Basic Dough I Basic Dough II Tomato Sauce I Tomato Sauce II Tomato Sauce III Marinara Sauce with Onions Spinach Pizza ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Basic Dough I Makes two 12-inch pies. 1 pkg active dry yeast 1 cup warm water (105-115 deg. F) 3 cups flour (about) 1 tsp sugar 1/2 tsp salt 2 Tbl olive oil 1 Tbl corn meal (optional) Soften yeast in warm water. Mix in 1-1/2 cups flour; add sugar, salt, oil, and the rest of the flour. Knead until smooth and elastic. Grease bowl, place dough inside, then grease dough surface and cover with cloth. Let rise in a warm place, about 85 deg F, until double in bulk -- about 1-1/2 hours. Punch down, roll out on floured surface to fit two 13-inch round pie pans (sprinkle pans with corn meal before baking). Push the sides of the dough up about half an inch to hold filling. The dough is now ready to be filled and baked at 450 deg for 15-20 minutes, or until the crust is a golden brown. -PTV ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Basic Dough II Makes three 12-inch pies. 2 pkg active dry yeast 1/2 cup warm water (105-115 deg. F) 1-1/2 cups milk (105-115 deg. F) 1/4 cup olive oil 1 Tbl sugar 1 tsp salt 5 cups all-purpose flour (about) Sprinkle yeast into warm water and dissolve. Mix warm milk, oil, sugar, and salt with yeast. Beat in 4 cups flour; add more gradually for a soft dough. Knead until smooth and elastic. Grease large bowl, place dough inside, turn dough around to grease top. Cover with cloth and let rise in a warm place, about 80-90 degrees, until doubled -- about 45 minutes to an hour. Punch in the middle with your fist. Turn onto a flat surface and divide dough into three balls. Stretch each into 12-inch pie pans, leaving a half-inch lip at the edge to prevent filling from spilling out. (For a thicker dough use smaller pans.) Fill with desired filling and bake on the lowest oven shelf at 450 deg. for about 45 minutes or until crust turns golden brown. -PTV ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tomato Sauce I Makes enough for one 13-inch pie. 3 Tbl coarsely chopped onion 1 minced garlic clove 1 8-oz can tomato puree 2 Tbl olive oil 1 tsp oregano salt and pepper to taste Saute onion and garlic in heated oil for 2 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients and cook 15 minutes over moderate heat. -PTV ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tomato Sauce II Makes enough for two 13-inch pies. 3 cups plum tomatoes, peeled and chopped (may be fresh or canned) 1 tsp salt 1 tsp oregano 1/4 tsp pepper 2 Tbl olive oil Mix all ingredients together and bring to a boil. Serve. -PTV ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tomato Sauce III Try this versatile sauce over pasta or on pizza. Makes enough for two 13-inch pies. 1/4 cup olive oil 1 medium onion, chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 1 carrot, chopped 2 stalks celery, chopped 1 green pepper, chopped 3 cups tomato puree 1 Tbl tomato paste 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped; or 2 tsp dried basil 5 sprigs fresh parsley, chopped; or 2 Tbl dried parsley Saute onion and garlic in oil until golden. Add carrot, celery, and green pepper and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add tomato puree, tomato paste, and seasonings. Simmer over low heat for 40 minutes. -PTV ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Marinara Sauce with Onions Makes enough for three 12-inch pies. 1/4 cup butter 1/4 cup olive oil 2 cups chopped onions 1 small carrot, chopped 3 garlic cloves, minced 1 bay leaf 4 cups plum tomatoes, fresh or canned 1/2 tsp oregano 1/2 tsp basil 2 Tbl tomato paste salt and pepper to taste Heat butter and oil in skillet; add onions and saute until golden. Add carrot and garlic; saute 5 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients; cook for 30 minutes. Put the sauce through a sieve or puree in blender and return sauce to skillet to cook for another 30 minutes, on a medium-low flame. -PTV ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Spinach Pizza Makes one 13-inch pie. 1 medium onion, sliced 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms 3 Tbl oil 1 cup chopped frozen spinach salt and pepper to taste 1/2 cup prepared tomato sauce 1/2 cup sliced or shredded mozzarella cheese 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese 1 unbaked pizza pie shell Saute onion with mushrooms until onion becomes transparent. Add spinach and seasoning, cook 5 minutes more on medium heat. Set aside. Spread tomato sauce over pie shell. Add the spinach mixture over tomato sauce. Arrange the mozzarella cheese over the top, then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake on the lower shelf of hot overn (450 deg F) for about 15 to 20 minutes when cheese melts and crust turns golden brown. Serve hot. Enough for three servings. Variation: Instead of mozzarella cheese, crumble 1/2 cup feta cheese over top of pie. -PTV