Pizza From Scratch ... Well, Almost

Once a week or so, my daughters and I have make-your-own pizza night. 

They put on their chef hats, get out their little rolling pins, flour the entire surface of the counter top (yes, flour ends up everywhere) and start working the dough.

I typically buy the $1.09 whole wheat premade dough and $1.99 pizza sauce from .  Top that with some mozzarella and whatever is growing in the garden and wholla- dinner.

This week, however, I absent mindedly forgot to purchase the pizza sauce.  Number 53 on my list of minor pet peeves is returning to the grocery store to get that ONE item you forgot to purchase.

And, with a bowl full of fresh from the garden tomatoes, why, couldn’t I just make my own?

So, into the blender went a handful of roma tomatoes, a carrot (why not?), three garlic cloves, two large tomatoes and a fist full of basil from my garden.  I also added a shake or two of salt and pepper, a teaspoon of raw sugar (honey would’ve worked) and 2 tablespoons of olive oil.

I blended on low until the ingredients were evenly chopped up.

And oh my sweet baby Jesus.  The concoction in the blender was so heavenly tasting that I was literally gobbling it up with a spoon, straight from the blender.  It almost didn’t make it to the pizza.

I spooned the sauce onto the dough, unsure whether or not it would pass “the kid taste inspection.”  We topped it with olives, green and red peppers, onion and of course, mozzarella and parmesan cheese.

The result- the tastiest homemade pizza we’ve ever made and four thumbs up from two little girls.  And, using home grown ingredients from my garden, I was able to feed my family for under $3.00.  Cha-ching.

I’ve found this mixture also tastes great hot or cold over pasta or with chips (like salsa).  I’m also making a bunch to freeze in pint sized plastic bags for use when tomato season is over, and to give as gifts to friends who are “sauce worthy.”