

 This dough always works out - you can use it for a regular pizza also. I have had a Kitchen Aid Mixer for about 17 years and use it several times a week! I love it! It makes easy work of kneading dough!
KitchenAid KSM150PSWH Artisan Series 5-Quart Mixer, White

Put 1 1/2 cups warm water in a large bowl (or the bowl of your KitchenAid ). Add 1 tbsp sugar, dash of salt and 1 tbsp of yeast.

When it bubbles up after a few minutes, start adding whole wheat flour by the cup- use the dough hook on your mixer, or stir (you poor soul) after every addition.

You will end up adding 3 - 4 cups of flour. When it is no longer sticky you have just about the right amount of flour in there. Keep the dough hook going for 5 - 6 minutes, or knead for about 8-10 minutes...good upper body exercise. Form the dough into a nice ball and put a little flour on the bottom of the bowl so it won't stick. Cover and let rise for about 30 minutes.




 When you pat the dough after it has risen it should remind you of patting your baby's little bum...sniff, sniff...where has the time gone....

 

  



Filling:
 You can make the filling while the dough is rising.
 The filling can be almost anything you want. Just make sure that it is not too wet, i.e. too much tomato sauce will make a soggy mess.
 On this night, I put some antipasto, diced pepperoni, sliced mushrooms, lots of chopped fresh parsley and a little grated mozzarella.
Mix all of your chosen ingredients together.

Cut the dough in half with a sharp bread knife.
Sprinkle a cookie sheet with a little cornmeal or brush with a little olive oil.
Roll out the two dough balls into two rectangles on the sheet.

















Place half of the filling down the middle of each.












Pinch the dough together to form a long tube and roll it so that the pinched side is face down.















 Make an 'x' with the two tubes.

















Then, cross the bottom half over each other, like crossing your legs, then the top.

 Sprinkle some dried oregano, basil and freshly grated parmesan on top and put in a preheat oven (375) for about 30 minutes. When you tap on the dough it should sound a little hollow when it is done.

This can be a main course pizza to enjoy with a big salad or an appetizer to bring to a party!

Hey, maybe I exaggerated the bit about Friday Family Pizza Nights never being the same again because of this recipe - but would we really want them to change anyway?  Not on your baby's bum!!