Why would anyone “do” take out pizza when it’s SO (so, so) easy and so much better tasting to do at home?? Yes, even when you’re so tired that your hair hurts! I know because tonight my hair has been killing me…  

Can we talk??  

I know that some (ok more than some) people think that I, because I love making bread at home, that I would absolutely refuse to purchase dough built by someone other than myself. …This is not true.  

Here’s the truth. I adore making homemade bread (including pizza dough). But, when I don’t have the time or patience on a given day to do it the way I love to taste it, I will definitely buy it from someone who does…And, the very best place to get a raw pizza dough when wanting hot, crusty homemade pizza (when tired, hungry and you actually would like to NOT feel obligated to apologize for it’s sloppy texture and/or lowered temperature) is…. (ta-dah…) the neighborhood pizza shop!  

I did it tonight and it worked perfectly. I was totally exhausted from teaching on Rikers (up at 4:30 am to shower and load my car…and that’s just the tip of it all, trust me…).  

The Point: If you want homemade pizza at the end of a hard day and you haven’t had the time or given the forethought to make the dough yourself, this is what you do (listen up!). 

  Here’s a bit of motivation for you to keep reading… 

 Go to your local pizza place, pick up a dough (ask for it to be placed in a regular “small size” pizza box (not a bag). You can even ask to purchase some of their shredded cheese (ask for extra cheese since it’s been a hard day…Pick up a tub of marinara sauce at the supermarket (a refrigerated brand is best since it tastes freshest). And, if you weren’t able to buy shredded cheese at the pizza shop, buy it now (at the supermarket). Also, pick up some crushed red pepper flakes, sliced mushrooms (sliced pepperoni is a favorite with me) and fresh basil. 

Come home: Preheat the oven to 550 F and give it enough time to get to that temperature (this takes a while so pour a glass of wine, turn on he music and take off your shoes)… It would also be best if you had a large pizza stone on the rack (there should only be one rack in the oven and it should be in the center position). Mince a good dose of garlic and add a lot of it to the marinara sauce (with some chopped basil along with some crushed red pepper flakes). Sauté the mushrooms until tender and caramelized with some of the reserved garlic (but save the last dose for the top of the pizza). By the way, don’t be shy here, with toppings…You can sauté onions, or slice some roasted peppers…there are at least 1,000 things I could give you to do but, then again, let’s remember you’re exhausted.  

OK, once the oven is VERY, VERY, VERY hot, fill a spray bottle with very cold water (I actually keep a filled spray bottle in the fridge so the water is always cold) and sprinkle a large wooden bakers peel (or a flat cookie sheet if you don’t have a peel) with cornmeal. Stretch the dough until a very thin 15-inch round as it sits on the peel. Spread a thin but even layer of sauce on the dough and, if using browned meat (like sausage), scatter it over the sauce. If not, strew a GENEROUS amount of cheese over the sauce. Now is the time to add any sautéed vegetables (and/or sliced pepperoni…) over the cheese and then add some grated aged parmesan, if you have it (great parmesan is highly suggested …)  

Ok, now shove the pizza into the oven, sliding and releasing it onto the top of the VERY, VERY, VERY hot pizza stone and, before shutting the oven door, spray the oven with cold water (shooting the mist over the pizza in three or four shots). Shut the door and bake for 12 to 18 minutes (or until the crust is deep (way deep) golden and crisp and the cheese is sizzling).  

Slide the peel (or the flat cookie sheet) underneath the cooked pizza and remove it from the oven –and slide it onto a warmed pizza pan (a 15-inch pan, remember?…) Now, using a large pizza wheel, slice that big, gorgeous, round thing into 6 to 8 large wedges…  

If you hurry, hurry… you will end up thanking yourself for making pizza at home. This is SO much better than doing “take out” and trying to convince yourself it’s “hot, oozing and perfect…” when you know it’s far from it.  

Homemade pizza....there's just nothing like it!

And, when you have some time and want to make pizza from scratch (and even have a pizza party!…) I can show you how on my video. So, whether you need some great pizza when tired and hungry or when you want to do it all yourself and have a really fun time, I hope you’ll enjoy it the way it will always taste best, at home.

Tags: homemade pizza, tasty pizza, tired and hungry

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