Food Fun Friday - Stuffed Pizza Balls

For the Fourth of July, our neighborhood is having a picnic. I found something to make that is different and warm and yummy too...(yes, it is in the 60's here and rain is probable) I made something similar to these last year in this post. ok not just similar, it is the same thing. BUT THESE ARE SO GOOD you have to have them once a year!!!

Pizza Balls, stuffed or not..

Ingredients:

1 package of whole-wheat pizza dough- or you could make your own, recipe below

2 tablespoons olive oil in a small bowl with a brush for "painting it on the dough balls

grated parmesan cheese

(optional) a couple handfuls of grated mozzarella

dried or fresh oregano-dried or fresh basil
or italian seasoning

salt & pepper
and for the innards - ham & Pinapple (drained and blotted dry) or pepperoni and mozzarella

pasta sauce or pizza sauce if desited

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees & lightly grease a 9 inch cake plan or pie plateor bundt pan.

2. Lightly flour a working surface and follow instructions for letting your dough rise. When ready, separate the dough into approximately 20 pieces that are about the same size.

3. Dip your hands in flour and roll the dough pieces into balls. Place the balls in the pan. (or before you roll into ball, take the 'stuffing' and... stuff THEN roll into ball covering the meat.

4. Once all the balls have been placed in the pan, brush olive oil over the dough.

5. Sprinkle parmesan, oregano, basil and salt and pepper to your liking over the balls.

6. Add mozzarella if you like.

7. Place in the oven and bake for about 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned on the top.

here it is if you want to make your own

Basic Pizza Dough

Ingredients:

½ cup warm water (about 110°)

1 envelope (2 ¼ tsp.) instant yeast

1 ¼ cups water, at room temperature

2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

4 cups (22 oz.) bread flour, plus more for dusting

1 ½ tsp. salt

olive oil or non-stick cooking spray for greasing the bowl

Directions:

Measure the warm water into a 2-cup liquid measuring cup. Sprinkle in the yeast and let stand until the yeast dissolves and swells, about 5 minutes. Add the room temperature water and oil and stir to combine.

Place the flour and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Briefly combine the dry ingredients at low speed. Slowly add the liquid ingredients and continue to mix at low speed until a cohesive mass forms. Stop the mixer and replace the paddle with the dough hook. Knead until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Form the dough into a ball, put it in a deep oiled bowl, and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise until doubled in size, about 1 ½ to 2 hours. Press the dough to deflate it.

and Lauren I know you have a recipe for Whole Wheat Pizza... here!! whole wheat dough
1 c warm water, 1tsp sugar, 1 packet yeast, stir.
leave for 7-10 min until yeast puffs up on the top.
in the meantime...
2 & 3/4c whole wheat flour
1 tsp salt
2 tbls oil
after yeast mixture is done, add to flour mixture and knead for about 5 min.
(i use the dough hook on my kitchen aid).
add about 1/2c warm water while the dough is mixing or being kneaded.
sometimes a little more.
(should look more wet than dry, like spiderwebs on the walls of the mixing bowl or tacky to your fingers--the moisture is THE KEY here. better too wet, than too dry).
spray pam in a bowl, put dough in bowl.
cover with towel.
put in microwave, closed, but not cooking.
leave for about an hour.
roll out, assemble and cook.
450* 16-17 min

some parts and some whole's from:

http://www.mamamanifesto.com/

http://annies-eats.com/