Date Night - Pizza Night
- Feb 8
- 3 min read
As I write this, I'm thinking about Valentine's Day. While we never put too much thought or effort into this Hallmark Holiday, it is nice to do something a little special, a little romantic. But the thought of going out to dinner on February 14th gives my brain and my wallet a bit of anxiety. So instead, we're doing a low-key date night at home. And tonight, date night is Pizza night!!
We could order pizza for delivery, but if you've been around my blog or my YouTube channel long enough, you know I am far more likely to make something myself than to turn to convenience food. So homemade pizza and a yummy side salad are on the menu!
Watch Me
Home-Made Pizza
You could pick up a pre-made pizza crust or a package of pizza dough, but making your own isn't that difficult. No shame if you want to buy it, but below is the recipe if you want to give it a whirl. Consider watching the video above to see how easy it is (although you do have to plan ahead).
And the same goes for pizza sauce. I have some jars of sauce I made back in the Fall, but you could also just grab a jar of your favorite sauce while at the grocery store.
Crust
Ingredients
3/4 cup warm water
2 TBSP olive oil
1-2 tsp honey
2 1/4 tsp yeast
2 1/3 c flour (I like a combo of unbleached all-purpose and whole wheat)
1/2 tsp each of garlic powder and Italian seasoning
3/4 tsp salt
Directions
Combine the first 4 ingredients together and let sit for 5-10 minutes.
Add the remaining ingredients, combine with your hands, and knead for 2-3 minutes.
Create a ball of dough and place it in a lightly oiled bowl.
Cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap, and let sit in a warm place for 2-3 hours.
Shape/roll out dough and grill or bake at 425F until almost done. Then add the toppings and continue baking until the cheese is very melty.
Toppings
Ingredients
pizza sauce
fresh spinach
shredded mozzarella
bell pepper
fresh Fresno pepper or red pepper flakes, if you like heat
red onion
fresh basil
parmesan
These are the toppings I'm choosing, but the best thing about pizza is that you can customize it however you want. It's actually a great way to use up small amounts of leftovers. Here are some of my other favorite pizza toppings:
grilled veggies (eggplant, zucchini, onion)
mushrooms
roasted red peppers
broccoli, cauliflower
pepperoncini
green olives
other cheeses
fresh tomatoes
Side Salad
I wanted to elevate pizza night to date night, so I'm adding salad to the menu to make it feel more like a complete meal.
This is a simple salad of arugula, celery hearts, and chopped green olives.
The dressing is lemon juice, a splash of apple cider vinegar, garlic, salt, Dijon mustard, and olive oil.
It's a simple dish with amazing flavor!
The Beverage
I went back and forth between sparkling wine and red wine. Red wine won. Whatever you choose to drink with your meal, put it in a nice glass. Make the meal feel special.
Don't wait for Valentine's Day to enjoy a special meal (with your partner or with friends). Life is short; celebrate every day.
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