Weekends need a little bit extra, even if for those of us who are working from home endlessly, it seems like there is no difference from one day to the next. The pizza dough getting ready.

When ‘yeast the beast’ is happy and bubbling, and the dough is doubling, it’s a good day in the kitchen.

I have recently started working in a role that takes up a larger part of my day than all the others I have worked in for the past 7 years. That leaves me with less time to bake and hence my baking is reduced to twice a week or sometimes thrice instead of almost daily as it was early.

It’s also got to do with me spending a lot more time coordinating efforts especially by @ovenderfulmombakersbakers to get help across to some places and people who really need it at this stage – the elderly folks in the old age homes we have been visiting for years now.

It’s heartbreaking to not visit them at a time when they must be feeling so much more lonely than ever before. And scared. And vulnerable. But for now, safety for them lies in distance from anyone from the outside world who can become a potential carrier of this virus. So for now, our distance is the best thing we can give them. And prayers that all such places which have a highly susceptible set of people who are alone, helpless and unable to reach out, should remain safe.. And the storm passes.

Flour – Khapli Wheat flour

Sweetener – Jaggery to activate yeast.

Recipe for the Pizza Base

Ingredients

• 3 cups of Khapli wheat flour
• 3 tbsp coldpressed flavourless oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp dried basil
• 4 tsp active dry yeast
• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 2 tbsp jaggery powder

Method –

1. In a big bowl add the the flour, salt and basil and whisk well.
2. In a separate bowl mix the oil, jaggery and warm water. Then add the yeast and allow it to start bubbling / foaming in about 10 minutes.
3. Add this wet mixture to the dry flour mix and knead well for at least 10-12 minutes.
4. Place the dough in a greased pan, cover with a moist towel and let rise for an hour.
5. It will rise in that time. Knead well again for about 2-3 minutes.
6. Keep a silicon mat ready with some flour sprinkled and the baking tray ready.
7. Roll it into circles, poke some holes with a fork and place on tray.
8. Preheat the oven for 10 minutes at 170 degrees C.
9. Bake for about 10 minutes at the same temperature.
10. Add your sauce and toppings. Bake for 15-18 minutes at 170-180 degrees C.