Good old fashioned cheese pizza and my new Soapstone Pizza Pan

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Pizza is one of those foods I’ll never grow tired of.  Especially, a traditional cheese pizza.   I mean what’s not to LOVE about it?  It’s basically bread topped with a touch of sweetness from the tomato that’s topped with a little salty cheesy goodness.  As a self proclaimed pizza lover, it took me years to really master the art of good homemade pizza making.  Part of process was finding the tools and ingredients that worked best for me.  While I have perfected my own pizza making skills over the years, I am always on the lookout for new and improved pizza making tips, tricks and tools.  So when my friends over at UncommonGoods asked me to partner up with them for a product review, I jumped on the opportunity to try out their Soapstone Pizza Pan with Copper Handles and Steel Pizza Cutter.

I received these products complimentary for product review purposes, but as always opinions are 100% my own.

A little bit on UncommonGoods….

Ok now that I’m talking your “Pizza” (I mean language) and have your undivided attention, you might be wondering what is UncommonGoods and why I am partnering with them. UncommonGoods is a private retailer that sells unique gift items for the home (among other things).  But they are not just any retailer, they are an extraordinary online marketplace that supports and provides a platform for artists and designers.  Over half of the items featured on their website are handmade and a third of their collection incorporates recycled and/or upcycled materials.   Many of which are made right here in America.   For example, this handmade recycled steel pizza cutter, made by American blacksmith (Steven Bronstein).

In addition to looking out for creative individuals and the environment, UncommonGoods is also a supporter of charitable organizations around the world and has donated over 1 million dollars through their “Better to Give” program.  You can learn more about the charities they work with here on their website. These are of course just a few reasons why I am working with this great company and sharing their products with you.

Soapstone Pizza Pan where have you been all my life… 

As a food blogger it is not uncommon (no pun intended) to partner with brands and companies that I believe in.  From sponsored posts to product reviews, I really only try to share things that I feel will appeal to my readers.  Let me tell you that when I hit the UncommonGoods website I navigated right to their Kitchen Tools section and felt like a kid in the candy store.  I really had a hard time narrowing it down from all the amazing choices.  At first I was really leaning towards this personalized cutting board and then I gravitated towards more great selections in their host/hostess gift section which made selecting even harder (so much great stuff!).  And then I spotted this old world style Soapstone Pizza Pan with Copper Handles and I was love struck! The steel pizza cutter just became a natural extension of that love.  I was drawn to it’s old world style and rustic feel.  It’s also a very functional kitchen tool as its uses are not limited to only cutting pizza. 

As for the soapstone,  it’s not only beautiful to look at, it’s an excellent cooking tool that is made of non porous stone, which heats quickly and evenly, almost cutting your pizza making time in half. And since it retains its heat for a longer period of time, using a decorative soapstone pizza pan like this one with copper handles, can serve double duty as a serving piece as well.  Bonus!  

I will caution you however, do not expect to use this pizza stone right out of the box.  You will need to season the stone for a few days prior to use. Since the curing instructions were not included in my package, I went directly to the UncommonGoods website and found them here under the details tab of the product page (I kind of wish they were included though). You will need to rub the pan all around with olive oil, let it dry for 24 hours, then boil on the stove with water and baking soda for 40 minutes. Let it dry and repeat.  So you are looking at a few days before you can actually use the pan, but the upside is you only have to do this once.  

Now Let’s Make Pizza……

Since the pizza pan and pizza cutter really give me an old world feel, I thouhght it only appropriate to share an old world, traditionl pizza recipe.  There is nothing more authentic than a good old cheese pizza made using a pizza stone.  The pizza is going to cook quickly and be so tasty that you might accidentally feel like you’re vacationing in the heart of Naples. Well maybe that’s a stretch or a little wishful thinking, lol!  

Making pizza on a pizza stone is only slightly different than using say a metal pan.  I am used to using a metal pan where I stretch out the dough on a lightly greased cookie sheet and then add my toppings and bake.  With a pizza stone, you need to heat the stone first, then stretch out your dough on a separate surface and then when the pan is nice and hot, you carefully place the dough on top, add your topping and bake. This was a little challenging for me at first, but then of course I worked it out…

Here are a few tips and tricks:

• I found stretching the dough on soapstone pan prior to heating worked best for me. I stretched out the dough and then placed it on a board (or pizza paddle) with a cornmeal to prevent sticking.  Then when the pan was hot I could quickly place the dough on top and add the sauce. 
• As with any baking stone, be careful not to allow anything cold to touch the hot soapstone pan or it will crack. 
• If at all possible use a pizza paddle to Carefully remove the pan from the oven and place on a heat resistant surface.  
• Since soapstone is a soft stone, it can scratch easily. I personally recommend transferring the pizza to a wooden paddle (or cutting board) before slicing.  

 You can totally make this pizza using this pan, other wise I wouldn’t be sharing it.   My recipe couldn’t be simpler and should be done in about 15-20 minutes.  You will need to let your dough rise for a good hour and you are going to have to heat up your pizza stone in the oven, but actual cooking time is going to be like 15-20 minutes.

Don’t forget to visit the UncommonGoods website for more unique hostess gifts, kitchen tools and other really cool items.   Oh and don’t forget to tell them that Cheftini sent you…

Happy shopping, Pizza Making and enjoy! 

Good Old Fashioned Cheese Pizza

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Ingredients

  

• 1 lb oz pizza dough
• 8 oz San Marzano Tomatoes crushed
• 1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 3-4 slices of provolone or mozzarella cheese not fresh
• Grated Parmesan Cheese
• Handful of fresh Basil chopped
• salt

Instructions

 

• Let your dough sit at room temperature until it doubles in size. Then cut the dough in half and roll out to about a 12" circle (or as close as possible) and set aside.
• Set your stone in the oven at 450 degrees F. (I lightly brushed mine with olive oil first).
• In a bowl crush 8 oz of san marzano tomatoes with your hands or a masher, add extra virgin olive oil, pinch of salt, freshly chopped basil and set aside.
• CAREFULLY remove the pan from the oven and put on a heat resistant surface; place the rolled out dough onto the pan, stretching if where necessary; top with crushed tomatoes and a sprnkle of grated parmesan cheese; place back in the oven for about 10 minutes.
• Carefully pull the oven rack out and add the sliced cheese and bake for 5 minutes (or until bubbly)
• Remove pizza from of the oven, let cool and slice.
• Repeat with 2nd half.

Notes

Avoid cool liquids on the hot pan to prevent cracking.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!