**A Journey Through Lasagna and Pizza**
As we embark on this culinary adventure, we find ourselves in the presence of two Italian classics: lasagna and pizza. Our journey begins with a question - how many do I have in there now? We're not quite sure, but we'll figure it out as we go along.
**The Art of Lasagna**
We've been tasked with creating a traditional American-Italian lasagna for the entire family. The dish is all about layers: tender pasta, delicious meatballs, and a rich Dynamite sauce. "Dynamite" is exactly what this lasagna will be - explosive flavor that will leave everyone wanting more. We're using ground beef, onions, garlic, tomato paste, salt, black pepper, sugar, dried oregano, and Italian seasoning to create the perfect blend of flavors.
As we assemble our lasagna, we can't help but feel a sense of nostalgia wash over us. This is old-school American-Italian cooking at its finest. We're talking about a dish that would make even the most seasoned Italian nonna proud. The lasagna will be baked in a 4-year-old oven (or so it feels) for about 3 hours, filling the kitchen with an irresistible aroma that will make everyone's mouth water.
**The Secret to a Great Pizza**
Next, we're moving on to pizza - the quintessential Italian dish that never fails to bring people together. We're lucky to have found a pizzeria with one of the only copper-covered Wood Fired French pizza ovens in town. This is no ordinary pizza joint; it's a destination for pizza lovers from far and wide. The owner, Kim, grew up learning the art of cooking from her Korean grandmother before discovering another passion - pizza.
The pizza we're about to make is called "Rola." It features an Artisan crust topped with Savory ingredients like sausage and pepperoni. But what really sets this pizza apart is its unusual flavors. We're not talking about your run-of-the-mill pepperoni and mushroom combination here. No, this pizza has attitude - it's got a little bit of everything and then some.
**The Science Behind Pizza Dough**
To make the perfect crust for our Rola pizza, we need to start with a great dough. The key to a fantastic pizza is in the dough itself. We're making a poolish, which is essentially a pre-fermented starter that will give our dough its signature flavor and texture.
We begin by mixing together water, yeast, and flour to create our poolish. Once we've got our poolish just right, we add Italian flour, more yeast, cold water, and Italian sea salt. The dough needs time to proof up, so we let it sit for about 10 minutes before kneading it into submission.
**The Making of Fennel Sausage**
With our dough in hand, it's time to make the star of the show - fennel sausage. We're using ground birkshire pork and adding toasted fennel seed, fresh chopped garlic, chili flake, salt, and freshly ground pepper to create a flavor combination that will take your breath away.
We mix everything together until just combined, then shape our sausage into perfectly formed balls. The result is a delicious, savory sausage that's sure to elevate any pizza pie.
**The House Red Sauce**
No pizza is complete without a great sauce. Our house red sauce is made with fresh ground California Tomatoes Stanis (yes, it's spelled that way), tomato puree, salt, dried basil, dried oregano, granulated garlic, and onion powder. We whisk everything together until smooth, then let the sauce simmer until it reaches perfection.
**The Final Touches**
With our dough, sausage, and sauce all in place, we're ready to assemble our pizzas. We add a sprinkle of Natural Casing pepperoni on top, because why not? It's pizza time! We load up our deck with pizzas at 550-600 degrees Fahrenheit, where they'll cook quickly but retain their crispiness.
As the pizzas come out of the oven, we can't help but feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. These are no ordinary pizzas - they're pies that have been crafted with love and care, using only the freshest ingredients. They're truly a cut above your average pizza joint on the corner. So go ahead, take a bite...