Glorious Homemade "Wood-Fired" Pizza (from your own HOME OVEN!) à la Jim Lahey

(yesssss... yes... perhaps Too Many Photos of homemade pizza... but OH.MY.GOODNESS... You Want This Pizza!!)

Suffice to say that when we go to NYC, it's mostly for the FOOD.  And while I have SO many favorite restaurants (my NYC Faves pinboard will attest to that), the ONLY restaurant's food I actually CRAVE when I am not in the city is Co. pizza.  Yes, Bread God, Jim Lahey's pizza place is THAT fabulous that I CRAVE it.

And wow ~ I was so sweetly satisfied and overJoyed when I got his book, My Pizza, and I got fanTAStic results at home.  I'd say it is 90% as good as the stuff they make at the restaurant in Chelsea.

Jim explains not only how to make the dough (and duplicate the phenomenal toppings they have at Co.), but he CLEARLY explains how to make this wood-fired pizza at home, using your OVEN.

And the following photos will show you that yes, it looks like my pizzas came from a wood-fired oven.

So, yeah.  Go to the restaurant, buy the book, eat the pizza, and you will be eternally grateful that I shared this post with you.


 First, the dough. GOODNESS (again!)... this dough is just GORGEOUS to work with. I had everyone in my family touch it, it's so satisfying!



(And a peek out the back door reveals Monty and his confusion as to why he's not very comfortable in my outdoor chaise.)

. . .

Now to the pizzas:

my always go-to fave, margherita pie ~

Sam's request ~ leek and sausage pie.  Uh.Muh.Guh. ~ SO fabulous with the béchamel.

Look at that CRUST!!  I MADE THIS AT HOME!!!

This one is our favorite at company (well, except for the margherita pie and the stracciatella pie... ;)...

Shiitake with Walnut Puree Pie (yes, it IS as fabulous as it sounds...) ~

I made a total of EIGHT pies that night (doubled his dough recipe), and it was a LOT of work, but mostly because I had knee surgery a month ago and I have a leg brace and am using crutches!!  I would do all the work again in a heartbeat... It Is Worth The Deliciousness.

another margherita pie...

another leek and sausage pie...

another shiitake with walnut puree pie...

The End.

EnJOY.
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