by Elias Herrera
This recipe is inspired by Sonja Overhiser of A Couple Cooks. For the full pizza recipe, visit this link.
Sweet Power Savin’ Pizza Sauce
The Blender Alternative creates a runnier and more textured sauce. Check out some tips on small appliances!
Ingredients:
- 15 ounces crushed fire roasted tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 small clove garlic (1/2 medium)
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions:
- Mince the garlic into small pieces
- Blender alternative: chop the garlic into a few pieces
- Stir together all ingredients in a bowl
- Blender alternative: place all ingredients in a blender and blend until mixed
| Tip: Small Appliances Unplug small appliances that are not in use. Phantom energy is wasted energy from plugged-in appliances that remain in stand-by mode. True or False? A tabletop blender, on average, uses less energy than an immersion (stick) blender. Scroll down for the answer! |
Storage:
- Store in the refrigerator for 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months
| Tip: Freezers Frost should be kept to no more than ¼ inches thick. Frost buildup decreases the energy efficiency of the unit. Appliance door seals become worn out over time. To test its remaining lifespan, place a paper in the door; if you can pull it out, it might be time to replace the seal! Does your appliance pass the test? Question: What temperature should the freezer be set in order to maximize energy savings and food preservation? -5 degrees Fahrenheit 0 degrees Fahrenheit 20 degrees Fahrenheit 25 degrees Fahrenheit Scroll down for the answer! |
Less Is Mo’ Thin Crust Pizza Dough
This is enough dough for 4 medium pizzas. You can store the dough in the refrigerator for a day if you wish to conserve your own personal energy! Look out for tips on refrigeration and freezing!
Ingredients:
- 500 grams all-purpose flour (3 ⅓ cups)
- 8 grams instant or active dry yeast (2 teaspoons)
- 7 grams kosher salt (1 teaspoon)
- 338 grams warm water (1 ¼ cups + 3 tablespoons)
- 13 grams olive oil (1 tablespoon)
- Semolina flour or cornmeal, for dusting
Instructions:
- Combine flour, salt, and yeast in a bowl. Add ingredients while stirring. Continue stirring, and add the water and olive oil. Stir until a raggy dough forms.
- Flour a surface, then put the dough down.
- Knead the dough, first by pushing with your palms, then forming it into a ball. Continue kneading for at least 8 minutes.
- The dough should feel smooth and have a stretchy exterior. If the dough is sticky, add a small amount of flour, and continue kneading. After results are achieved, separate the dough into 4 equal pieces.
- Flour your hands then gently shape each piece into a ball shape by folding the dough underneath itself. Put some olive oil to keep the pieces moist.
- Cover the pieces with a damp towel. The pieces will rise to double their size; this will take about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Storage:
- You can use the dough immediately.
- For storage, and for better flavor, transfer the pieces to their own sealed containers. You can store them in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days, and the dough will double in size during this time.
- Pizza dough can also be stored in the freezer.
| Tips: Refrigerator Condenser coils are found on older refrigerators. When these are dusty and dirty, the refrigerator might run inefficiently, and can result in refrigerators running warmer. It is important to safely clean these when dirty by unplugging the refrigerator. Have two refrigerators? Electricity consumption can be greatly reduced if food can be consolidated to one refrigerator. Question: What temperature should the refrigerator be set to in order to maximize energy savings and food preservation? 35 degrees Fahrenheit 40 degrees Fahrenheit 45 degrees Fahrenheit 50 degrees Fahrenheit Scroll down for the answer! |
Finishing the Pizza
You made the sauce and the dough. It’s time to make the pizza and put it in the oven! Read on for tips on how to use the stove and oven efficiently!
Ingredients:
- 1 piece Less is Mo’ Pizza Dough
- ½ cup Sweet Power Savin’ Pizza Sauce
- 1/2 yellow bell pepper
- 1/2 red bell pepper
- 1/4 medium red onion
- 1 garlic clove
- Kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ tablespoon capers, drained
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup baby arugula
- olive oil
- Semolina flour or cornmeal, for dusting the pizza peel
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 500°F
| Tips: Oven Some smaller appliances work similarly to or just like ovens! An oven can use between 2,000 and 5,000 watts. A pizza oven, for example, uses between 1,000 to 1,500. Do not open the oven door while the oven is on; the temperature drops significantly, and the oven will need to use more energy to bring back the heat. Food will need to cook longer, and more energy will need to be used, when cooking food that is frozen. Completely defrost your food before cooking. |
- Slice the peppers. Slice the red onion. Slice the garlic.
