Bacon Marmalade and Red Onion Pizza

Step 1

These instructions are for a stand mixer, but you can do it all by hand, if you so choose. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix flour and salt together.

Step 2

Dissolve yeast into warm water. Stir in the oil. With mixer on low speed, pour the liquid into the flour until dough comes together.

Step 3

Scrape off the paddle and switch to the dough hook. Knead for 5 or so minutes.

Step 4

Scrape mixer bowl and hook, and gather dough into a ball. Place in a well-oiled bowl. Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap, lay a dish towel over it and place in a warm spot, like in the microwave. Sometimes, before putting the dough in, I heat a mug-full of water, to get the microwave nice and warm.

Step 5

Let rise for 1 hour. Punch dough down, and let rise for another hour.

Step 6

This step is totally optional, but worth it if you have all day. Punch dough down again and let rise for 2 - 3 more hours. Alternatively, you can stash the dough in the fridge overnight after the first rise. Bring refrigerated dough to room temperature about an hour before forming pizzas.

Step 7

Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium/low heat. Add garlic and sauté for a few minutes until very fragrant. Do not brown the garlic!

Step 8

Add tomatoes, salt and basil, and stir. Bring to boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add pepper to taste, and stir. Taste for salt. Turn off heat. Leftover sauce can keep in the fridge for several days, or freeze for longer keeping.

Step 9

Alternatively, use a good-quality store-bought pizza sauce.

Step 10

Place a pizza stone on bottom-most rack in oven. Preheat oven to BROIL HIGH at least a half hour before you will bake the pizza.

Step 11

Cut dough from above pizza dough recipe into two equal pieces, about 10 ounces each, weighing it with a kitchen scale if you have one. Place the second piece of dough in a freezer bag and freeze, or make a second pizza of your choosing.

Step 12

Flatten dough very slightly, and fold in top, bottom, left side, right side, towards center. Turn over, and gently form into a round. Place on lightly floured parchment-lined sheet pan, sprinkle with flour and cover with a kitchen towel. Let rest 10 minutes.

Step 13

Lightly oil (just a dab to keep the paper in place) a 12" pizza pan. Line with a piece of parchment paper, and lightly dust paper with flour. Place dough on paper. Dust dough lightly with flour and press down with your fingertips as you turn the pie and spread the dough evenly in all directions until you have a nice thin layer, about 1/4" thick. It probably won't cover the entire pan; that’s okay. If dough is not cooperating, it helps to let the dough rest for a few minutes.

Step 14

Alternatively, flour your fists very well, and the ball of dough. Stretch dough over your fists and move your fists along the outside edge of the dough, stretching it out. Lay the dough on parchment-lined pizza pan. Tug edges slightly to form a rough circle.

Step 15

Spoon about 1/4 cup sauce over the pizza. Gently spread around, leaving about a ½ inch border for the crust.

Step 16

Place mozzarella on next....

Step 17

then the onions....

Step 18

and scatter little nuggets of Bacon Marmalade over the pizza.

Step 19

Drizzle a little olive oil and a scattering of salt and crushed grains of paradise over the top and you’re ready to bake your pie!

Step 20

Place pan directly on pizza stone. Or, if you've got a pizza peel, pull the parchment and pizza onto the peel, then slide parchment and pizza directly onto pizza stone. Turn heat to 550 degrees F. Bake for 5 minutes, or until crust is nicely browned and crisp, and bottom of pizza has some nicely browned spots as well. Use a long-handled metal spatula or metal tongs, or the pizza peel, to lift up the pizza and take a peek underneath. The parchment will turn black, but it won't catch fire, so don't worry.

Step 21

Remove from oven, add more Bacon Marmalade if desired (because, well, more is more!), cut into pieces and enjoy!