Homemade Pizza on the Grill

I love the grill - even in the winter season. During the summer we grill nearly every day so I had to figure out a way to do one of our favorite meals...pizza outside.

I make my crust - easy recipe - but I've done it with prepared dough from Trader Joe's too. Roll it out into individual pizzas, grill both sides, then top with favorite ingredients. It is perfect for a Friday Night family meal or a party with friends.

Basic Pizza Dough

1 1/2 cups warm water

1 package active dry yeast

1 Tblsp honey

3 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup semolina flour

1/3 cup olive oil

1 tsp salt

Combine 1 1/2 cups warm water, 1 package of active dry yeast and 1 Tblsp honey in large mixing bowl. I use my Kitchen Aid with the dough hook all the way through this recipe. Let the yeast dissolve - about 5 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour, 1/2 semolina flour, 1/3 cup olive oil and 1 tsp salt. Let the mixer combine ingredients until they just come together then add the remaining flour. Let the mixer knead the dough until it comes together in a nice smooth ball. Cover and let rest in a warm place until dough rises to double, punch down and use or if you aren't ready for it. Let it rise again.

I punch the dough down and take about a lemon size chunk out at a time - roll it on a floured surface and lay the rolled rounds on a cookie sheet to transfer to the grill.Prepare a hot grill. I have a gas grill but have done this on a charcoal fire and in a wood fired pizza oven too. Get the grill hot - 500 degrees or so works best. I brush a little olive oil on the dough rounds and place them directly on the grill grates. It takes 2-3 minutes to get the brown grill marks. Flip and repeat. It will only take a minute on the second side.

Once you have the pizzas grilled on each side, top with your favorite sauce and ingredients and either return to the grill briefly to melt the cheese or stick the sheet pan with the pizzas under the broiler for a few minutes.

Enjoy. The crust is light, thin, crispy. Just like we like it.

The Big Four Oh

It is my sweet husband's 40th birthday today. Happy Birthday! We are having a few friends over for a simple dinner party to celebrate. On the menu....Homemade Spaghetti Sauce, Caesar Salad, Fresh Bread and Ice Cream Sundaes. The sauce is a recipe my Grandmother handed to my Mom and my Mom handed down to my sister and I. Even though we live on opposite coasts - we can smell it simmering in our kitchens when we put a pot on. It's the sort of recipe that you can evolve and change. In fact I don't follow the recipe anymore and I'm sure neither my Mom or sister do either. Somehow it comes out the same - fabulous every time.

You need one big pot that can simmer on the stove top all day. Dice one yellow onion, saute slightly in the big pot. Add 2 lbs ground beef or sausage or a combination. Brown, season to taste. While the beef is browning I add 3-4 crushed garlic cloves and a generous amount of Italian Seasoning - whatever you like or have in the spice cupboard. Once the meat browns add a quart or more of diced mushrooms - stir. Add 1 large can of tomato juice, 1 large can of tomato sauce (32 oz or so) and 2 small cans of tomato paste (12 oz or so) - stir. Let this simmer all day, stirring ocassionally.

Serve it over spaghetti or use it in a lasagna or manicotti.