Something New: Chicago Deep Dish Pizza (and a giveaway!)

Ever since experiencing my first real Chicago deep-dish pizza last week, I haven't been able to stop thinking about it...oh goodness, was it ever delicious. So I decided I'd better try making one myself. I paid a visit to my trusty friend, Google (who answers all of my burning questions), and I decided to try this recipe. I threw all of the ingredients into my bread machine and set it on the "dough" cycle.

The verdict: This recipe produced a lovely dough that was smooth, soft, and so very easy to work with. I used coarse-ground cornmeal, which gave it a very distinctive crunch. The next time I make this, however, I will make some minor adjustments. First, I will add some crushed garlic, and possible some basil and oregano to the dough. While the dough was good, it seemed to be missing something in the flavor department. Second, I think I will try using a couple of 9" or 10" spring form pans to bake it in. This time, I used 8" cake pans, and as you can see, the dough kind of took on a mind of its own when baked. Please also note, I halved the recipe, and I still got two pizzas out of it. I didn't have much on hand by way of toppings, so I'm looking forward to trying fresh mozzarella, pesto, and a bunch of fresh veggies. The boys really enjoyed this pizza, and I am looking forward to making some for Steve, to get his opinion.

Speaking of Chicago, I nearly forgot that I promised a little giveaway last week! I picked up a couple of goodies at The Oprah Store, so if you'd like a little package to arrive on your doorstep, then please leave a comment on this post by Wednesday, September 17th at 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time. A winner will be drawn at random using Random.org. Up for grabs? I super-duper soft pair of mint green "O" footies, an Oprah note card, and a great little key chain (which can easily be made into an ornament, if you so desire) that was made in South Africa. That Oprah puts her money where her mouth is! Good luck!