Meet Dave. Dave is a dear friend from my time working at Borders Books. Despite the fact the store closed 3 years ago, we all have remained a close family. Dave and I have bonded over a mutual love and appreciation of food. A few years back he built an outdoor oven. At least once a year he fires it up and invites all of us displaced book sellers over to build our own pizzas.
We got talking a few weeks ago and I asked him if I could come out the next time he was going to fire it up. I would love to make several pizzas to use on the blog. He agreed and a couple of days ago he messaged me with an invitation.The ideas of what concoctions I could make began to bubble in my head like cheese on the pizza in the hot oven. I talked to my other friend Darla about potential toppings. We ended up concocting several pizzas, more than I could make in any sitting or five!Dave was kind enough to make the dough, as he loves to play with bread. I made a quick pizza sauce and gathered toppings to make six different types of pizza-two are even dessert pizzas! I will post them one at a time over the next several weeks, as to not bore you with pizza post after pizza post.Since this was made in an outdoor oven, these posts will be a bit different than my usual step-by-step directions.He heated the wood-burning oven about three hours before my scheduled arrival. Once the bricks had changed from black to white, indicating the temp is at about 750 – 800 degrees, the oven was ready. He pushed the coals to back, as far away from cooking section as possible and we were ready to make our pizzas.
We got talking a few weeks ago and I asked him if I could come out the next time he was going to fire it up. I would love to make several pizzas to use on the blog. He agreed and a couple of days ago he messaged me with an invitation.The ideas of what concoctions I could make began to bubble in my head like cheese on the pizza in the hot oven. I talked to my other friend Darla about potential toppings. We ended up concocting several pizzas, more than I could make in any sitting or five!Dave was kind enough to make the dough, as he loves to play with bread. I made a quick pizza sauce and gathered toppings to make six different types of pizza-two are even dessert pizzas! I will post them one at a time over the next several weeks, as to not bore you with pizza post after pizza post.Since this was made in an outdoor oven, these posts will be a bit different than my usual step-by-step directions.He heated the wood-burning oven about three hours before my scheduled arrival. Once the bricks had changed from black to white, indicating the temp is at about 750 – 800 degrees, the oven was ready. He pushed the coals to back, as far away from cooking section as possible and we were ready to make our pizzas.
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Ingredients
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 4 plump garlic cloves; grated/minced
- 1-29 oz can tomato puree
- 1 onion; quartered
- 3 stalks celery; chopped
- 3/4 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp salt; +/- to taste
- 1/4 tsp black pepper; +/- to taste
- Pinch of sugar
Instructions
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In a large pot, add the olive oil and heat over medium high heat.
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Once the oil is heated, add the garlic.
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Stir constantly, do not allow it to burn.
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Add the dried herbs, once they become aromatic, in less than 30 seconds, add the tomato puree.
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Stir well making sure all the seasonings are incorporated into the puree.
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Add the salt and pepper.
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Allow it to heat through and taste.
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Add the sugar, onions, and celery and allow the sauce to cook for 20 minutes on a low simmer. Stir occasionally.
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Taste for seasoning, more salt and pepper may be needed.
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Once the sauce has cooked for at least 20 minutes (but can cook longer,) remove the onion and celery pieces.
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Use a spoonful or two at a time for personal size pizzas.
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This makes enough sauce for 15 personal-sized pizzas as featured in this series.
Next post in this series: Tomato & Arugula Pizza.
7 Comments
Yona Williams
May 23, 2014 at 11:35 amOh wow – how cool to have built that in the backyard, and very nice of him to invite friends over to make pizzas. Too cool! lol @ ‘pretending I know what I’m doing.’
Michelle
May 23, 2014 at 11:52 pmI got my face just a bit to close…it’s a good thing I have quick reflexes and stood back or I’d have no eyebrows. So yes, I was pretending. I have since learned. 🙂
Anni
May 23, 2014 at 12:44 pmNew pizza recipe thanks for sharing my daughter lives for pizza and while she never gets bored its nice to switch it up a little every so often
xoxo, Anni
http://www.annisbubble.com
Michelle
May 23, 2014 at 11:53 pmThank you Anni!!! Your daughter has good taste!
Michelle F.
May 23, 2014 at 3:25 pmThat looks so good. I love homemade pizza.
Michelle
May 23, 2014 at 11:54 pmThank you Michelle
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