Solar System Pizzas

Ingredients

For meatballs:

• 1 pound lean ground meat (lamb, chicken or beef)
• 3 slices day-old bread, made into breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh mint or basil, chopped
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 teaspoon olive oil

For pizza dough:

• 2 cups warm water
• 1 packet dry yeast (8 grams)
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 4 cups bread flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

For pizza topping:

• Fresh tomato sauce (see Stuffed Pasta Shells recipe)
• Meatballs (for the planets; directions below)
• 1 small mozzarella ball (for the sun)
• Grated mozzarella (for the Milky Way/stars)
• Kalamata olives, pits removed and sliced (for the moons)

Directions

To make the meatballs:

1. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.
2. Using your hands, mix thoroughly.
3. Wet your hands and roll mixture into balls, different sizes for different planets.
4. Add a little olive oil to a hot frying pan.
5. Place balls into frying pan and cook on both sides, until cooked through to the center.

To make the pizza:

1. Combine warm water, yeast and honey.
2. Cover and place in a warm place until it becomes foamy, about 10-20 minutes.
3. In a large bowl add bread flour, salt and olive oil.
4. Add yeast mixture. Mix well.
5. Turn onto a floured board and knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.
6. Allow to rest, covered in a warm place until the dough doubles in size, about 1 hour.
7. Knead on a floured board and divide into 4 evenly sized balls.
8. Roll each ball out to your desired thickness and place on greased oven or pizza trays.

Topping:

1. Top with fresh tomato sauce, meatballs for planets, olives for moons, a small mozzarella ball for the sun and grated mozzarella for the Milky Way/stars.
2. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit until the pizza base is golden and the meatballs are well cooked.