A Pizz-a-d-action!

 Pizza conjures up varies memories to different people.  To some it might mean a quick slice 

after a good night out, a take away enjoyed at home with a good movie….  To me Pizza 

invokes a lifetime of memories.  My fondest memory  has to be sitting patiently around the 

kitchen table with my sisters, friends and family members waiting for our custom made pizza

lovingly made by our mother to be created and cooked.

 My mum - Naomi would make the dough, the sauce and then make each and every pizza to

everyone’s taste. The oven could only hold a couple of pizza at a time, so everyone had to   

wait their turn. 

In the summer months my mum would occasionally organise a pizza and wine party, and the fabulous varied pizza flavours and wine, would be enjoyed with her girlfriends at the local playing fields, while they where busy chatting, joking, drinking and eating, us kids would have a whale of a time where  eating and playing on the  swings. 

Watching my mum create Pizzas on a regular basis, was a lifetime master class in Pizza

making. Now my home-made pizzas are slowly becoming my signature dish, being

reknowned around the globe,  as well as my most popular cooking and master class,  when I

teach cooking.

I have made Pizzas for our friends, our large family in South Africa, where I had an incredible

assistant in Kayla my sister-in-law, and was enjoyed by a large number of people. 

Gave a Pizza Master Class to one of my lovely friends and her  gorgeous 4 year old

daughter (who’s an incredibly keen cook already), and very recently had a small army of

girlfriends assisting me, when it was my turn to make dinner for 10, while on holiday at

home. 

Thus creating more fond memories to our international circle of friends, family in South Africa

and my cooking students.  

To make the  Pizza Dough you will need:
 

1kgs Plain Flour

2tsp Yeast 

3 Cups of Water  

2tbsp Oil 

2tsp salt

Method

·    Mix the flour, yeast, salt in a large bowl  and mix well.
·    Add the oil, and mix well again.
·    Make a whole in the middle and add the water a cup at a time, mixing it all together ·    When the mixture starts blending together, start kneading it by hand, adding more water a little at a time, until the mixture is turned into dough with a nice smooth texture.
·    Sprinkle a little flour, cover with a plastic bag the top of the dough and then place a clean cloth over it.
·     Leave to rest in a warm  place, until it doubles in size.
·    When it rises, knead one more time, adding a little flour if required.
·    Then role out a little at a time, according to the size of the pizza tray. 

Maltese Sauce for Pizza

Ingredients:

·    2 Small can tomato puree
·    1 Small can water
·    3 Cloves Garlic – chopped
·    1 Chicken/Vegetable Cube
·    1tspn Sugar
·    1tbsp Olive Oil/Vegetable Oil
·    Pinch salt and pepper

Method

·    Heat the oil in a medium sauce pan.
·    Add the garlic and cook on a low heat for a few minutes.
·    Add the tomato puree and mix for a few minutes.
·    Add the cube, sugar and salt
·    Pour in the water, add a little extra if required but do not over water the sauce.
·    Simmer gently for about 5 minute or until sauce is blended well.

Cooking Tips:  Ensure the oven is pre-heated on 220 - 250₀C.  For an authentic aroma &

taste sprinkle dry oregano on top of the mozzarella before placing the pizza in the oven) Add 

Toppings according to taste.

Final Note: I really hope you guys enjoy trying out making pizza, by following my easy step

recipes to making both the pizza and the sauce. Both can also be made in advance and can

be kept in the freezer for up to a month (so no excuses).