Hot and Crispy "Pizza Benders"

Crispy, warm and delicious "pizza bender" going in for a dip in pizza sauce! Life could not be better! I picked up this recipe from my friend Alissa and she received it from her Mom so I am not sure who to give full credit to but as usual I tweaked the original recipe by using wheat flour, changing up the filling and adding my secret weapon! So if you have some time try this recipe!

 I know recipes where you make the dough from scratch can be daunting! But this is a no fail if you follow the directions! Trust me when I switched to wheat flour I threw out a few batches before I got the measurements right! So my failure is your gain!  Also once you see what goes into make home made dough you will be surprised in how healthy and simple the ingredients are!

This is what you need at first.

1 cup of hot water

2 tsp. sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. melted butter

1 pkg quick rise yeast

2 cups wheat flour

Pour hot water into a mixing bowl and add yeast. Make sure the water isn't scalding you don't want to kill the yeast! It will bubble up. Then add melted butter, sugar and salt.

Stir in one cup of wheat flour with a big spoon. Once mixed in add the second cup. If your lucky and have a kitchen aid put the kneader tool on and keep it on low as you mix the ingredients together.

Then take the dough in your hands and knead it in the bowl by folding it over on itself and pushing in with the palm of your hand. You only have to do this a few times to make sure the yeast is mixed well.

Cover with a dish rag and place in the warmest part of the house.

Check on it in 45 minutes and it should have doubled. You can always leave it longer if you need it to rise more.

Flour your counter top and get out the rolling pin!

Then tear apart the dough and make even dough balls.

Roll the dough out evenly from every angle. I usually roll a few times then re-flour and flip it over and roll again. I do that a few times.

The dough should start to stretch and become thin but not see through thin. Repeat with others.

Get your favorite pizza toppings out! Heat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly oil two cookie sheets.

Place dough on plate and fold in half and open. That way you know how far you can fill the pizza bender .Then fill with cheese and toppings!

You can add some red pepper if you like it spicy!

Once filled pull dough over

Fold in extra dough

Use a fork to seal by pushing down and sliding the fork towards you

Then take my "secret weapon" McCormick Salad supreme and sprinkle on pizza bender.

Take a sharp knife and make a little slice at the top for steam to escape. You can use two slice to keep track of certain combinations.

Place on cookie sheets and bake one pan at a time for 17 minutes.

They will come out piping hot and crispy!

Heat up some pizza sauces and pour into bowls for dipping!

There is nothing like putting the "right amount" of pizza sauce on your bender! You bite into so much flavor and the home made crust is so good! Enjoy!

Pizza Benders

1 cup hot water

2 tsp. sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. melted butter

1 pkg. quick rise yeast

2 cups wheat flour ( or 2-3 cups white flour)

Filling- your favorite!

1 jar of pizza sauce for dipping!