Recipe: Some mighty fine 'za

Fridays are becoming our pizza night and tonight's was really good, so I thought I would post the recipe. I made it with whole wheat flour that had not been soaked, since I can't really figure out how that would work in a recipe with yeast. Anyone with a clue about this, feel free to respond.

We used organic toppings, which I think makes a difference, but regardless both of these are really good. We make two smaller pizzas out of the crust recipe.

Whole Wheat Crust

1 cup warm water

2 T honey

2 T olive oil (or 1 T olive oil and 1 T coconut oil)

2 t sea salt

2 1/2 c whole wheat flour

1 pkg yeast

optional seasonings: oregano, basil, garlic, onion, etc.

I use a bread machine and add the ingredients in the order listed and set it on the dough setting. Sometimes I let it rise in the machine, other times I take it out and use it as soon as it's mixed. The second is our favorite. If you plan to let the dough rise, don't put the seasonings in the crust until after you press it out.

After it's done, I press it out on an oiled and cornmeal floured pan and seal it with olive oil or olive oil and garlic.

Top with toppings and cook at 350 degrees about 30 minutes or 'til done.

Spinach Artichoke Topping

1 16 oz bag of cut-leaf spinach with water squeezed out of it

1/2 can of artichokes drained

1/2 c cottage cheese (may need more)*

1 T dill chopped, or dry dill

2-3 garlic cloves

1/2 onion chopped

sea salt to taste

parmesan cheese

mozzarella cheese or pizza cheese blend

Mash cottage cheese well 'til it is fairly well broken down. Mix in the rest of the ingredients and taste for seasoning -- add more of whatever until it tastes like you like it. Spread on 1/2 of the above pizza crust. Top with cheese.

*You can also use cream cheese and mayo

Zucchini and Veg Pizza (modified from Rachel Ray)

Pizza sauce

1 small zucchini cut into very thin slices

Italian seasoning

mushrooms, onions, green pepper sliced thinly

green olives

sausage, ham, pepperoni, etc.

parmesan cheese

mozzarella cheese or pizza cheese blend

Take thinly sliced zucchini and lay out on paper towel. Sprinkle very lightly with sea salt and then sprinkle with Italian seasoning. You can also use red pepper flakes, if you'd like, but a little goes a long way! You're trying to emulate pepperoni.

Spread desired amount of sauce on pizza. Then put zucchini slices on pizza, but don't overlap, or your pizza will be soggy.

Our favorite so far has been sauce, zucchini rounds, Italian seasonings, garlic, parmesan, mushrooms, onions, green peppers, green olives, cheese in that order. Delicioso!