PIZZA MAKING IN OUR NEW PIZZA OVEN
Hi there,
This year my husband really surprised me when he asked for a countertop pizza oven for Christmas. Specifically, he wanted this Crispy Crust Pizza Maker by Breville.
I fancy myself a purist when it comes to cooking and I really loath gimmicky kitchen gadgets. To me, this appliance qualified as just that, a gimmicky gadget. Why, I asked, would we need such a silly appliance when we have a perfectly good Viking Range that produces wonderful homemade pizza? And if my Viking Range wasn’t good enough I personally am not willing to settle for anything less than a wood-fired pizza oven, just like my friend Brenda’s. That’s what produces great pizza.
I was especially concerned because my husband prefaced his gift request with the caveat that he wasn’t 100% confident in the item because it did have mixed reviews. So naturally I went right to the reviews, looking for a good excuse not to honor his Christmas gift request. Sure enough, people either loved it or hated it, and several had returned it after trying it. I figured we could do the same if it turned out to be a disappointing purchase. And, upon further consideration, I decided that it might be nice to own something that would encourage my less-than-cooking-savvy husband to spend some time in the kitchen with me. So, I acquiesced and bought it for him! And guess what…we really like it!
As it turns out, this appliance has a way of doing exactly what I had hoped it would, bring people together in the kitchen. Making pizza together has actually become a fun activity that we do together, instead of something I have always done alone. For instance, last weekend my husband and son decided we should make pizza after a long day of skiing. They returned home from their skiing expedition having stopped at the store where they picked up all the ingredients necessary to make pizza. My resourceful husband even inquired about the availability of fresh pizza dough. He was directed to the fresh bakery section where they sold him french bread dough with the assurance that it produces good pizza.
Because I cook nearly every day for my family, I enjoyed the opportunity to have a night off. Instead, I took pictures of my ski-weary son and his buddy preparing their own dinner. It was a refreshing change.
The boys really enjoyed themselves and were delighted with the fruits of their labors.
Austin even took pictures of his own to post on Snapchat and Instagram, making him the envy of his hungry followers.
Top and bottom heating elements heat the pizza stone to 660º F, recreating the effects of a traditional brick pizza oven. I have to admit, my Viking Range has a maximum heat of 500º F, and very high heat is essential to good pizza making.
These delicious pizzas were the result.
Can you tell my husband likes fresh ground pepper on his pizza?
But, as good as these pizzas were, the store-bought, french bread dough used to make them was good, but not great. While it is convenient to buy ready-made pizza dough, homemade is still superior. Plus it’s a whole lot less expensive. So, in my next post I’ll give you a tutorial on how to make Olive Oil Pizza Dough. I have perfected the technique and think it is the best pizza dough recipe I’ve ever tried. So stay tuned!
So there you have it: PIZZA MAKING IN OUR NEW PIZZA OVEN
This is not a sponsored post and I was not paid to advertise Breville’s Crispy Crust Pizza Maker. However, I will tell you that I purchased it at Williams-Sonoma here. It is currently on sale for $149.95 (reg. $200.00).
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