California Pizza
Dough:
1 cup lukewarm water (110 degrees)
2 packages yeast
3 1/2 cups unbleached flour
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon olive oil
Pesto:
1 cup olive oil
2 cups fresh basil leaves
2 cloves garlic, chopped
3 tablespoons pine nuts
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
cheese
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 sweet red pepper, seeded
and sliced into strips
1 green peppers, seeded and sliced
into strips
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon water
1/2 pound garlic and fennel
sausage or sweet Italian sausage
3 ounces goat cheese
10 ounces Mozzarella cheese,
coarsely grated
2 tablespoons freshly grated
Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons cornmeal
Prepare dough: Dissolve yeast in
water and set aside. Mix flour,
salt, and sugar in a bowl. Make a
"well" in the center, pour in yeast
solution and olive oil. Blend in
the flour using a fork, working
towards the outside of teh well.
As dough becomes stiff, incorporate
remaining flour by hand. Gather
into a ball and knead eight to ten
minutes on a floured board. Place
in an oil-coated bowl, cover with
a damp cloth, and let rise in a
warm, draft-free place until
doubled in size, approximately
two hours. Prepare pesto sauce
using a blender or food processor.
Combine all ingredients except
cheese. Process but do not create
a puree. Stir in cheese. Set side.
Saute onions and peppers in one
tablespoon olive oil and water in
a large skillet over medium heat.
Stir frequently until peppers are
soft. Drain and set aside.
Brown sausage, breaking into pieces
as it cooks. Drain off excess fat.
Chop coarsely and set aside.
Preheat overn to 400 degrees.
Spread remaining olive oil evently
over a 12--inch pizza pan. Sprinkle
with cornmeal. Punch down pizza
dough, flatten lightly with a
rolling pin, turn and flatten with
fingers. Place dough in pan and
spread to edges with finertips.
Bake five minutes. Spread pesto
sauce over dough. Crumble goat
cheese evenly over pesto. Add
onions and peppers, sausage, and
cheeses. Bake 10 minutes or until
crust is slightly brown and cheese
is bubbly..