Pizza Bites

I made these pizza bites for our little family Friday night party the other night.  I also made mozzarella sticks, and we had some poor baby carrots for our token veggie.  The pizza bites were pretty easy to make; I used the pizza dough the original blogger suggests, and I really liked it. 

I accidentaly made the first pan of pizza bites too large; I preferred the smaller ones that came from the next two pans.  We dipped these into warmed Muir Glen pizza sauce.  I baked two pans of these Friday night, and covered the other pan and refrigerated it for a few days.  We baked that pan last night, and it was really good! 

Pizza Bites
From Chaos in the Kitchen

2 recipes pizza dough (use your own recipe, or use the recipe below)
8 oz block mozzarella cheese
4 oz thin sliced pepperoni
2 tsp Italian seasoning (combine oregano, basil, parsley, and garlic)
1/4 cup olive oil
3 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
pizza or marinara sauce, warmed

1. Prepare pizza dough (let it rise for one hour) and roughly chop pepperoni. Cut block of mozzarella into 48 cubes.

2. If you are going to bake some (or all!) right away preheat oven to 400°F. Grease 3 pie pans.

3. Pinch off walnut-sized pieces of dough.  In each dough piece place a couple pieces of chopped pepperoni and a cube of cheese. Seal dough around meat and cheese and place seam side down in pie pan.

4. Repeat, placing approximately 16 dough balls in each pie plate.

6. Once assembled, combine oil and spices and brush over the dough. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

7. Now you can cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate or freeze or you can bake right away.

8. When ready to bake: bake at 400°F for 16-20 min. Serve with warm pizza or marinara sauce.
 
Basic Pizza Dough
From Chaos in the Kitchen
makes 2 recipes pizza dough, prep 10 min, rise time 1 hour

2 pkg active dry yeast (or 2 1/4 tsp loose yeast)
2 cup warm water
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp salt
5-6 cups flour

1. Combine yeast and warm water, stir to dissolve.

2. Add oil, salt, and flour. Stir to combine.

3. Once dough starts to come together, turn out onto a floured counter and knead to thoroughly combine-until dough is smooth and elastic. If it is uncooperative let it rest for a few minutes and come back to it. (I just used my Kitchenaid mixer and it was totally easy).

4. Place dough ball in a greased bowl and cover loosely. Allow dough to rise until doubled, approximately an hour.

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