Fleischmann’s pizza yeast makes homemade pizza easier

Families can now enjoy easy and nutritious homemade pizza that will draw everyone back to the dinner table

Pizza may have Italian roots, but it’s truly a favourite food among Canadians. Now there’s an easy way to make fresh and nutritious homemade pizza – and draw the whole family back to the dinner table – with a little help from Fleischmann’s new Pizza Yeast.

Now available in grocery stores across Canada, Fleischmann’s Pizza Yeast helps making pizza from scratch a breeze and it tastes so good that the kids will be getting off the computer and making their way into the kitchen.

“Who can resist fresh, hot homemade pizza?” asks Nutritionist Judy Scott Welden. “Eating together as a family is not only a healthy eating habit, but also gives everyone time to talk and reconnect. A family pizza night is a great draw for kids and adults alike.”

Home cooked meals that are fresh, healthy and wholesome has become popular again, says Judy, who is frequently asked for her advice on how to make a nutritious pizza from scratch.

“Fleischmann’s Pizza Yeast is perfect for the person who would love to make homemade pizza from scratch, but finds the whole idea of scratch pizza dough intimidating,” advises Judy.

With Fleischmann’s Pizza Yeast, you can have pizza ready in just 30 minutes and add a variety of fresh, healthy toppings, too. It is so easy, especially with the help of the how-to video, that even a 10-year-old could make it. Just mix, knead, shape and bake. There’s no rising time and no annoying “snap back” when rolling the dough.

Here are some of Judy Scott Welden’s helpful tips to draw everyone back to the family dinner table:

Schedule a family pizza night – Put it on the weekly calendar and shop for all the ingredients including Fleischmann’s Pizza Yeast, Mazola Oil, flour and everyone’s favourite toppings including some healthy choices like spinach, tomatoes, pepper, mushrooms, fresh herbs, and pineapple.
Share responsibilities – One person can make the pizza crust while someone else chops the vegetables and someone else grates the cheese.
Make it to your family’s taste – Top one half with the adults’ favourite toppings and the other half with kids’ favourite toppings. Or, make two large family-size pizzas with the Fleischmann’s Pizza Yeast recipe.

Additional Unique Ideas:

Since everyone likes pizza, make a pizza gift basket for the teacher. Include a jar of 113g Fleischmann’s Pizza Yeast, sauce, pizza cutter or pizza stone and your favourite recipe. Give as a gift to the teacher.

Dinner at a friend’s house? Prepare the dough so it’s ready to shape, or shape it and place it in a pizza pan. Include toppings and baking instructions. Take it along with a salad for a complete meal at a friend’s house – just bake and serve.

Fleischmann’s Pizza Yeast Basic Recipe

Ingredients:

Crust:
3-¼ cups to 3-¾ cups all-purpose flour
2-¼ teaspoon Fleischmann’s Pizza Yeast
1 Tablespoon sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1-1/3 cups very warm water (120 to 130°F)*
1/3 cup Mazola VEGPLUS! (Vegetable and Canola Oil Blend)
1 to 2 cups pizza sauce
Other toppings as desired
340 to 450g shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425°F.
Combine 2 cups flour, undissolved yeast, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Add very warm water and oil; mix until well blended, about 1 minute.
Gradually add enough remaining flour to make a soft dough. Dough should form a ball and will be slightly sticky. Knead** on a floured surface, adding additional flour if necessary, until smooth and elastic, about 4 minutes. Divide dough in half.
Pat dough with floured hands to fill greased pizza pan or baking sheet. OR roll dough on a floured counter to 12-inch circle; place in greased pizza pan or baking sheet. Form a rim by pinching the edge of the dough.
Spread with pizza sauce. Top with desired toppings and sprinkle with cheese. Repeat with second pizza.
Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and crust is browned. For best results, rotate pizzas between top and bottom oven racks halfway through baking.

*If you don’t have a thermometer, water should feel very warm to the touch.

**To knead the dough, add just enough flour to the dough and your hands to keep the dough from sticking. Flatten dough and fold it toward you. Using the heels of your hands, push the dough away with a rolling motion. Rotate dough a quarter turn and repeat the "fold, push and turn" steps. Keep kneading dough until it is smooth and elastic. Use a little more flour if dough becomes too sticky, always working the flour into the ball of dough.