iHeart Oswego Cooks for Lent: Pizza

Let’s face it- pizza has been a standard for Lent as long as I can remember.

Have you ever thought about making it yourself? With a pizza costing around $20 and sometimes even more, would you try to make it if I said I could do two for about $5? And what if I tell you my kids prefer it over Pizza Hut? Let’s get to it!

Ingredients for crust

• 1 cup lukewarm water
• 1Tbs olive oil
• ½ Tbs salt
• ½ Tbs sugar
• ½ Tbs active yeast
• 3 cups flour

Combine the first 5 ingredients then add flour a cup at a time. Knead together for about 5 minutes until it is elastic. Let rise 1-2 hours in warm place until double in size.

Divide into two pieces and roll out on 12-inch greased cookie sheet.

Toppings

Add a couple tablespoons of your favorite sauce. Pizza sauce tends to be thicker, but in a pinch you can use whatever tomato-based sauce you have in your cupboard.

Add cheese. This can be mozzarella with parmesan, cheddar, colby, whatever your favorite cheeses are.

Add vegetables. Whatever is left is great! A pizza never needs a lot of any one thing so a little onion goes a long way. I use maybe a quarter of a pepper and onion plus two mushrooms; however the possibilities are endless. You may prefer broccoli, jalapenos, and spinach. Go for it!

Let’s not forget the pineapple.

Once I get my toppings on the pizza, I like to brush the edges with a tablespoon of olive oil with garlic and oregano in it. I might shake a little parsley on top of all the cheese to finish it off. In the oven for about 18 minutes at 400 and viola-pizza.

Best yet, for $5, you have 2 pizzas that feed a lot of people. Now that is a deal in this economy.

If you don’t need 2 pizzas, divide the dough in half and toss it in your freezer. Pull it out and leave it on counter when you want another. By dinner, the dough is ready to roll out and finish up.

I hope these recipes helped you plan your Friday Night Lent meals and that you had the opportunity to draw closer to Jesus during this time. Let Sunday morning’s joy illuminate from you and shine unto this world. He is alive!