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Aug 19, 2015

Grandma Pizza


Grandma Pizza

This Grandma Pizza is sort of a cross between pizza and focaccia, and originated from the memories of Donna Curry, the author of the amazing bread baking cook book, Make Ahead Bread: 100 Recipes for Melt-in-Your-Mouth Fresh Bread Every Day.


Eleven years ago, when I first found out I was going to be a grandma, I was in total denial. After all, I was way too young for this role (in my head at least)!


Once my grandson was born, all bets were off. I went into Mama Bear mode. This little boy (who is now almost my height and eleven years old) is the light of my life. Life is not perfect, and crap happens (lots of crap). Being a grandmother has been just about the best job I did not sign up for.


Every time I see this boy, he immediately exclaims "grandma!" and runs over to give me a big hug. I'm pretty sure this won't last forever. Eventually, he'll be too cool, right? I now embrace the title of grandma. This is why, when it was time to choose a bread from Donna's book, I was immediately drawn to Grandma Pizza. Plus, he luuuurves pizza!

Grandma Pizza

One of the joys of this pizza recipe is that you make the dough in advance, throw it into a plastic bag, and then toss the bag into the refrigerator for up to 2 days. When you are ready to bake the pizza, you just press the dough into a quarter sheet pan, top it with tomatoes and cheese, and bake! How easy is that?!

This pizza makes amazing leftovers too. We toasted slices of this pizza for breakfast and dipped them in olive oil and balsamic sprinkled with chili flakes. Delicious!

Grandma Pizza

This recipe is from the book Make Ahead Bread by my friend Donna Curry who writes one of my favorite blogs, Cookistry. Donna is into bread... and cocktails! Girl after my own heart. She also writes for several publications, including Whisk Magazine, by Melinda Lee, of whom I am a fangirl.

Her book has 100 recipes for bread that you can make ahead and then bake when you need fresh bread! There are recipes for sandwich loaves, rolls, pizza, breadsticks, and even sourdough.

I am giving away an autographed copy of Donna's book after the recipe for this pizza. This giveaway is for U.S. and Canadian readers. The book is awesome!!

Grandma Pizza

Ingredients

1 tsp instant yeast
13 1/2 ounces (3 cups) bread flour
1 tsp Kosher salt
1 1/4 cups room temperature water
2 T olive oil
1/2 cup canned crushed tomatoes (I used the kind that had Italian seasoning and added some garlic), drained
4 ounces sliced mozzarella cheese
Sliced fresh basil

Instructions

  1. Mix the yeast, flour, salt, and water together in a bowl until they form a shaggy mass, and all of the flour has been absorbed. 
  2. Toss the olive oil into a gallon sized zip log bag and distribute it to coat the bag. 
  3. Form the dough into a ball and add it to the bag. Seal the bag and refrigerate the dough overnight or up to two days. 
  4. On baking day, remove the dough from the refrigerator and heat the oven to 375 degrees F. 
  5. Transfer the dough, along with the olive oil, to a rimmed quarter sheet pan (13 inch by 9 inch). 
  6. Using your fingertips, poke the dough to prod it toward the edges of the pan. Take your time if the dough resists. 
  7. Sprinkle the tomatoes over the dough, leaving about a 1/2 inch edge. Scatter the cheese on top of the tomatoes. Scatter the basil on top of the cheese. 
  8. Bake the pizza until the dough is browned and the cheese is bubbly, about 40 minutes. 




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Would you like to comment?

  1. The smell of a fresh loaf baking in the oven is spectacular but knowing exactly what's in the bread is my favorite part...no preservatives! We eat a loaf quickly enough to not worry about it going bad.

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  2. Great job on the pizza! It's lovely!

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    1. Thanks Donna. I love how it puffed up so much in the oven!

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  3. I love the smell of bread baking it fills the house

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  4. Well, my dear Karen... as you know, I just became a Grandma (bonus type) a few months ago, and OBVIOUSLY I am way way WAY too young for that

    Now that I stopped pouting, I shall save this recipe to spoil my little Princess as soon as she gets old enough to appreciate Grandma's Sally Fantastic Bread. HA!

    :-)

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    1. We're both too young, but it is a joy, isn't it?

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    2. yes, we are definitely NOT grandma material ;-) BTW, Karen I meant to say but forgot, don't enter me in the giveaway, I already have that book...

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  5. I love the fresh yeast smell and being able to eat it warm.

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  6. I love making my own bread and bake several times a week - one of my earliest food memories is of my Polish grandmother baking bread and Polish desserts like yeasted coffeecake using cake yeast. I love to use my Emile Henry bread cloche and also make Scandinavian sweet breads, would love to win a copy of this!

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  7. I love the smell of the yeast and as it bakes which is part of the build up for the moment you slather on the butter and take your first bitr

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  8. I love having fresh loafs anytime I want and the smell!

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  9. I Love the freshness!

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  10. I love the smell throughout the house.

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  11. I love taking that first bite when it is warm from the oven. Plus, now it is a favorite activity with my son.

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  12. love all things bread...can't wait to make grandma's pizza bread. reminds me of one mt grandmother made. sicilians make this thicker style of pizza.
    marion

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  13. I love the whole process, from mixing and kneading the dough to the smell it makes when it is baking, but the best is how warm freshly baked bread just melts in your mouth and leaves you with a warm glow!

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  14. Mmm, this looks just lovely - I love this style!

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  15. I love the smell of fresh bread baking, but I will admit, I have always found making it myself daunting. Maybe this cookbook would change that?!

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  16. But I thought when I signed up for the job of mother that grandmother came with it ... although it did seem a long time coming. Yes it is the job of a lifetime while it lasts.
    Toasting that pizza for breakfast sounds beautiful.

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  17. First of all - I am DROOLING over this pizza. DROOLING. It looks so amazingly good, I can't stand it. Second, that must be the best feeling to have that little cutie get so excited about seeing you! He's vey lucky to have a grandma as great as you cooking him up these delicious things.

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  18. The smell! Really, that's it right there. I love how the aroma of baking bread fills the house. It's so comforting. Then eating warm, fresh from the oven with a slab of butter.

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  19. My favorite part of pizza has always been the crust. I even order takeout pizza with "double dough" so I can't wait to make this.

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  20. What a sweet post. I love anything that is make-ahead....bread especially. My favorite part about making bread is the reaction from others!

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  21. The recipe is wonderful, but the story was even better!:) We wish you'll always have your grandson's hug and love. It was really beautiful reading about this.
    Lots of -virtual- hugs from us as well Karen!:)
    Panos and Mirella
    xoxoxo

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  22. I love the way that making fresh bread makes me feel useful! My kids and husband enjoy it and it is simple, but appreciated.

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  23. Now that's a pizza I could sink my teeth into - looks delicious, Karen. Love the photo of you and your adorable grandson. I can just see him running up to you and calling out. How very sweet. He's a luck boy to have such a grandma!

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    1. Thanks so much Cathy!! I'm so lucky to have him!

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  24. Karen,
    This pizza looks so easy and perfect for creating grandma memories!

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  25. Grandma Pizza is the best! And I bet you are a very fun Grandma, Karen! I can't imagine he'd ever *not* hug you and say "Grandma!!" whenever you guys visit! xo

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    1. Thanks Jenni. I try to spoil him as much as I can.

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