Pizza!
Just pronouncing the word makes many mouths water.
As the dough is prepared we already smell the finished product. As pizza cooks in the oven, anticipation builds...we see the cheese as it strings when we take a bite, we savor the full flavor of sausage or pepperoni.

Whether thick and spongy or thin and crusty, potpourri of toppings or just cheese, pizza is probably the most enjoyed food by children and adults.

There are many pizza recipes in books and on the Internet, but the one my household follows the most is a recipe that has now been passed down through three generations. We call it "la pizza con la patata" (pizza with potato).

The recipe is a basic pizza recipe but we add plain mashed-up potatoes, which give the crust a very soft texture.

Ingredients for the dough:
2 small potatoes (or 1 large one)
1 lbs all purpose flour
2 teaspoons of salt
2 teaspoons of sugar
1 packet of yeast (or 2 teaspoons)
1 cup warm water
1 tablespoon olive oil plus some to grease the pans and sprinkle on pizza

Step by step dough preparation:

1. peel and dice the potato(es), place in a pan, cover with water, and cook until tender. Once cooked, drain (you can keep 1 cup to use in your dough or drain completely), mash until smooth, and let cool until warm to the touch

2. in warm water dissolve the yeast, the sugar, and the salt

3. in a large bowl place the flour forming a crater in the middle, add the mashed potatoes and the previously dissolved ingredients; stir with a fork until the liquid is completely absorbed; then, with your hands continue mixing until the dough separates from the bowl

4. remove the dough from the bowl and place it on a lightly floured surface; knead until smooth, adding flour as needed to keep it from sticking

5. divide the dough in two parts (or more if you are preparing small individual pizzas)

Traditionally, at this point, you would roll the parts into smooth balls, cover them, and let them rise in a warm place until doubled in size. I like to spread the divided dough directly in lightly greased pans and let it rise. This way I get the deep dish thickness I like.

Once the dough has risen (takes about two hours) and you have spread it in the lightly greased pans, you are ready to top it with your favorite pizza sauce, toppings, and a sprinkle of olive oil.

My pizza sauce consists of regular tomato sauce sprinkled with oregano. I then add any other topping I feel like eating that day or I have on hand.

Place your pizza in a 405F preheated oven and bake for about 20 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown.

Tip: if you don't have potatoes at hand, or you don't want to spend time cooking and mashing, you can successfully use potato flakes. I have used about 1/3 cup warm water and enough flakes to give me the consistency I needed.

Learn more about this author, Elena dal Friuli.
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