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La Piazza Blog & Stories
How to Make Pizza
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January 11, 2021

How to Make Pizza

On our recent virtual tour to Tuscany we visited Elisa and Sandro Draghi in their enchanting farmhouse, Il Molinelo.  A restructured farmhouse nestled in a picturesque Tuscan landscape, Il Molinelo is a guest favorite accommodation on many of our Tuscan Tours.

Elisa and Sandro’s love for hospitality and living off their farm is being passed from generation to generation. On this visit, their oldest son (and pizza master) Guido showed us how to make the perfect pizza.

From extra virgin olive oil to lavender products, many of the key ingredients used in their recipes are grown right on their farm by the family.  Stock up your pantry at www.molinello.net.  Be sure you to code “Ciclismo” at checkout to receive 20% of your purchase.

While our virtual events are offered FREE OF CHARGE, donations to each of our hosts are welcomed through our paypal account. We appreciate your support helping our Guides during these difficult times in the tourism industry.

Buon appetito!

Draghi’s Pizza

Pizza Dough:

4 cups all purpose flour
1 cup warm water
1 package (2 1/4 teaspoons) of active dry yeast.
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon sugar
Chopped Mozzarella for topping

For the sauce:  tomato sauce, extra virgin olive oil, salt, oregano

  1. Put the flour in a large bowl, then stir in the yeast, sugar and salt.
  2. Make a well, pour in the warm water and the olive oil and bring together with a wooden spoon until you have a soft, fairly wet dough.
  3. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 mins until smooth.
  4. Cover with a tea towel and set aside. Leave the dough to rise until it doubles.
  5. While the dough is rising prepare the tomato sauce mixing raw tomato sauce with oregano, salt and pepper and extra virgin olive oil.
  6. Roll the dough into a baking pan (greased with extra virgin olive oil) at the desired height. sprinkle with the tomato sauce.
  7. Bake at 428°F until almost cooked. Remove from the oven when the crust begins to be crispy and add the chopped mozzarella. Bake for 5 minutes.

*You can replace oregano with fresh basil, but add it on top at the end of cooking.

Lavender Focaccia:

4 cups all purpose flour
1 cup warm water
1 package (2 1/4 teaspoons) of active dry yeast.
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon sugar

For the lavender mix
1 cup pitted black olives
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 pinches of lavender dried flowers
1/2 tablespoon of rosemary needles
1 pinch of salt

  1. Put the flour in a large bowl, then stir in the yeast, sugar and salt.
  2. Make a well, pour in the warm water and the olive oil and bring together with a wooden spoon until you have a soft, fairly wet dough.
  3. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 mins until smooth.
  4. Cover with a tea towel and set aside. Leave the dough to rise until it doubles.
  5. While the dough is rising prepare the lavender mix: chop the olives and mix them with all the other ingredients.
  6. Roll the dough into a baking pan (greased with extra virgin olive oil) at the desired height. Brush the surface of the focaccia with a mix of 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil , 2 tablespoons water and a pinch of salt.
  7. Bake at 428°F until almost cooked. Remove from the oven when the crust begins to be crispy and sprinkle with the lavender mix. Bake for 5 minutes.

Lavender Gin Tonic

To prepare a lavender gin tonic you have first prepare a lavender syrup and then add it to your gin tonic.

2 ounces gin
4 to 5 ounces tonic water
ice cubes
1 tablespoon lavender syrup (it can be more or less to your taste)

Lavender syrup:

2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup water
3 tablespoons lavender dried or fresh flowers

  1. Bring the water and sugar to a boil in a saucepan, add lavender flowers and boil for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool and steep for at least 1 hour or longer, until the flavor is to your liking.
  2. Strain out the lavender. Pour the lavender syrup into a bottle and keep in the refrigerator.
  3. Mix the syrup into your favorite drinks, yogurts, ice cream and enjoy.

 

 

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