Armello's Pizza Crust and Fontana's Pizza Sauce - Vandergrift, PA

We went to the Whitehall Farmers Market on Monday and stopped by the Callifonte Foods booth to buy a jar of Fontana's Pizza Sauce and a package of two Armello's Italian Bakery pizza crusts.  (I also bought cookies from Happy Jack Bakery and some incredible blueberries - I'm going to get there early next week so I can be sure to get a double batch!)

Fontana's sauce is thick and rich, deep red in color and slightly sweet.  Armello's pizza crust comes in a package of two.  They are charmingly uneven, and when cooked are chewy in the center and crisp on the edges - just the way I like it.  Armello's pizza crust now comes in whole wheat - I can't wait to try that next week!

Mama Mary's Pizza Crust Recipe Contest with Cool Prizes

Here's a recipe contest I just heard about - Mama Mary's Pizza Crust is hosting a recipe contest with great prizes.  How great?  Well, how does a grand prize of $5000 and a trip to Disney World sound?    Grand prize winners will be chosen from three categories:  Your Mama's Favorite Pizza, Creative Creations Traditional or Dessert Pizza..   Semifinalists are chosen quarterly, so if you hurry you can still get in an entry for the second quarter, which ends June 30.  Semifinalists will receive a cappucchino machine and a year's supply of Mama Mary's Gourmet Pizza Crusts, plus be qualify to compete for a grand prize.

Good luck!!!

Pillsbury Refrigerated Thin Crust Pizza Dough ... With Hot Peppers

I always keep a tube of Pillsbury's refrigerated pizza dough in the refrigerator for a quick and easy pizza.  I usually buy the Classic crust, but this time opted for Thin Crust - it had good flavor, except that ... yes, I burnt it again.   Just as I was about to take the pizza out of the oven, the dog jumped over the fence and ran off down the street.  By the time we got back to the house, it was overdone.  (The photo is from the "good end".)

I had another little mishap with it, too - when I was unrolling it, one side of the crust stuck to my hand and I ended up sticking my fingers through it, which made a huge hole.  I patched it back together, but it was not as beautiful as I wanted it to be.

What I was really excited about was that I used the first banana pepper from my Pizza Garden to use as a topping!

For what it's worth, here's the recipe:

1 Tbsp. olive oil
One Pillsbury refrigerated pizza crust (we used the Thin Crust)
1 cup of pizza sauce, or to taste (we used Mid's)
1 hot banana pepper, cleaned and sliced very thinly
1 cup grated mozzarella cheese, or a pizza blend (we used Organic Valley)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Prepare cookie sheet or pizza pan with a layer of olive oil.  Unroll crust and place on cookie sheet.  Spread pizza sauce over crust, decorate with sliced pepper, and top with grated cheese.  Bake for approximately 14 minutes and try to prevent your dog from running away while cooking.

Remove from oven and let cool for several minutes.  Slice and enjoy!

Mancini's Bread Company Pizza Dough - Strip

Now it's easy to perfect your pizza hand-tossing method ... without having to make the dough yourself!

Mancini's Bread Company in Pittsburgh's Strip District offers their fantastic pizza dough to go - you can purchase a 1-1/4 lb. ball of plain pizza dough ($2.75), or try the Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil Dough ($3.70), or European Multi-Grain dough ($3.15). Mancini's also offers two pizza kits: one with dough, sauce and cheese ($7.95), and another that also includes pepperoni ($10.35).

We've tried the regular pizza dough, and intend to try both the Mancini's Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil Pizza Dough and the healthy sounding European Multi-Grain.

I have to admit I rolled instead of tossed - next time, I'll have to buy extra and practice!

Fast & Easy Pizza Bagel Recipe

Serves 1 or 2

1 bagel - your choice of flavor

4 Tbsp. pizza sauce

4 Tbsp. grated pizza cheese mix (combination of mozzarella, provolone and Parmesan)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Slice bagel in half and lightly toast. Place toasted bagel halves on oven proof pan or baking sheet. Top each bagel half with 2 tablespoons each of prepared pizza sauce. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of grated cheese on top of each half.

Put pan in preheated oven and bake for approximately 7 minutes, or until sauce is heated through and cheese is melted.

Enjoy!

Easy Pizza Crust Recipe

Don't be afraid of the yeast! This pizza dough is quick and easy.

1 packet active dry yeast
1 cup warm (not hot!) water
1 tsp. sugar
2-1/2 cups + of all purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. olive oil


Dissolve yeast in the warm water in a large mixing bowl. When dissolved, stir in all remaining ingredients. Beat vigorously until blended, then let dough rest for 5 to 10 minutes.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Coat a pizza pan or very large cookie sheet with cooking spray, or a light coat of olive oil. (I usually use a cookie sheet - my pizza pan has "holes" in it for aeration and it is difficult to clean when I use it to cook fresh dough.)


Flour a clean work surface, and lightly flour a rolling pin. Roll out the dough until it will fit the pan you are using. Place dough into prepared pan. (If you don't have a large work surface, simply press the dough into the pan and spread out using clean, floured hands.)


Spread pizza sauce over the dough and add any toppings you desire.


Bake for 15 to 20 minutes.