I LOVE pizza! It's one of my top five favorite things to eat. Unfortunately, takeaway pizza isn't the healthiest choice, so I often make homemade pizzas. I usually reference pizza recipes from the Pizza and Other Savory Pies cookbook by Brigit Binns. This little book covers Italian, American and unique contemporary recipes. I would have never considered putting potato, duck or seafood on a pizza before. This book is a must-have for experimental pizza lovers.
Basic DIY pizza ingredients and my go-to brands..
Kitchen tools..
The star of this post is the Breville Crispy Crust Pizza Maker. This countertop pizza oven is perfect for individual, customized pizzas.
I usually prepare whole wheat pizza dough made from scratch. I divide into individual sized dough balls and freeze for easy pizza nights in the future. Last summer I had activated charcoal infused, gluten free pizza at Stellina Pizzeria, located at Union Market in Washington and loved it. So, I was intent on trying to make my own gluten free pizza. Rather than making the dough from scratch I purchased a mix from William Sonoma - the Cup4Cup gluten free pizza crust mix.
The recipe doesn't call for pizza seasoning, but why not add a little to the mixture. I put pizza seasoning in/on everything - pizza, avocado mash, egg frittatas, chili, pasta sauce.. I also add a little dried oregano to the crust mixture. I have activated charcoal in my pantry, but decided to stick with the pizza crust recipe and forgo the detox element this time.
This pizza crust recipe was fairly easy - Combine the gluten free mix, yeast and egg. Knead until fully combined, wrap in plastic and place it in the fridge. Typically, pizza dough needs to rise, but this recipe says to wrap it tightly in Saran Wrap and therefor it cannot expand.
I like to prepare a variety of toppings, so diners can customize their own pizza. This makes for a fun pizza night. My go-to ingredients..
The Breville Crispy Crust Pizza Maker is AMAZING! The pizza stone has a 12" diameter and gives you professional brick oven flavors. You can bake thin, medium and thick crusts in this countertop oven. There is a heating element on top and one under the stone. It does take a while to heat up, so turn it on before you start cutting the ingredients. The Breville Crispy Crust Pizza Maker is available at William Sonoma and retails for $200. It's on sale now for $149.95 and worth every penny! It's high-quality - I've had mine for years. As you can see, my pizza stone has been used many times. DO NOT wash your pizza stone after use - Gently scrape any residue from the stone and allow the flavor from past pizzas to infuse the ceramic plate.
Cooking times depend on type of crust and choice of toppings. I like to pile as many ingredients as possible on my pizza, but you have to mindful of the top element - If your pizza is piled to high, the toppings will stick to the element and burn. I gotta say, I didn't like this gluten free pizza crust AT ALL! It was heavy and hard, like a giant cracker. In hindsight, I probably should have spread the dough thinner. I much prefer whole wheat pizza dough made from scratch. All types of pizza crusts will bake nicely on the pizza stone and most in the oven on a perforated pizza tray. I use the pizza tray to bake frozen pizzas and cauliflower pizza crusts - LOVE those! Cauliflower crusts are healthy and delicious. My go-to brand is Outer Aisle Plant Power pizza crusts and wraps. Although I didn't like the crust in this recipe, the combined pizza seasoning, sauce and toppings were delicious. This is a basic American-style pizza. I suggest you get creative with your dough and toppings. You can literally put anything on pizza. Get inspired with the Pizza and Other Savory Pies cookbook by Brigit Binns. 
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