Friday, June 12, 2009

Clarkston Special Pizza with Frank’s RedHot Sauce



I’m flying over Montana at the moment and thought this would be a great opportunity to write down some of the recipes I’ve been slacking on. This one is a replication of a favorite pizza from Fazzari’s in Clarkston, Washington.

Fazzari’s is a throwback to the old school pizza days with dark lighting, red lamps, and long tables for communal sitting. The last time we were there, a group sitting beside us gave us two half full pitchers of beer they couldn’t finish. I’m not one to turn down free beer! So of course we had to do our best to polish that off as well, and to do that I doused my pizza until it was drenching in Frank’s Cayenne Pepper Sauce.

I didn’t make it half a week before “the urge” drove me to recreate the Clarkston Special. I should have taken on a career as a pizza maker. Then I’d get to live a pizza filled life. I wonder if one can ever grow tired of pizza.

Psst. One more thing. I just got interrupted with breakfast. While flying! Did you know they had breakfast in first class? I need to be wealthy when I grow up so I can fly like this more often! Oh wait, I am grown up. Darn!

Zesty Old School Style Pizza Sauce
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon ground sweet paprika
1 teaspoon sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
Fresh cracked pepper to taste
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon white vinegar

Place all the ingredients in a medium sized bowl and stir together.

Makes 1½ cups of pizza sauce. Enough sauce to cover three medium, or two large pizzas.

Clarkston Special Pizza
1 (12 to 14 inch) stretched pizza dough on a pan (See notes below)
1Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Zesty old school style pizza sauce
2/3 cup shredded mozzarella
2/3 cup shredded provolone
3/4 cup pepperoni (See notes)
1 cup cooked Italian sausage
1 green bell pepper, sliced
1/4 cup Parmesan Reggiano
Salt and fresh cracked pepper
Franks Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce to taste (The best part!)

1. Make the Zesty Old School Pizza Sauce.

2. Heat up the grill to hot and close the lid.

3. Brush the pizza pan lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with cornmeal. Stretch and roll the dough and place on the pan. Brush with 1 Tablespoon olive oil. Spoon on as much pizza sauce on as desired.

4. Top pizza with the mozzarella, provolone, pepperoni, Italian sausage, green bell pepper slices, Parmesan Reggiano, and a dash of salt & pepper.

5. Set the pizza on the grill and close the lid. Turn grill to medium high and cook for 5 to 8 minutes or until cooked through. Turn to medium for a thicker crust pizza and cook longer. Remove onto a cookie sheet with tongs.

6. Let rest for about 5 minutes. Cut into wedges and serve.

Notes
1. To reduce the greasiness of the pepperoni, place them in a bowl and microwave in 30 second increments until partially cooked. Pat the grease with a paper towel before using.

2. See http://www.thecookingphotographer.com/2009/04/lets-talk-dough-pizza-dough.html for information on pizza dough and grilling techniques.

Recipe by Laura Flowers


11 comments:

Lori R. said...

We ate supper real early so we could mow our lawn this eve and I vowed nothing more today and then WHAM! Delicious pizza staring at me, calling my name.... I have to go quick! I will be back tomorrow....

Ginger said...

Laura!!

That pizza looks so good! Thank you so much for the link on information on pizza dough. I have been working hard to improve my pizza dough so all information is very helpful. Have a great weekend.

Heather S-G said...

Ditto on the pizza (hubby puts hot sauce on virtually everything)...and I'd love to be in that pizza parlour...you painted such a welcoming picture! Hmmmm....pizza for breakfast sounds good.

Mary Bergfeld said...

Missed you! This sounds delicious and it looks like good, old-fashioned pie. Pie is pizza before the outlanders gussied it up.

Marta said...

I have like zero tolerance for heat, I don't know what's wrong with my tongue, but it just burns at the sight of hot sauce! The men in my household would LOVE this pizza, though :)
How was the conference?! Do tell!!!
Last time I went to Europe they upgraded me to first... man, they treat you like garbage in coach!

Lori said...

I have always put Franks on my pizza (and my popcorn too). I was just so drawn to this pic.

Kurt said...

i thought i was the only one who like hot sauce on pizza!
I'M NOT ALONE!!!

Anonymous said...

I too love Franks Red Hot on my pizza! Its the only hot sauce I'll use on my pizza!

Jamie said...

First class? Lucky you! That pizza looks amazing and I'd love to try a slice. Love zesty!

The Cooking Photographer said...

I understand! I love Frank's, but the darn stuff is going to blowout my tastebuds if I keep this up.

I see it now.. Me-"Hey throw some Frank's on those cookies and they'll be great!"

Deeba PAB said...

Just another fab take on pizza & sauce. The last pizza dough I made from here, the Wolfgang Puck one, made some handsome loaves too, which in turn became garlic bread.

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