More importantly, I have my annual Friends-giving this weekend with my college PALS that I have been busy prepping for because it's the one holiday that I love spending with my second family. We plan on spending Thanksgiving with my family this year so my mom can have all 8 of her grand-kids together in one place. My three younger sisters can't stop talking about all the dishes that we all plan on making and EATING. I'm looking forward to the turkey, corn casserole and pumpkin pie!
Leading up to the holiday eating, I have been making meals that are completely satisfying and truly comfort food at it's best. Pizza are one of our favorite meals to enjoy. We have a local pizza joint that we usually order take-out, or I usually prepare a batch of my favorite thin crust pizza whenever we miss Italia.
This meal has to absolutely brilliant because it is pizza in a bread bowl. Usually you have soup in a bread bowl, but why not pizza. It's a pizza addicts dream come true. Luckily, Elena was extra happy the morning I prepared the dough and was able to finish preparing the meal hours before dinnertime. The hard part was not eating all the leftover bread tops before dinner came around. I served this with a simple arugula salad and extra pizza sauce on the side.
Pepperoni pizza bread bowls = smack-tastic.
Adapted from The Confections of A Foodie Bride & Pizza sauce Adapted from Taste of Home
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{Printable Recipe}
Ingredients:
For the bread bowls:
2 cups warm water, divided, temperature at least 100 degrees
1 tablespoon sugar
2 1/4 teaspoon yeast (1 package)
5 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting and kneading
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
Olive oil, for coating bowl
For the Filling:
2 (8-ounce) cans of tomato sauce
1 (6-ounce) can of tomato paste
1 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon fennel seed, crushed
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 to 6 ounces pepperoni, about 5 slices per bowl
1 cup shredded mozzarella
Preparation:
Place 1 cup of warm water, sugar, and yeast in the bowl of the stand mixer. Let stand for 10 minutes until slightly frothy.
Add 1 cup water, flour, and salt and knead with the dough hook for 5 to 7 minutes on medium speed. Add additional flour 1 spoonful at a time if the dough does not come off the dough hook or the side of the bowl.
Transfer dough to a well-oiled bowl, turning it coat. Cover with a kitchen towel and let rise until dough has doubled in a warm place. (I turn on my oven to the lowest setting, and when I'm ready to set the bowl inside the oven. I turn the oven off and keep the oven door slightly open for 15 to 20 minutes. Then I shut the oven door for another 25 minutes, dough will rise ~45 minutes.)
Prepare the pizza sauce. Combine all the ingredients in a small saucepan and let simmer on low for 45 minutes.
When ready to make bread bowls, preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with silcone mat or parchment paper.
Divide the dough in half and then each half into 5 equal pieces (Use a kitchen scale if you can). Form the pieces into balls and place on prepared baking sheet. Cover with kitchen towel and let dough rest for 20 minutes.
Bake 15 to 17 minutes, until golden brown. Transfer the bread bowls to a cooling rack and leave oven on.
Using a paring knife, carefully cut a hole in the top of the bowls, removing most of the insides but not puncturing the bowls.
In a medium bowl, combine 1 1/4 cups of pizza sauce, chopped pepperoni and 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese. Spoon the mixture into the bread bowls and sprinkle the remaining cheese over top.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the cheese is brown and bubbly.
Serve warm, and with extra additional pizza sauce. Best eaten the day prepared.
Yield: 10 servings
Review: My new favorite way to indulge on pizza, and if you want to skip the bread making and pizza sauce making. You can go ahead and use a couple shortcuts. Buy already made bread bowls, pizza sauce and make your meal in less than 10 minutes. But you will fall in love with the taste of homemade bread...so it might be worth a shot.
