From the “Three Blind Cats” show

Stoltz Family Pizza

A recipe to take home from Richard B. Stoltz, III

Stoltz family pizza on a wooden board, sliced and ready to eat
Ready In
2 to 4 hours
Yield
Two pizzas (4–8 servings)
Oven
450°F

Dough Ingredients

Preparation

  1. Put flour and salt into a large mixing bowl.
  2. Measure water and completely dissolve yeast into the water.
  3. Add oil to the water/yeast mixture.
  4. Pour wet ingredients into the mixing bowl and mix with a large spoon as best you can, then finish by hand. A stand mixer with a dough hook also works.
  5. Knead until you have incorporated all the flour. Aim for a smooth ball, but be careful not to overwork the dough or it will become tough.
  6. Coat the ball with olive oil, cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a damp tea towel, and set aside in a room-temperature or warm place to rise for two to four hours, or until about 4× in size.
  7. Cut the dough into two equal pieces for two thin-crust pizzas that fill most of a cookie sheet or pizza pan. For thinner or smaller pizzas, divide into three or four.
  8. Preheat the oven to 450°F.
  9. Roll out the dough on a floured surface and top as you like (see below).
  10. Bake for 12 to 20 minutes at 450°F — depending on pan, crust thickness, toppings, and oven — until the crust edge is light brown and crisp. Trade off time and temperature to suit your taste.

Toppings (per pizza)

  1. Apply ½ can of tomato paste evenly over the rolled-out crust with the back of a spoon.
  2. Distribute 8 oz of grated mozzarella over the tomato paste, all the way to the edge.
  3. Add Italian sausage — remove the casing and apply as small balls, or slice frozen sausage into discs.
  4. Slice mushrooms and add, if you like.
  5. Slice or dice half a bell pepper and add.
  6. Chop half a yellow or Spanish onion and add.
  7. Sprinkle one or two teaspoons of fennel seed over the pizza.
  8. Sprinkle two or three teaspoons of oregano over the pizza.

Tips

From the show Three Blind Cats — paintings by Richard B. Stoltz, III · Cameron House · May 15–22, 2026 · richstoltz.com/ca2026