Saturdays are always fun at The Pantry. This Saturday we made thin crust white pizzas from ten until three and served them in the store. For the earlier risers, those who got there before ten, we made a batch of chocolate cream-filled cupcakes topped with chocolate whipped cream frosting. (Watch for the mix on that whipped cream frosting.)
I teased Erin-she is such a bright, happy person: “Erin, today you get a 30% commission on every slice of pizza that you sell’.” Since the pizza was free, she didn’t make much but she sure is a delightful pizza peddler.
Make two pizzas for two bucks this week only. Choose Rustic Italian Pizza Dough or Classic Italian Pizza Dough.
The Pizza Recipe: Bacon, Cheddar, and New Potato White Pizza
When you’re making that much pizza, it’s got to be quick and easy. The pizzas were a snap and we expedited the ingredient prep:
We baked the bacon on cooling racks set on foiled-lined, large baking sheets in the oven. The racks were 12 x 18-inches and we baked nearly a pound at a time. The grease dripped onto the foil for easy cleanup. Then we snipped the bacon into bits with kitchen scissors.
We used a mandoline to slice the onions and the potatoes. The potatoes were sliced almost as thinly as potato chips and they resembled potato chips on the pizzas.
Since the bake time is so short, the veggies need to be par-cooked before the pizza is baked. We microwaved the onion pieces for five minutes and the potatoes slices for three. The onion slices were more thickly cut than the potatoes.
Potato Bacon Pizza
1/4 cup ranch dressing
3/4 cup grated cheese (we used a combination of cheddar and mozzarella)
7 or 8 strips of bacon cooked to a crisp and snipped into 1/2-inch pieces
half of a medium-sized sweet onion, thinly sliced
1 small potato thinly sliced
3 tablespoons Zesty Pizza and Pasta Seasoning
Directions
1.Place the sliced onion on a plate and microwave it for 5 minutes. Place the potatoes on another plate and microwave for 3 minutes.
2.Make the pizza dough according to package instructions. Divide the dough in half and roll it out in a 14-inch pizza pan. The dough will be about 1/8-inch thick. Save the remaining dough for another pizza. It will keep refrigerated for up to 5 days.
3.Spread the ranch dressing on your dough. Top with the onions, then the potatoes, then the bacon, followed by the seasoning. Sprinkle with the grated cheese.
4.Cook for 7 or 8 minutes or until the crust isImmediately slide the pizza to a wire rack. Use kitchen shears to cut slices and serve immediately.
This is like eating veggies, bacon and melted cheese on a cracker-thin flat bread that is fresh and crisp. If you let the pizza sit on a cutting board while it is warm, it will sweat and lose that crispness. It’s the crispness that is the delight of a thin-crust pizza.
Variations on the Theme
- You don’t have to use white sauce. Marinara works just as great.
- Put whatever you choose on the pizza. We are partial to veggies and I love fresh tomato slices. I put the tomato slices on after the pizza comes from the oven. I like summer squash so I do that when they are in season.
- For other white sauces, consider alfredo, French onion dip, or sandwich spreads.
We did our prep on Friday by experimenting with the recipe and the seasoning. Of course, I wandered off trying this spice and that. My favorite was the Cajon spice from Vermont in addition to the Zesty Italian blend. (I never make pizza without my trusty Zesty Italian Spice.) The Cajon spice gave it a little kick but was much more pleasant than red pepper flakes.
Why it Works, Plus Tips
- It’s fast because you don’t need to let the crust rise and the thin crust bakes to a crisp in minutes.
- Use a dark pan.
A dark pan absorbs heat and cooks the crust. It’s almost im0psoible to get a crispy crust with a silver pan. - You can roll it thin and uniform because there is a dough relaxer in the mix. The relaxer makes the dough easy to work with and eliminates the spring-back.
- Avoid the temptation to overload your pizza. Too many goodies will make your pizza soggy and you’ll upset the balance of fillings to crust.
- Keep it healthy. As long as you go easy on the cheese, it’s a low fat, low calorie meal. Try turkey sausage or pepperoni in place of the bacon. Consider olive oil or marinara in place of the white sauce for a healthier pizza.
Author Biography
Top ofDennis Weaver has burnt food from Point Barrow, Alaska, to Miami, Florida. He is the founder of The Prepared Pantry in Rigby, Idaho and the author of How to Bake: The Art and Science of Baking, available free in an e-book or as a Kindle book on Amazon for $10.
He loves to help people bake and is giving away Free Kitchen Library sets with 30 e-books and over 1500 pages of content like this-a $150 value. There is no cost or obligation. You get five books immediately and one per week for 25 weeks. See how to get your free kitchen library .
Dennis lives in Rigby, Idaho, with his wife, Merri Ann. They have five wonderful children.