Different recipes for 1-lb. pizza dough balls?!
Answers: Ya know the one-pound refrigerated dough balls you can buy in Italian markets, Trader Joes, Fresh and Easy, etc.? I made bread sticks out of them and they came out great. (Divide into 8ths, roll between palms, brush on margarine, bake 450 for 10 or 12 minutes.) Does anyone have any other tricks you can do with them besides pizza crusts?
start with one cup warm water and one cup flour and a package of yeast. Stir and let sit until you get a nice foamy head on it.
Stick it in the fridge overnight in a half gallon container. It will about double in size. Keep for up to three days like this. Give it a stir if it theatens to overflow.
Dump about two more cups of flour plus one teaspoon salt into the container and mix it into a dough(I use my hand). Turn out onto a board and add enough flour to make a loose dough(about one more cup). Let it sit for five minutes to absorb any extra water.
Continue kneeding until smooth and elastic.
I like making pretzel nuggets from my dough. I get a big pan with 2" of boiling water with 1/4 cup baking soda per gallon.
I roll out the dough into a crust and then cut into strips with the pizza cutter. Then I cut the strips into the water using scissors making about 1 1/2" chunks of dough.
When they float I put them on an ungreased cookie sheet and sprinkle them with kosher salt. Bake at 400 until golden to deep brown. You can use Ranch dressing mix instead of the salt and they will be FANTASTICO!
What I like to do with pizza crusts is to turn them into stromboli. You roll them out into a flat rectangle, top with some sauce, meat and cheese, just like you would with a pizza EXCEPT for the fact that you do not top within 1 1/2 inches of three of the sides of your rectangle. After your toppings are applied, start at the end that you topped all the way to the edge. Begin rolling altogether. Once your stromboli is all rolled up, pinch the loaf together to seal it along the edges of the dough. The ends will sort of need to be tucked under and pinched. Place seam side down onto a baking sheet prepared with nonstick spray (you can also sprinkle corn meal after the cooking spray to give a new dimension to the taste and texture). At this point, your stromboli should resemble a large loaf of French bread. Using a very sharp knife, slice 3-4 vent holes along the length of the top. I usually make them on a diagonal to make it pretty. Using a pastry brush, spread an egg wash all over the stromboli. Bake in an oven preheated to 425 degrees for 30-40 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve in slices with extra sauce for dipping.
I'll bet you could make soft pretzels out of them. Shape into pretzel shapes, then dip into boiling water w/ baking soda in it, then add kosher salt and bake.
What about "cheesy bread?" Roll your dough strips in butter then parmesan cheese, sprinkle w/ garlic powder, and bake.
Oh, and what about focaccia (sp?) bread? Form into a flat disc, poke your fingers in it to make it bumpy, drizzle w/ EVOO, kosher salt, fresh ground black pepper, a few dry herbs (like herbs de provence), and bake.
Cheesy Chicken Empanada:
Boil 2 to 3 chicken leg quarters in salted water for 20 minutes, let cool, shred, place in mixing bowl and add salt/pepper to taste. In a frying pan place 1 sliced onion in a bit of canola oil, add salt/ pepper, 1/4 cup of chicken broth and simmer uncovered until broth evaporates and onions are carmelized (brown)...about 10-15-20 minutes. Separate dough into halves and roll out into 2 flat squares...place one square onto a greased baking sheet. Top with carmelized onions, shredded chicken, and 4-8 oz shredded cheddar cheese. Place other square on top. Seal edges with a pinch every 1/4 inch around all edges. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes, or follow pizza dough baking instructions...until dough is brown.
I do the same way Cariakis [answer#1]
for the sauce - mix mayo and mustard , hot if you like
ham slices over lapping each other
and lots of grated cheese, any kind you like
Fruit pizza
dessert stix
Monkey bread
Stromboli
Pigs in a blanket
Mozzarella bites ( cube of mozzarella or cheddar and wrap dough around it and seal then bake)
Pretzels
Doughnuts
Bagels