L.A. Trippin’

Hey everybody!

Damon here.

As y’all know by now my parents have this Ice-Cream / Pizza joint, Lopo’s.

You’ll probably say, what’s he blabbering about? There’s Pizza everywhere.

Right you are, we get smacked with Pizzas. The thing is, ours are better. The original.

That’s why I want to give you Granny Lopo’s recipe, so can make your own. Tastes great and is fun to do.

Here’s what you need for two big pizzas (four guests)

500 grams Pizza flour (00)

20 grams fresh yeast

1/4 liter water

20 ml milk

1 egg

10 grams salt

half a spoon of olive oil

For the topping:

mashed tomatoes

mozzarella for pizza (not as soft and watery as the normal ones)

artichokes hearts

fresh mushrooms (champignons, but not the white ones if possible)

a handful of black olives

oregano

fresh basil leaves

(if you want, ham, or pineapple etc.)

Prepare the dough as early as possible (night before or in the morning)

Put the flour in a bowl

Melt the yeast in the water (easier if you warm the water)

Bat the egg

Add salt, milk, egg and water/yeast to flour

Knead the dough. (it shouldn’t be sticky nor dry. Add flour or water when needed)

Leave it to rise in a warm place

Grease the pizza trays with olive oil (not too much, the pizza shouldn’t swim in it but the tray should be covered/glistening with oil)

Heat the oven to 250 Celsius (as hot as it goes)

Knead the dough once more, cut it in parts (number depends on the size of the trays) and flatten them with your hands. Careful: No holes, but the thinner the better!

Add the mashed tomatoes. The dough should be covered, but just as much that you can still see through here and there. No ocean of tomatoes please. This goes for all the toppings: less is more. This ain’t no Whopper!

Cut the mozzarella in slices and put them onto the tomatoes. They melt, so again, don’t overdo!

Cut mushrooms in slices and add onto the tomatoes/mozzarella. Same goes for the artichokes.

Add oregano. Again, don’t cover the pizza with it! Experiment, so you find out for yourself what you like best. Throw in the olives (if you want, marinate them overnight - olive oil, salt, pepper, basil)

Put the pizza into the oven (in the middle)

After about 15 minutes you’ll have a great pizza.

Add fresh basil leaves (don’t wash them!!!)

Serve with red wine.

Mozzarella, tomatoes and fresh basil would be a great entree. Sea salt, pepper, extra vergine olive oil, vinegar (Balsamico de Modena - 3 hats/leaves minimum)

Comes with a toast and a kiss from Granny Lopo!