In our apartment, takeout pizza is the ultimate refuge: when we’re both too tired to cook, and the fridge and freezer are both empty, pizza saves the day. There will always be those days. But homemade pizza is about 100 times more satisfying and delicious, and with a little advance planning, super easy to make. And since you’re making it yourself, it’s easy to make it for individual tastes: everyone can choose their own toppings, their own quantities, and have their own designated section of the pizza. Start the prep work now:
Today: Make pizza dough. Let it rise. Roll it into balls (each large enough for one pizza), bag them, and freeze them.
The day before a really long day at the office: Take a ball of dough out of the freezer, and stick it in the fridge.
After the long day, as soon as you get home: Take the dough out of the fridge, and let it warm on the counter. Sit for a few minutes. Put your feet up.
An hour later: Turn the oven to 425. Roll out the dough (it needn’t be a production, just stretch it into a round shape) and put it on an oiled pan. Cover with tomato sauce, herbs, and chopped veggies, whatever is on hand. (I like spinach, seitan, fresh tomato, basil, mushrooms, caramelized onions, garlic, pine nuts, artichoke hearts… though usually can’t get them all at once!) Cover all of it with lots of mozzarella. Stick it in the oven.
Fifteen minutes later: Check that it is bubbling, the cheese is browning, and your house is filling with the irresistible aroma of fresh pizza. Remove from oven, cut large slices, and eat them up.