The terrible baker maketh terrific (Gluten Free) Pizza.

The Husband, Rohan, who is oft called The Husbent (long story, involves me as a 7 year old who, once drew a girl with a blurb saying "when will my Husbent come".My Ma lovingly kept the drawing for all these years, framed it and gifted it to Rohan at our engagement-it finds a place of pride on our bookshelf-Rohan is forced to see it first thing every morning!), is my favouritest person in the world to annoy. Its the same for him really.Hiding glasses, remotes and phones (him not me-I wouldn't dare) is a common occurrence at home. Its quite fun living with your best friend (most of the time-not when it comes to sharing a bathroom though).Being 5 still is awesome. But I must give it to him that he's a person with rather *simple* needs-

1.A challenging matter (or 10 actually 23.minimum-hes a lawyer too)

2.Good Delicious (non-veg) Food

3.A great Single Malt

4.An exciting video game

5.An engaging book
6.A selection of watches

7.Seeing me smile

are the only things that he really wants. Points 2 and 7 are interlinked. When something I cook turns out well, it makes him really happy which makes me smile.alot..and just like that an argument is set aside, anger melts away and we laugh, until our next battle royale.

Pizza,specially tandoori chicken pizza, used to be one of our favourite Sunday night meals.Since I'm trying to be gluten free, I've stopped all things flour which includes pizza, due to which Rohan often suffers...I mean its not like I will let him eat an entire pizza while I watch! So a couple of Sundays ago, he got pizza cravings, (ok..both of us, but I'll just let him take the blame this one time). I looked up a couple of GF pizza recipes but they all looked so damn complicated, that I just decided to simplify it and make my own version.Now, the problem is I'm a terrible baker. The one time I tried baking this multigrain bread without yeast, it was so hard I could crack a coconut on it! Cookies have always turned out flat,cakes never rise and well, I just can't do pretty girly desserts. The only 2 desserts I've been able to make & bake and kind of do well (not counting my super easy 3 ingredient ice-cream..which you obviously don't bake) are apple pie, which I learnt from my cousin Geeta when she was studying at HAFT and came home every weekend with a box full of the most incredible bakery goods that she used to make in class; and Banana bread from the best baker I know, actually the best in just about everything, my gorgeous Ma.

The pizza sauce is also her recipe and its super simple, no fuss and yum!

Pizza Sauce 
Ingredients 

6-7 tomatoes
1 big carrot or 2 small carrots
1/2 onion chopped small
1 capsicum chopped small
3 green chillies chopped fine
1 tbs minced garlic
8-10 basil leaves (I just tear them by hand) + 3-4 whole leaves
2 sprigs rosemary or 2 tsp mixed dried herbs (optional)
1 heaped tsp ajawain seeds (carom seeds)
4-5 peppercorns
2 tbs Maggi hot and sweet sauce (optional)
1 tsp sugar (optional)
1 tbs oil +1 tsp butter (I used garlic chilli butter)
salt, pepper, red chilli powder

Method

Chop and blend the tomatoes and carrot to make a puree. In a deep dish, add oil, butter and garlic. Warm the oil, butter and garlic on slow flame (this prevents the garlic from burning and infuses the oil & butter with that yum garlicy flavour which is carried forth) and add the ajawain seeds and peppercorns. Once they start spluttering, add the onions and capsicum and let them sweat till the onion is translucent. Add the torn basil leaves,rosemary or mixed herbs and green chillies and mix on medium flame for about 2 minutes.Pour the tomato carrot puree and let it bubble for around 8-10 mins till it reaches a thick saucy consistency.Remember if its too watery, the base will get all soggy. Add the sugar and sauce and mix (if you are adding these ingredients). Finally add salt, pepper and chilli powder and the remaining whole leaves. Turn off the gas and let the sauce sit till you need it.If not using immediately, once it's completely cooled, bottle it and keep it in the fridge. Should last 3-4 days.

Pizza Base 
*500 gms All purpose flour Replacer (I used Zero-G brand available at natures basket & on foodesto.com- its basically sorghum-jowar flour, potato starch and xanthan gum)
*1 big cup plain jowar flour (keep a bit for dusting)
*3 tbs potato starch (optional- again the Zero G brand)
1/2 cup olive oil
2 eggs at room temp
2 tsp sea salt or 3 tsp normal salt
2 tsp black pepper (optional)
2 tsp mixed dried herbs (optional)
1 small pouch yeast in 1/4 cup lukewarm water kept aside to activate
1 1/2 tsp sugar (optional)
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2tsp soda bicarb
1/2 to 1 cup lukewarm water

Method

Mix all the dry ingredients together. Separate the eggs. whisk the whites till you get peaks. Add the olive oil, egg yolks and yeast to the dry ingredients and start kneading. Keep adding water to the dough. At first it will look like a sticky mess but it will come together,do not fret. Add the egg whites and keep kneading. Adjust the flour and/or water accordingly incase you feel its too sticky or too dry. Make a firm dough ball.Cover it with a moist cloth and let it rise for a about 1/2 hour. Shape them like rotis using a rolling pin,dusting it from time to time, or take a wide mouth steel dish and use it like a cookie cutter to get the shape.(I did this for the first 2 till Gops got fed up of seeing me struggle and took over). Bake these in a pre heated oven (No I DO NOT know at what temp-keep it around medium) for about 10 mins. I got around 2 dozen breads.

Pizza Bread- Mine look,as I like to call them, "rustic"

Choose your toppings. I made sausage & corn, Kebab & onion and salami & mushroom pizzas. Put them back in the oven till the cheese is melted and golden. Try to avoid burning the basil leaves,if using, to a crisp. If you manage, tell me how!

Kebab Pizza with Fresh Basil Leaves & Tons of Cheese

Kebab Pizza with Crispy*burnt* Basil Leaves & Tons of Cheese

Assorted Slices

Gorgeousness

* You can make normal pizza bread by using All purpose flour and/or whole wheat flour instead of Gluten Free flour. I'm going to try making it without eggs. Will update!