Plan Your Pizza Garden
If planting a garden is a yearly spring tradition in your family, the time is right to celebrate the planting season. Nothing in the world beats super fresh garden-to-kitchen vegetables, fruits and berries. If you and your family like to get your hands dirty, this pizza garden will take some of the drudgery out of planting and add a little fun in its place.
In an accessible part of your tilled garden spot, have the kids delineate a circular area for the pizza garden. Securing it with appropriately spaced stakes, run string around the circumference of the plot and diagonally across the garden area twice (the strings should intersect) so that the plot is quartered. In one fourth of the pizza garden, plant tomatoes, in another onions, in another peppers and in the fourth zucchini or other favorite vegetable pizza toppings. Kids will enjoy tending this pizza garden, knowing the treat that harvest time will bring. When it’s time, pick your vegetables and use them with cheese, sauce, spices and other ingredients to top this delicious pizza crust.
Deep-Dish Pizza Crust Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 ¼ cups warm water
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 2 teaspoons oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- Extra oil (for brushing)
Place water in a mixing bowl. Sprinkle sugar and yeast over the top and stir until dissolved. Place bowl in a warm place and allow to stand until yeast begins to bubble (about 8 to 10 minutes). Add the 2 teaspoons of oil, salt and 3 cups flour. Mix using a dough hook or food processor. Knead the dough about 15 minutes or until the dough takes on a smooth texture, adding more flour as needed. Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl, turning the dough once in the bowl so that the top of the dough becomes lightly coated with oil. Cover the bowl loosely with plastic wrap and let stand in a warm place until it doubles in volume. Punch down the dough and press it out evenly in the bottom of a lightly oiled 12-inch Dutch oven. Brush crust, especially edges with oil. Bake in Dutch oven at 325 degrees F for 15 to 20 minutes.
Remove lid, add toppings and bake for an additional 20 to 30 minutes. Makes enough dough for one large 12- to 14-inch deep-dish pizza.
