Chicago Styled Deep Dish Pizza

Our family enjoys the endless options you have with making your own pizza. I have been wanting to try this recipe for deep dish pizza for some time. The big difference between Chicago Style Pizza and other pizzas is the crust and having to eat it with a fork. The crust uses butter rather than olive oil and makes for a hearty meal if not a heart healthy meal. This pizza turned out great, just like the pizzas we have had in Chicago. As a matter of fact, when I made this pizza, my son was out for the night. The next day I asked him if he had a piece of pizza when he came home and his response was he wanted to know why we went to Pizzeria UNO without him. Needless to say, he was happy to hear he didn't miss out on a night out and now we can make this pizza anytime.

CHICAGO STYLED DEEP DISH PIZZA

Dough
3 cups bread flour
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons sugar
1 1/4 cup water
7 tablespoons butter
2 1/4 teaspoons yeast

Sauce
1/4 cup grated onion
1/4 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cloves garlic minced
28 ounces crushed tomatoes
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon basil
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Toppings
1 pound shredded mozzarella
1/2 ounce grated Parmesan cheese

1. Place all the dough ingredients into your bread machine and use the machine's dough setting.
2. Place all the sauce ingredients into a sauce pan and simmer for 30-40 minutes to reduce.
3. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Butter 2 9" round cake pans. Cut the dough into two equal pieces. Place dough into the cake pan and lightly press into the pan, working the dough into the corners and up 1" on the sides of the pan.
4. Place your topping choices(spinach, olives, green peppers, etc.) onto the dough. Cover with the mozzarella cheese. Ladle on the sauce on top of the mozzarella and top with Parmesan cheese.
5. Bake until the crust is golden brown, 20-30 minutes. Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Transport your family to Chicago and enjoy this great variation of All American Pizza!