Homemade Chicago Style Pizza

Ever feel like you cook the same thing over and over?  If you want a fun, easy and positively delicious change, toss together a pizza! No need to order delivery or defrost a preservative-filled pizza. Last night as a date night, Brian and I made this pizza together.  The reason it adds the extra bit of fun is because it’s methodically different than just stirring or flipping. How often can you say “I threw my dinner in the air and caught it” with a stew or pork tenderloins? It takes only  20 minutes to bake and it’s a lot healthier to use your own ingredients than rather trust on what a box says.

Ingredients may vary if you choose to have less or more of a specific topping.
Ingredients Dough:
– 3 1/2 cups flour
-1 1/4 cup warm water
-2 tablespoons yeast
-1 tablespoons honey
-1/4 cup olive oil
-1/2 teaspoon salt
-1/2 teaspoon pepper

Pizza Toppings:-2 cups shredded cheese of your choice (we used the pizza style mixture)
-1 1/2 cup tomato sauce (we used a jarred pizza style sauce)
-1 green bell pepper
-1 cup sliced mushrooms
-sliced pepperoni

Steps: Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit
1. Sift the flour into a large bowl to ensure there aren’t any clumps
2.  In a smaller bowl, mix the water and yeast and let it sit for about ten minutes
3. Mix all the ingredients into the larger bowl (including the yeast and water), using your hands
4. Once the ingredients are combined well, pour some flour onto a counter space and knead the dough
—Kneading is the process of mixing the dough in a consistent motion to work out any air bubbles
5. Once the dough is a softer consistency, pour some cornmeal or flour onto a round baking sheet and mold the dough to the sheet
6. Use a marinade brush to coat the outer crust with olive oil and top it with salt and pepper
7. Pour the tomato sauce in the center of the dough and work your way toward the outer crust, make sure it’s evenly distributed

8. Top the pizza with most of the cheese (leaving a little extra to put over the other ingredients)
9. Add the pepperoni in an even-fashion, you can use as little or as much as you want
10. Finally, add the rest of the ingredients. Again you don’t have to use the specific ingredients listed in this recipe
11. Place the pizza in the oven and bake for 25 minutes

The crust should be golden brown and crispy

12. Cut the pizza into any way you like, serve hot and enjoy!