Pizza and Family Night!

Friday family night is always fun! We pray, eat pizza or hamburgers, wrestle (couldn't get a pic of this before Jonathan got a bloody nose, he's fine :)), and watch a family movie together. Last night we had pizza and I thought I'd show you the process I use to make it. 

These are the main ingredients I use for the pizza sauce (one of the few recipes I don't measure). Tomatoes, tomato paste, onions, LOTS of garlic, fresh spices (or Italian seasoning if I don't have the fresh), black pepper. Not pictured, salt, a spoon full of sugar and oregano oil if I have it. God has blessed Cameroon with good produce!

I heat up some olive oil or pig fat in a pot (one day I will own a cast iron skillet!). Put in chopped onions and let them cook for a few minutes and then add minced garlic.

When the garlic starts to brown I add blended tomatoes, paste, water, salt, pepper, and sugar. Before blending I cut the tomatoes in half and take out some of the seeds. Bring the mixture to a boil and then lower and simmer for about 2 hours. 30 minutes before it's ready add the fresh spices. 

While the sauce is simmering I cut up the toppings. Mushrooms, pineapple, tomatoes, green peppers, onions, bacon and pepperoni like sausage. Sometimes we have olives too.

Grate a block of cheese. I use the same amount of cheese whether I make 5 or 10... makes it easier to budget. It's always good!

I have an old cook book from 1933 that I use for the pizza dough recipe. I like to mix wheat flour and white. The upper left picture is of the whole wheat I get from the northwest part of Cameroon. I take it to the grinder before using. The recipe calls for 3 cups of flour, 2 1/4 tsp of yeast, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp sugar, and 2 tbl oil. Mix and add 1 cup of water and knead. I usually triple this recipe to make 6 pizzas.

After kneading let rise for 25 minutes.

Oil pizza trays and roll/pat out dough.

Add the sauce. Put extra there because some of it will dry out as it is being baked.

Add cheese. The kids are such big helpers!

All hands on deck! Uncle George helping the kids put on the toppings.

Put in the oven! I can fit in 2 at a time. The recipe says bake for 25 minutes but it depends on how "hot" your oven is. I know my pizzas are ready when the edges of the crust get crispy and the top browns.

We often have guests over to join us for family night! George "stealing" some pizza from our neighbor, Val. Val is one of the people who joins us for our Sunday evening home Bible studies.

Jeremiah enjoying his no veggie pizza. His look says, "Hurry and take the picture so I can eat." Ha! 

I love the family (and extended family in Christ) God has blessed me with! Now that you have an idea of how our family nights go, anyone want to join us? We would love to have you!