Shiitake Mushroom Pizza

New York is in a heat wave. I kind of want to crawl into an air conditioner and hibernate until winter. Every time I walk outside I am graced with a wall of HOT air full force in my face. Not cool (literally and figuratively).

Speaking of which...I cannot WAIT for Christmas/Wintertime this year. My friend Lisa and I are pretty much the epitome of elves. Do I even need to mention my most favorite movie of all time is Elf? I watch it year round and know all the words. Don't judge. Mostly, I am excited for sweatpants. I love it when it is cold outside and you can come home and curl up in a pair of sweats. How awesome is that?! It is always better with a fire and some coffee or hot chocolate, but lets not get too picky here!

Back to food. I watched Martha Stewart and Jennifer Garner make a Shiitake Mushroom Pizza on The Martha Stewart Show last week. I was inspired. This was definitely the best pizza I have made to date. Especially the dough. It was just how I like it: thin and crunchy! Perfection! I was also smart and made it ahead like you are supposed to. Sometimes its so darn difficult to plan ahead!

Watch Jen and Martha here. It's pretty awesome!

Pizza Dough
Martha Stewart

2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (one 1/4-ounce envelope)
2 cups warm water (105 degrees to 115 degrees)
5 to 5 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting, preferably organic
2 teaspoons fine sea salt
Extra-virgin olive oil, for bowl

Dissolve yeast in warm water in a large bowl and let stand for 5 minutes. Stir in 3 cups flour and the salt, stirring until smooth. Stir in an additional 2 cups flour; continue adding flour (up to 1/2 cup), 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring until dough comes away from bowl but is still sticky.

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured work surface, and knead with lightly floured hands. Start by slapping the dough onto the counter, pulling it toward you with one hand and pushing it away from you with the other. Fold the dough back over itself (use a bench scraper or a wide knife to help scrape dough from surface). Repeat until it's easier to handle, about 10 times. Finish kneading normally until dough is smooth, elastic, and soft, but a little tacky, about 10 minutes.

Shape dough into a ball and transfer to a lightly oiled bowl; turn to coat. Cover with plastic, and let rise in a warm place until it doubles in volume, 2 hours. Press it with your finger to see if it's done; an indent should remain.

Scrape dough out of the bowl onto floured surface, and cut it into 4 pieces. Shape into balls. Dust with flour, and cover with plastic. Transfer to refrigerator, let rise overnight.

Shiitake Mushroom Pizza
Martha Stewart

2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
1 1/2 cups shiitake mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
1/4 recipe Pizza Dough
Semolina flour, for dusting
Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
1/4 cup fresh ricotta cheese
3 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese
2 teaspoons chopped thyme leaves
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

Heat grapeseed oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

Place a pizza stone (available at most kitchen-supply stores) on floor of a gas oven (remove racks) or bottom rack of electric oven. Preheat oven to at least 500 degrees for 1 hour.

Shape dough into a round. Holding top edge of dough round in both hands, let bottom edge touch work surface. Carefully move hands around edge to form a circle, as if turning a wheel. Hold dough on back of your hand, letting its weight stretch it into a 12-inch round. Transfer dough to a pizza peel (or an inverted baking sheet) lightly dusted with semolina flour. Press out edges using your fingers. Jerk peel; if dough sticks, lift, and dust more flour underneath.

Drizzle olive oil over dough, leaving a 1-inch border. Arrange cheeses evenly over olive oil. Top with cooked mushrooms and thyme leaves; season with salt and pepper.

Heat oven to broil. Align edge of peel with edge of stone. Tilt peel, jerking it gently to move pizza. When edge of pizza touches stone, quickly pull back peel to transfer pizza to stone. (Do not move pizza). Broil until crust begins to bubble, 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce temperature to 500 degrees, and bake until crust is crisp and golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes more. (If not using broiler, bake pizza for 10 to 15 minutes total.) Remove pizza from oven using peel; drizzle with additional olive oil, if desired. Slice and serve.