No Seriously, Cream Cheese Pizza

We make pizza about once every other week. It has been so long since we ordered delivery that I can't remember when it was. Making your own pizza has a couple of major advantages. 1st is probably healthier for you. I am anti-processed foods and I can guarantee that dominos uses canned sauce. 2nd you can put what ever you want on it. Our favorite combo is Bacon, Red Onions, Mushrooms, Pineapple and Fresh Basil. Last Friday (yes I am getting behind in posting but you are getting two tonight) we made it with all the above and cream cheese. I had this once on a Pizza in Greeley Colorado when I was in High School. It is amazing. The colder it is the easier it is to cut but just cubing it and dropping it on there is heavenly.

So of course you start with a good dough. This is Sarah Speciality so I will just reproduce the recipe. Ask her if you need further assistance.

2 Tablespoons of Sugar
1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil
3/4 Cup Warm water (warm enough for yeast about 105 degrees max)
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon of Instant Yeast

Combine all the ingredients into a mixer, preferably a bosch and mix together with a paddle mixer. Once it comes together knead it with the kneading hook for 10-15 minutes. This is the most important step. Don't skip it or shorten it. Once it is kneaded roll it on a lightly floured surface into a ball and place it in a bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of Olive oil and toss the ball around to coat it. Cover and let rise until double. We actually proof our in the oven. Turn the oven on to like 200 and let it preheat, then kill the heat and put the bowl in with a pan of boiling water on the rack below. In Colorado in the winter this is almost a necessity. At least in our drafty apartment it is.

While that is rising you can prepare the sauce. I use a 15 oz. can of tomato sauce (yes I know it is canned and processed but I can't get mine that pureed). I put it in a small sauce pan and add about 1 1/2 teaspoons of garlic granules, the same about of basil and oregano and then I add about a 1/4 or more of a teaspoon of ground nutmeg and about a tablespoon of honey. This makes a sweat and flavorful sauce. Bring that to a boil and simmer for a bit.

Finally punch down the dough and roll it out. We 1 1/2 this recipe and make two good size pizzas. Spread it with sauce and load the toppings and cheese (Do I need to say Motzerella here? Only use the yellow stuff for color if you're a crazy detailed looks person, like Mrs. Mc). Bake in an oven at 400 degrees for about 10-12 minutes or until the crust looks done. Enjoy.