Flatbread Pesto Pizzas

Pizza is a favorite around our house, but who can afford to order out every time (both the financial cost as well as the health cost)!  Take out pizzas are loaded with saturated fat and a tremendous amount of sodium.  Instead opt for a healthier option and make your pizza at home.  Make it a family affair by having individual pizzas and everyone can top them how they like.   When I make my pizzas at home I use very little cheese if any at all.  Combined with the flavorful vegetables and sauces, you really don't miss it at all and it is much healthier for you!

This dough recipe is delicious and comes out like an artisian-style crust!  I recently splurged and purchased an Emile Henry pizza stone.  It was expensive, but my pizzas have turned out to be like a work of art!  This pizza stone bakes the crust to perfection...something that you would taste in an Italian restaurant.  It is coated with a glaze that helps prevent sticking and staining associated with most other pizza stones (plus it comes in fun colors!).  I purchased it online from Williams-Sonoma.  Give it a try!  It will make you want to cook your pizza at home rather than ordering out.

Dough Recipe (makes 16 individual pizzas or ~3-4 large pizzas.  Dough can be refrigerated for later use)

Combine 1 Tbsp yeast, 1/2 cup warm water, 1/4 tsp sugar together in a large mixing bowl.  Let froth for a few minutes. 

Add 2 cups more water and 3 cups flour.  Whisk together until smooth.  Let rest for 10 minutes.

Place ingredients in a mixer bowl with dough hook.  Gradually add additional 3 cups of flour, 2 Tbsp olive oil, and 2 tsp salt.  Mix until dough comes together. 

Put dough in an oiled bowl and cover.  Let rise in a warm place for 2 hours.  

Punch down, remove from bowl, knead for a few minutes.  Divide in half then into 16 total pieces.  

Heat oven to 500 degrees.  Roll each dough piece into 7-8 inch round pizzas.  Place on a pizza stone (coated with cornmeal to prevent sticking) and cover with a cloth.  Let rise an additional 20 minutes.  

Place toppings on pizza and cook for 10 minutes or until crust is golden brown and toppings are cooked through.

Toppings:

Pesto sauce

Tomato sauce

zucchini

onion

bell peppers

olives

banana peppers

tomatoes

fresh herbs

garlic

mushrooms

etc.