Introduction: Affordable Date Night: Hawaiian Pizza From Scratch

By www.approachingfood.com
About: I’m a self-trained cook, cooking (and blogging about it!) for myself and my husband in our condo. Cue the cozy domesticity!

Pizza might not seem very special, especially for a date night, but when you make it from scratch...it goes gourmet! Plus it's an affordable way to be all foodie, and making a pizza together is a great way to bond.

This is the easiest pizza dough in the history of ever and you don't need to knead it or wait for hours for it to rise.

Let the tasty romance begin!

Step 1: Make Your Dough

Easiest Pizza Dough in the History of Ever

  • 2 1/4 tsp (1 pkg) quick active dry yeast
  • 1 c warm water
  • 2 1/2 c. flour
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil (or veg. oil. You use what you’ve got!)
  • 1 tsp. sugar
  • 1 tsp. salt

Mix the warm water with the yeast in a bowl until dissolved (I used a stand mixer, but you can use a bowl and spoon). Add in sugar, salt, and oil and stir. Mix in flour until dough holds together.

Let dough sit while you prepare the toppings.

Step 2: Prepare Your Toppings

Hawaiian Pizza Toppings

  • 3/4 c. chopped ham
  • 1/2 c. pineapple chunks (canned)
  • 1 c. shredded mozzarella cheese

(you'll see olives in the picture, because I'm vegetarian and I was making the pizza for myself as well as my meat-a-tarian husband. Omit them if you're going for traditional Hawaiian pizza.)

Chop your ham, cut up your pineapple if it's not already in chunks, and shred your cheese. Set aside.

Step 3: Prepare Your Pizza Pan and Heat Your Oven

This step is a little touch that makes the pizza just that more gourmet.

Drizzle olive oil (or vegetable oil if that's what you have) on your pizza tray and rub it into the tray.

Sprinkle cornmeal over the oil.

This allows the pizza to be released from the pan with less sticking, and it also adds that rustic touch that gourmet pizzas often have.

You can heat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit now.

Step 4: Prepare Your Crust

Take your dough and spread it to fit in the pan. If it doesn't seem to want to spread, or if it's too springy, let it sit for another 20 minutes (this allows the gluten to relax and it will stretch more easily).

Spread 1/2 c. of tomato sauce (pasta sauce is fine) over the dough.

Step 5: Add Your Toppings and Bake!

The title to this step says it all:

Add your toppings to your prepared crust, and bake in a 425 degree Fahrenheit oven for about 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the edges of the crust are golden.

Serve with a glass of wine and a chocolate dessert, and enjoy your date night!