How to Make Homemade Pizza—The Easy Way

If you're tired of greasy or soggy pizza from the usual delivery culprits, try a something new. Freshly made pizza crusts can be picked up at the Farmer's Market every Saturday morning. Are you a vegetarian pizza fiend? Or, what about "the works"?

Create it at home with fresh ingredients. See if you're not jumping for joy after this.

Gather at the Poway Farmer’s Market:

2 to 3 freshly baked pizza crusts, depending on family size

5 to 10 tomatoes, depending on size, chopped

1 bottle olive oil

1 bunch fresh basil, sliced

1 container mushrooms, sliced

2 packages of cheese, your choice, shredded or cut into thin medallions

1 bell pepper of each color, sliced

1 onion, sliced

1 head of garlic, sliced

1 eggplant, sliced

1 bunch of beets, sliced

Ingredients from the Cabinet or Local Grocery Store:

Salt/pepper

Crushed red chili flakes

Sliced protein of your choice: sausage, ham, turkey, chicken, tofu- all sliced

Directions:

Tomato Sauce: Chop tomatoes into cubes and cook down with olive oil, flavoring with seasonings and fresh basil. Some people add red wine, garlic powder, fennel seed, parsley, oregano, even brown sugar. It's really up to you. Essentially, a tomato sauce begins with tomatoes and the basic spices of salt, pepper, and fresh basil cooked down in olive oil. After that, make it your own!

Bonus Tip: Too time consuming to make your own sauce? Just slice the tomatoes and layer on the pizza with your other toppings. Yummy!

Pizza: Spoon sauce on top of pizza bread. Layer toppings of your choice and then cover with sliced or shredded cheese. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes at 350 degrees, or until cheese is bubbling.

Reverse the order and put sauce, cheese, and toppings on "top" instead. Either way, the beauty of pizza is making it work for you. Not a cheese person or lactose intolerant? Not to worry- cheese is actually an "extra," the pizza will bake just fine and ingredients will combine for a flavorful meal with or without it.

All of today's recommended ingredients are subject to your taste-buds. Combine one, many, or all of them for a pizza that's made just to your taste. Homemade is the way to go. Customize your food to you.