Pepperoni Pizza

Little Gonzo Girl loves pizza; veggies? Not so much. So even though I’d (somewhat) mastered the art of take out pizza at home, she still wasn’t biting. Until now.

Subbing out pepperoni for the veggies, while less healthy, is still a far superior solution to pizza that comes home in a box. This also has the much appreciate added benefit of little GG being able to make most of this dish on her own. You go girl!

(I also wanted to mention that this reheats perfectly well the next day – I popped it in the toaster oven, right on the rack. My husband, however, reports that it does not do well the next day as cold pizza.)

Gluten-free update: I’m currently using Cup4Cup pizza crust mix with great success.

Pepperoni Pizza

1 pkg whole wheat pizza dough
¼ cup cornmeal
1 cup marinara sauce
5-6 oz. pepperoni
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1. Heat the oven to 500 degrees; turn it on at least an hour before you begin. A hot oven is critical to getting a super crispy crust.
2. Remove the dough from the fridge and let sit on the counter, covered, for about 20-30 minutes.
3. Sprinkle cornmeal (not flour, which is absorbed into the dough) over your work surface. Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough into a circle. As the circle grows, pick up the dough and use your closed fists to stretch the dough out even further. Place dough on a baking sheet or 12” round pizza pan – spritz with olive or canola oil first.
4. Spread the marinara sauce over the dough, leaving an inch or so at the edge of the pie.
5. Layer the pepperoni over the sauce; the more, the merrier!
6. Sprinkle the cheese on last. (Resist the temptation to add more cheese – the ingredients will shine on their own, and you’ll keep the calories down.)
7. Bake for 7 minutes on the pizza tray, then gently move the pie from the tray to the oven rack.
8. Bake for an additional 5-7 minutes, until the cheese is melting and the crust begins to brown.

GG note: You definitely need a real pizza pan, one with holes in the bottom to allow the heat to circulate. Don’t try it on a baking sheet. Let’s just say, lesson learned.