Update and Redux: C – One of the things I miss about being a vegetarian is eating a good slice of pepperoni pizza. Like this one we made a while back. Oh, how I miss the crispy oily salty taste of thinly sliced pepperoni mingling with gooey stringy cheese. I have tried alternative vegan or vegetarian pepperoni, but the gross fake stuff just doesn’t cut it. It’s alright, though. I am being a vegetarian for a good cause. I also think I’ve had my fair share of pepperoni pizzas.
C – I know this is a simple pizza …
But, I was craving something simple. After all the crazy pizzas we had this week, I wanted to do something more traditional. I love a just plain pepperoni pizza. It doesn’t always have to be complicated. Sometimes less is more.
I was happy. Pepperoni pizza is my comfort food. It reminds me of simple things. Maybe even simpler times. Pepperoni pizza was a treat my parents would only let us eat once or twice a year growing up.
We couldn’t afford eating out much. So, it was always a special treat when we went and got pizza. We would always buy pepperoni because it was the cheapest. I am so glad my parents never fed this to us daily. I wouldn’t appreciate the goodness of pizza, if it weren’t for their limitations.
I love the crispy pieces of pepperoni. The pepperoni oil mingles with the cheese and tastes divine. My favorite part is the light crispy crust that makes everything right with the world. I was a bit stressed before I ate this. It was a busy day at Be Mindful. Be Human. This really was a stress reliever. It’s my comfort food.
Of course, Jim didn’t want pepperoni. Luckily, I had already made it. So, it as the only thing we had to eat. He was reluctant to eat it … until he had the first bite. Then, it was a race to the finish. I am glad I can make a good pizza.
| Pizza Week: Pepperoni Pizza |
- 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes, drained and liquid discarded. Or, 6 fresh tomatoes peels removed
- 1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp red wine vinegar
- 2 medium garlic cloves, minced
- 1 shallot, chopped
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp table salt
- 1 Tbsp fresh oregano, finely chopped
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- ¼ pizza dough (link below)
- ½ cup Homemade Tomato Sauce
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
- 10 slices pepperoni
- Preheat oven to 500 degrees for one hour with pizza stone in place before cooking pizza.
- Remove pizza dough from refrigerator an hour before cooking.
- After an hour, place bread flour on a working surface and flatten pizza dough to 6 to 8 inches in diameter.
- Evenly spread tomato sauce over top of dough. Leaving about ½ to ¾ inch of the outside circle not covered with sauce.
- Evenly spread Parmesan over sauce.
- Evenly spread mozzarella over top.
- Place pepperoni evenly over top of cheese.
- Place in oven for 12 minutes. Turn pizza halfway around after 6 minutes.
- Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes.
- Cut pizza in to 6 slices.
- Serve immediately.
- Enjoy!
Pizza Dough recipe
Oh, pepperoni pizza, thank you for being such a great comfort food. You’re simple, delightful and oh so good.
Jim even ate you without too much of a fight. That’s a win! Hope you never change.