Doesn’t everyone love a good pizza pie? From thick to thin, piled high with toppings or plain cheese, pizza is always a favorite with people of all ages. Plus, pizza is fun and easy for the whole family to make at home.

Even if you consider the kitchen foreign territory, you can make an Italian homemade pizza with just a few easy steps. The first step is making the dough. If you’re short on time, you can purchase pre-made pizza dough at your local grocery store. However, handmade pizza dough is not difficult to make, not to mention it’s delicious!

For this Italian pizza recipe, try using Father Dominic Garramone’s recipe for making pizza crust. A Benedictine priest, Father Dominic has written educational and inspirational books on spiritual growth through baking bread. He also hosted the PBS television show, “Breaking Bread with Father Dominic.”. This recipe will make one 15 inch thick-crust pizza, or a couple of smaller thin-crust pizzas.

Ingredients:
1 pkg. active dry yeast
1 tsp. brown sugar
1 cup of warm water
½ cup cold milk
1¼ tsp. salt
2 Tbs. of olive oil
3 – 3 1/2 cups all purpose flour

In a medium size bowl, add yeast and brown sugar to warm water and stir to dissolve. Let the mixture stand for about five minutes. Stir in the olive oil, cold milk and salt. One half cup at a time, add 2½ cups of flour and mix until thoroughly incorporated. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured board and knead for about five minutes, adding small amounts of flour to keep the dough manageable. Using olive oil, lightly oil the dough’s surface. Place the dough in a clean, medium size bowl. Then cover it with plastic wrap. Let it rise in the refrigerator for at least two hours or overnight.

About two hours before you want to make the pizza, punch down the dough. Then, knead it lightly, and form it into a ball. Cover the dough with a dry, clean towel, and allow it to rest on the counter until it comes to room temperature. To form the crust, use your hands to flatten the dough, then roll it out on a lightly floured board to your desired size. Father Dominic suggests preheating the oven to 500 degrees fahrenheit and preparing the crust on a pizza stone.

Once the dough has been prepared, it’s time to choose your pizza toppings. What Italian pizza recipe is complete without Italian meat? The best place for Italian meat toppings is Volpi Foods, America’s oldest and most prestigious producer of authentic, hand-crafted Italian meats. Whether you use your favorite tomato sauce or plain olive oil as your base, Volpi’s wide variety of dry cured meats will add flavor and excitement to any pizza.

For a twist on the traditional pepperoni pizza, try using Volpi’s hot Sopressata for a spicy pizza pie. If you’re in the mood for a salty and sweet combination, use slices of Volpi’s famous melt-in-your-mouth prosciutto. Add fresh spinach leaves, sprinkle with goat cheese crumbles, then layer with thin slices of prosciutto. Bake in the oven until the crust is light golden brown, then slice and serve immediately.

This simple and delicious Italian pizza recipe is a guaranteed crowd pleaser for parties or a family cooking night at home. Try it tonight at your house. You’ll be transported to Tuscany at first bite. Buon appetito!

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