Pizza Bread

The holidays will be here before you know it. If you’re having people over, and want to impress – make this bread. It’s easy, requires no fancy equipment but a spoon, and it’s GOOD! Serve it with a dish of warm marinara for dipping, and you’ll be the toast of the town! 

• 3 large garlic cloves, drizzled with olive oil
• 2 teaspoons yeast
• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 3 1/3 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 1/2 cups of your favorite toppings, diced (I used roasted garlic, pepperoni, red peppers, and black olives.)
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

1. Preheat oven to 400º. Place unpeeled garlic cloves in foil and drizzle with olive oil, wrap up and place in oven for 15 minutes, until garlic is soft. Unwrap and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, sprinkle the yeast over warm water and let sit for three minutes. Add the flour, salt, and sugar. Mix with a spoon until well combined. Squeeze the roasted garlic out of their skins into the bowl of toppings, and mix with a spoon, then add the toppings into the dough.
3. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for an hour, then put it in the refrigerator to rise for another hour.
4. Take the dough out of the refrigerator, flour the countertop well, as the dough is sticky. Roll out the dough into a 11″ x 17″ rectangle, sprinkle with mozzarella. Then fold along the long side, one third toward the center, and repeat with the other side – like an envelope. Crimp the sides to seal in the cheese. Transfer to a greased baking pan, and let rest while you preheat the oven to 450º.
5. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until golden brown. About 5 minutes before taking it out, lightly brush the top with olive oil, then let it finish baking. Cool on a wire rack.