the pizza man

we loves us some pizza 'round here. seriously. i know people in general love pizza, the way it's impossible not to love kittens in a basket or grandmothers or sunny days in june, but beyond the norm we really do love it abnormally... i could eat it four days a week easily if larger pants weren't a factor... i used to make dough in a bread machine ages ago until it broke and we've tried all manner of shortcuts to get our pizza fix ever since...

when i was expecting cole we ordered more pizza than ever. jamie was out of town a lot, so often after a long day of work the only thing i could manage (in that "i'm so tired but have no clue what tired even is since i don't have a baby to deal with yet" kind of way) was to order pizza. we were actually - true story - blacklisted from a local pizza place (panago - boo, hiss) for complaining when our order was wrong and yet managed a work-around to ensure our pizza supply remained constant.

since then, we've branched out. pita pizzas, pizzas from various other places in town, pizzas made with fresh dough from whole foods. it was that last one that really turned the tides. since merging with whole foods, the dough we used to buy from capers has gotten smaller and more expensive. the last time i was picking a dough ball off the shelf - $2.99 for a ball that would barely cover our large pizza pan - i had a change of heart. why not get back to making pizza? i didn't remember it being hard, but then again i don't remember a lot of things nowadays!

i bought a three-pack of yeast instead and came home to search for pizza dough recipes online. found an amazing, amazing one. it makes three times the dough for 1/4 of the price ( (even using organic flour) and it's delicious. and easy - no kneading!

we usually eat ours later at night when cole's asleep - you know, so we can enjoy it, rather than do the gulp n' munch required at times for a meal with a toddler... but once in a while i make him his own little pizza. easy on the toppings - just cheese and sauce and dough really... tonight i got him up on the helping chair and he helped make his pie!

he rolled the dough and then proceeded to eat the shredded cheese...

if you're in the mood try this recipe - it's easier than trying to get your order across with panago or debating how much to tip a guy with b.o. who just rolled over your mailbox!