Thursday, March 1, 2012

Home-made Part Two (C)

Location
My very own kitchen!  Last night I looked in the fridge and saw cheese, chicken, feta and an onion.  There isn't really much else you can do with that, other than buy pizza dough and sauce and whip up a delicious chicken pizza.

The Pizza
I bought premade dough and premade sauce and started in, cooking like a fiend.  The cheese was a chedder and mozzarella mix, which I just don't think comes out as well as pure mozzarella.  The chedder makes it gooey and I really just don't want gooey pizza.  The dough was pretty tasty, but did not cook all the way, in the center.  I rolled it out on the pizza stone and then slid the stone into the oven, cold.  Everyone knows that pizza stones are supposed to be preheated!  I need to remember that when I am cooking with Big Y unrisen dough, I need to use a metal pizza pan, which conducts heat more easily.

The Chicken
I have perfected the chicken technique, if I must say so myself.  I pounded a breast flat, dipped it flour, egg and bread crumbs, then fried it in a skillet.  I sliced it, dunked it in sauce and laid the strips across the top of the pizza.  The only thing that really needs work is my pounding.  I never thought I would say that, but it's true.  Recipes all call for chicken flattened to an even 1/2 inch or thinner.  I can't seem to manage that.  I pound and pound, but it keeps some if its shape.  Oh well, it cooks evenly, which is the most important part.

The Sauce and the Taste
I was out of barbecue sauce, so I decided to use some Frank's Red Hot sauce, instead.  I shook the chicken slices in the sauce to give an even coating, then splashed some across the surface of the pizza.  I also included feta cheese and carmelized red onions.  I have to say that, despite the cheese and the dough being kind of soft and gooey, the taste of this pizza was amazing.  It was a perfect combination of heat, sweet and salty.

Overall
This pizza still has a ways to go.  I have certainly found better pizzas at restaurants...but I think I am catching up.  This pizza was better than the ones I made a few months ago and I think I know how to make it even better.  The chicken and the other toppings are secure in their superiority.  Now what I really need is to find a good recipe for pizza dough and a good cheese blend.

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