PIE LIFE PIZZA RECIPES

Steps:

• To make the dough, combine the flour, yeast and sugar in a large bowl and make a well in the middle. Tip in 1 tsp salt, the oil and 250ml tepid water. Bring the mixture together into a dough using your hands, then tip onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 10 mins until smooth and elastic. Drizzle a bit more oil into the bowl, add the dough, cover with a damp tea towel and leave to rise for 35-40 mins, or until doubled in size. Meanwhile, combine all the ingredients for the sauce in a bowl.
• Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Lightly oil a 23cm springform cake tin. Tip the dough out onto a floured surface, and knock the air out of it a few times using your hands. Remove a quarter of the dough and set aside, then roll the rest out thinly so it’s large enough to line the tin with some overhanging. Press the dough into the base and up the side of the tin.
• Spread half the sauce over the pizza dough base, then sprinkle with half the mozzarella and half each of the olives and basil. Roll the reserved dough out into a circle that’s large enough to fit over the first layer of filling, then lay it over the top. Top with the remaining sauce, most of the remaining cheese, and the rest of the olives and basil. Fold the overhanging dough over the filling slightly, then scatter the remaining cheese over the exposed filling in the middle.
• Transfer the tin to a baking tray and bake for 45-50 mins until golden and crisp. Remove from the oven, undo the springform clip and leave to cool for 20 mins before removing from the tin and cutting into wedges to serve.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Bake the pie crust according to your package's directions. I usually prick the bottom and sides of the crust all over with a fork and bake it for 10 minutes, or until it becomes slightly golden. Remove, and set aside.
• Brown the sausage for about 5 minutes in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and mushrooms and cook for a further 5 minutes, or until the sausage is cooked and the onions are soft and translucent. Drain of any excess fat. (You can add salt & pepper at this point depending on how salty/spicy your sausage is- I usually don't).
• Sprinkle the mozzarella and parmesan on the bottom of your pie crust. Top the cheese with the sausage mixture, and spread it out evenly. Next, spread the pizza sauce over the top, making sure the filling is completely covered. Finally, you can sprinkle the Italian seasoning and grated cheese on top, if you wish.
• Bake for 30 minutes. Let cool for at least 5 minutes before serving.