pepperoni pizza bites

yields 36 bites

1 recipe pizza dough (below)
1 recipe pizza sauce (below)
4 oz pepperoni, diced
6 oz mozzarella cheese, grated)

pizza dough:

½ cup warm water (about 110°)

1 envelope (2 ¼ tsp.) yeast

1 ¼ cups water, at room temperature

2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

4 cups (22 oz.) bread flour, plus more for dusting

1 ½ tsp. salt

non-stick cooking spray for greasing the bowl

Directions:

Measure the warm water into a 2-cup liquid measuring cup.  Sprinkle in the yeast and let stand until the yeast dissolves and swells, about 5 minutes.  Add the room temperature water and oil and stir to combine.  

Place the flour and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.  Briefly combine the dry ingredients at low speed.  Slowly add the liquid ingredients and continue to mix at low speed until a cohesive mass forms.  Stop the mixer and replace the paddle with the dough hook.  Knead until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.  Form the dough into a ball, put it in a deep oiled bowl, and cover with plastic wrap.  Let rise until doubled in size, about 1 ½ to 2 hours.  Press the dough to deflate it.

pizza sauce:

1 8oz can of tomato paste

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp dried basil

1 tsp marjoram

1 tsp garlic salt

mix all ingredients together in a bowl and add as much water as it takes to reach a sauce consistency.  let sit at room temperature until everything else is ready to assemble.

Heat the oven to 450° for at least 30 minutes. Place 2 cookie sheets lined with foil in the oven while it is preheating.

Divide the dough into 2 equal pieces.  Roll each out into a large rectangle (about 10 x 15 inches).  Mix the pepperoni pieces and mozzarella into the pizza sauce.  Lightly mark one of the rectangles of dough so that you have 18 squares.  Place 1 tsp of pepperoni mixture into the center of each square.  Top with other dough and press with the side of your hands around each lump of filling.  Cut squares apart and press sides with the tines of a fork to seal.  

Remove cookie sheets from the oven and spray foil with cooking spray.  Place the pizza bites on cookie sheets so that they are in an even single layer.  Bake for 8-10 minutes until lightly golden brown.  Serve immediately.