Pizza Success: The Second Time Around!

Welcome to Pizza Success: The Second Time Around!

no parchment paper is needed after pre-baking

After the shameful mess of having to painfully scrape my very first homemade pizza pie off the paddle, I almost gave up.

But the tantalizing tastes that survived pushed me to create this page - a testament to overcoming kitchen failures and persevering until I can perfect this pie.

My dough may have stuck and my toppings tumbled, but I'm not letting one frustrating flop stop me from baking pizzeria-quality pies at home.

I felt I had to make another one (such hardship there—not!)

This time I followed Anita's instructions! (Learn more about Anita and James' new hobby at the bottom of this post).

I used parchment paper and precooked the pizza crust for a few minutes first ON the paper ON the stone in the oven!




Put Parchment Paper on top of the Spatula

Pizza crust on parchment paper, atop a huge spatula

I put the parchment paper on the spatula, cut it down to size, and left about a one-inch overlap of paper all around. I then placed the crust on it and shaped it so it wasn't hanging off the spatula/paddle!

I pricked the dough to stop bubbles from forming. I then put it in the oven and baked it for 3 minutes.

There's the dough, in the photo, ready for the oven, sat on the parchment paper. The recipe for this easy-to-make dough is here.

After the pre-bake in the oven, I brought it out and added my sauce, the cheese, and sautéed onions along with green, red, and yellow peppers, olives, and mushrooms.

This Huge Slice of Anita's Pizza was My Lunch!

Anita's Pizza - my lunch!

Here's a TIP: next time I shall pre-bake it for five minutes as my cheese ended up getting a little too brown for my liking because I was waiting for the crust to turn just the right shade of 'done'.

Into the oven it went for about 15 minutes—but see the TIP above about baking the crust first for probably five minutes.

I forgot to mention earlier—I've been using the oven at 450°F instead of 475°F. No real reason. To be honest, I was scared of burning the crust and having my toppings not get hot enough. And that won't do!

It was just a case of turning down the heat to avoid scorching the crust - and baking it a little longer.

Suggested Toppings for a Perfect Pizza Pie

Here's a quick list of perfect pizza toppings made from dehydrated veggies. Rehydrate them first so they don't soak up the tomato sauce!

  • Sun-dried tomatoes - Slice up some sun-dried tomatoes that have been rehydrated in water or oil for a few hours. They add a sweet, intense tomato flavor.
  • Mushrooms - Use rehydrated dried mushrooms like shiitake, porcini, or morels for an earthy, umami boost. Or rehydrate and slice cremini or button mushrooms.
  • Caramelized onions - Cook down some rehydrated dehydrated onion slices for a sweet, jammy onion topper.
  • Peppers - Red bell peppers or spicy chile peppers can be dehydrated then later rehydrated and sliced onto pizza.
  • Artichokes - Marinated and rehydrated artichoke hearts lend pops of soft texture.
  • Olives - Slice or whole rehydrated black or green olives make a briny, salty addition.
  • Spinach - Rehydrated dried spinach leaves can be squeezed of excess moisture and scattered on top.
  • Bacon - Crumble up some crisped rehydrated bacon for smoky, salty bites.
  • Sausage crumbles - Sprinkling on bits of rehydrated pre-cooked sausage brings tons of flavor.

I hope these toppings spark some pizza inspiration after making good use of your dehydrated ingredients! Let me know your favorites by using the form coming up!




Different Kinds of Cheeses for Pizza

Here are some of the best types of cheese to use on pizza:

  • Mozzarella - The classic pizza cheese. Fresh mozzarella adds delicious stretchiness and flavor. Part-skim or whole-milk mozzarella are also excellent choices.
  • Provolone - A good melting cheese like provolone adds a sharp, tangy flavor. Provolone piccante is an aged variety with more bite.
  • Parmesan - Freshly grated parmesan adds a salty, nutty punch and crunch. Works great when sprinkled on top.
  • Fontina - This semi-soft Italian cheese becomes beautifully gooey when melted. It has a rich, earthy flavor.
  • Gorgonzola - The bold blue veining in this cheese makes a nice flavor contrast. Pairs well with sweet toppings.
  • Feta - Salty, crumbly feta cheese adds a tangy kick. Use it sprinkled lightly on top.
  • Ricotta - For white pizza, part-skim ricotta adds a creamy texture and mild flavor.
  • Cheddar - Sharp cheddar offers a familiar flavor. Just be sure not to use pre-shredded varieties.
  • Blends - Combinations like an Italian cheese blend can provide multiple flavors in one.

The possibilities are endless for creative, delicious pizza cheeses! Just be sure to use quality, whole milk varieties for the best melt-ability and taste.

What's Your Favorite Pizza Pie Recipe?

Are you dying to show us your dehydrated culinary creation? Share it! Your recipe will have its very own web page -- on this website -- auto-magically!

Don't be shy! Send in your favorite pizza pie recipe using the easy form above. If you've got photos, that would be awesome if you'd share those too!

Tell us why your pie is so good, how you made the crust, and what special tips and tricks you have for a perfect pizza crust.

Other Home-Made Goodies by Anita and James!

James' cabinet with stained glass

I just wanted to add this! Anita and James live in Bonnie Scotland.

They have also turned their hands to making lots of home-made goodies like coat hangers, and storage cabinets—some with stained-glass inserts—and they're beautiful!

All of their pieces are made with such loving care, it's a wonder they can bear to part with them!

Recently, Anita told me that James has changed course, and now modifies campers!

PS - The adjective "bonnie" means beautiful or attractive in Scots language and has been used to refer to Scotland for centuries now.


Easy Food Dehydrating and Safe Food Storage by Susan GastREAD MORE

20 Taste-Tested Easy Recipes eBookREAD MORE

How to Dehydrate Food ... Top 20 Topics ... over 225 Questions AnsweredREAD MORE

Make Nutritious Dog FoodREAD MORE

More Good Stuff to Read!


Susan Gast, owner of Easy Food Dehydrating plus ePubTechReviews.com, and SusanGast.com

Susan Gast began Easy Food Dehydrating in December 2010.

Read Susan's story of what sparked her interest in all things related to "food dehydrating."

She is featured on the Mother Earth News blog, and on Solo Build It! (SBI!) who hosts this site. Read her first SBI! interview and her second SBI! interview.

Since 1980, Susan's involvement in publishing - in one form or another - led her to create ePubTechReviews which reviews a variety of products related to the publishing industry - if you're at all interested in AI and self-publishing. The website is also hosted by Solo Build It!

Susan also runs her namesake site SusanGast.com on Solo Build It! that showcases the books she has written since 2012.

Do you want to send Susan a quick message? Visit her contact page here. She'd love to hear from you!