- In a pan, add 1 tablespoon olive oil and ¼ teaspoon kosher salt. Stir the vegetables often, for about 7 to 10 minutes. They should be browned and soft. Stir in some oregano, then remove from the heat.
| Tips: Stove Range Are the flames blue on your gas range? If the flames are yellow, this could mean that the gas is burning inefficiently. Check in with your gas service. Keeping your electric range clean will allow for heat to be transferred more efficiently. You can decrease energy use with your stove by up to 66% by using pot lids, which allow you to set lower temperatures while cooking. Match pot size to burner size, using the smallest possible pot. When using gas, make sure the flame doesn’t reach around the cookware (Source: Southern California Edison). Question: Which stove is most efficient? Gas Electric Induction Scroll down for the answer! |
- It is finally time to bake the pizza. When the oven is ready, dust a pizza peel with cornmeal or semolina flour. (If you don’t have a pizza peel, you can use a rimless baking sheet or the back of a rimmed baking sheet. But a pizza peel is well worth the investment!) Stretch the dough into a circle; see How to Stretch Pizza Dough for instructions. Then gently place the dough onto the pizza peel.
- Spread the pizza sauce over the dough using the back of a spoon to create a thin layer. Sprinkle with the vegetables, drained capers, and Parmesan cheese.
- Use the pizza peel to carefully transfer the pizza onto the preheated pizza stone. Bake the pizza until the cheese and crust are nicely browned, about 5 to 7 minutes in the oven (or 1 minute in a pizza oven).
- While the pizza is baking, mix the baby arugula with a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of kosher salt. When the pizza is done, top with the arugula. Slice into pieces and serve immediately.
Clean Up
Congrats on your homemade pizza, but you have to wash the dishes! Dishwashers are convenient appliances that’ll let you clean up quickly and efficiently, so nothing gets in the way of you and your pizza slice.
| Tips: Dishwasher and Sink No pre-rinse is necessary! Most dishwashers are designed to remove small pieces of food. Load your dishwasher all the way before operating. Set your dishwasher to air-dry; alternatively, open the door after the wash and let air-dry with no electricity consumption. Set the water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The dishwater has internal mechanism that will heat water to up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. When using small amounts of water, use the cold setting. Hot water might not reach the faucet, but hot water is being drawn when you set the hot setting regardless. Question: How many Americans who own dishwashers use them less than once a week? 80% 60% 40% 20% Scroll down for the Answer! |
ANSWER KEY
| Small Appliances True or False? A tabletop blender, on average, uses less energy than an immersion (stick) blender. ANSWER: False. A tabletop blender uses 300 to 1000 watts. An immersion (stick) blender uses 200 to 600 watts. When approaching a kitchen task, consider if another small appliance can be used instead of one that might use more energy. Mixing with a bowl and a sturdy spoon only requires some elbow grease! |
| Tip: Freezers Question: What temperature should the freezer be set in order to maximize energy savings and food preservation? -5 degrees Fahrenheit 0 degrees Fahrenheit 20 degrees Fahrenheit 25 degrees Fahrenheit ANSWER: B |
| Tips: Refrigerator Question: What temperature should the refrigerator be set to in order to maximize energy savings and food preservation? 35 degrees Fahrenheit 40 degrees Fahrenheit 45 degrees Fahrenheit 50 degrees Fahrenheit ANSWER: 35 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Tips: Stove Range Question: Which stove is most efficient? Gas Electric Induction ANSWER: Induction Induction ranges use electromagnetic energy that interacts with compatible magnetic cookware, creating heat directly within the pot or pan with less heat transfer to the surrounding cooktop. Induction cooktops are powered by electricity and provide similar features to electric cooktops, with added benefits of fast cooking, exceptional responsiveness and easy cooktop cleanup. (Source: Whirlpool) |
| Tips: Dishwasher and Sink Question: How many Americans who own dishwashers use them less than once a week? 80% 60% 40% 20% ANSWER: 20% Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration |