Pizza can often be a last minute, grab and go decision. Pizza is always a crowd pleaser and there’s no question that it can be an ordinary meal, but make no mistake; a pizza can be the start to a decadent meal, able to impress the most sophisticated palette.

You can elevate your mealtime by pairing and selecting your ingredients with purpose and by upgrading how, and what you use, to make and bake your pizza.

Our choices of ingredients are a refreshing take on some of the classic elements of an ordinary pizza. The prosciutto and provolone are sophisticated twists on the classic choices of pepperoni and mozzarella. By adding arugula and figs to our combination, our recipe provides a unique experience for your taste buds that ensures a savory and sweet note in every bite.

You can upgrade how you make your pizza by baking it on a pizza stone. A pizza stone turns out a better tasting, more delectable pizza. The difference is particularly with the pizza crust. Pizza stones produce a perfectly evenly baked pizza crust from the edges to the center of the pizza and guarantee golden brown crispy dough. The evenly baked and crispiness of the crust is key; delicious pizzas are never soggy in the middle and a pizza stone makes sure of that.  For this recipe, our Mamma Mia Pizza Maker is essential to cooking and serving our absolutely mouthwatering fig and prosciutto pizza.

Ingredients

1 pound room temperature, fresh pizza dough

2 cups of cherry tomatoes, cut in halves

4 fresh ripe figs, cut into quarters

3-4 garlic cloves, minced

6 ounces of provolone cheese, thinly sliced

8 thinly sliced pieces of prosciutto

2 cups of fresh arugula, washed and rinsed

2 tablespoons of virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon of crushed dried thyme

3 ounces of grated Parmesan cheese

¼ teaspoon crushed black pepper

½ teaspoon kosher salt

¼ cup flour

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 500⁰F and place our pizza stone in the oven. The stone should be in the oven as it preheats.
2. Roll dough into a 12-inch circle on a lightly floured surface and pierce entire surface liberally with a fork.
3. Combine olive oil and garlic in a small bowl. Brush on olive oil and garlic mixture with our thinkkitchen brush.
4. Cover surface of pizza dough with slices of provolone cheese, leaving ½ inch of the crust edge free of cheese and place halved cherry tomatoes on top.
5. Carefully remove pizza stone from oven. Sprinkle flour over pizza stone and place dough on top of stone. Bake pizza crust until it is golden brown on top and on the bottom, roughly 15 to 20 minutes.
6. Remove crust from oven using our thinkkitchen silicone mitts and place on the metal rack and immediately drape prosciutto slices over the pizza. Arrange fig slices atop of prosciutto.
7. Bake until figs are just heated through, about 1 minute. Transfer pizza to cutting board.
8. On top, add arugula and Parmesan cheese sparingly. If you like, you can drizzle on a touch of extra virgin olive oil or a balsamic reduction before serving. Evenly sprinkle with crushed thyme, salt and pepper to taste.
9. Cut into slices using our pizza scissors, serve and enjoy with a light and delicate tasting Italian wine like a Barolo or Barbera D’Alba, which will pair well with the prosciutto and won’t overwhelm the light, sweet taste of the figs. These wines are best enjoyed in our Riedel Assiago drinkware collection.

Here to help you take your pizza night to the next level! If you want to share your pizza with us on social media, please tag us on Instagram @stokesstores and use the hashtag #StokesMoments.

Here are 3 different styles of pizza, each made in a unique style with bold and delicious flavours so that there is something for everyone:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 batch pizza dough (homemade or store bought)
• 3/4 – 1 cup pizza sauce
• 1 cup mixed veggies (onion, green pepper, mushroom)
• Pepperoni
• Olive oil
• 1 clove garlic
• 1- 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese 
• Italian seasonings (dried basil, oregano, thyme, red pepper, etc)

Preparation:

1. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees F (232 C).
2. Next, coat a 10-inch cast iron skillet  with olive oil and run a garlic clove around for seasoning 
3. Plop your dough down into the pan and push it up around the sides about 1 to 1.5 inches. Let rest for a few minutes while preparing the rest of your toppings.
4. First sprinkle in 1/2 of mozzarella cheese, then add veggies, then sauce. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese, Italian seasonings (dried basil, oregano, thyme, red pepper, etc.).
5. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese and sauce are bubbly. Let rest for 5-10 minutes before cutting, then serve immediately.

Pizza #2: Pan Pizza Bianca

Ingredients:

• 1 large potato (sliced very thin)
• 2 sprigs rosemary (leaves only)
• 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1-2 pinches salt
• 2 tablespoons of crushed red pepper
• 2 garlic cloves
• Fresh mozzarella and pecorino

Preparation:

1. Slice the potatoes very thin and place in a bowl of cold water, let sit for 15 minutes then drain well and towel dry. 
2. Spread dough to desired shape on your pan, then top with sliced potatoes, sprinkle with rosemary and salt and your cheeses.
3. Drizzle with 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil, bake for approximately 15-20 minutes then raise temperature to 425F / 220C and let bake until fully cooked and potatoes have browned slightly. 
4. Let rest for 3 minutes and then slice and serve. Enjoy!

Pizza #3: BBQ Pizza Using a Pizza Stone

Ingredients:

•  8 oz fior di latte
• Grilled veggies of your choice, we recommend: thinly sliced zucchini, bell peppers, eggplant 
• 1 can of crushed tomatoes
• Fresh torn basil leaves 
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• Freshly ground black pepper

Preparation:

1. Place your pizza stone on the lower rack of your oven. Heat oven to 450F.
2. Stretch and shape pizza dough into a circle that will fit your pizza stone. Spread crushed tomatoes into an even layer and top with your grilled veggies and fior di latte.
3. Transfer your pizza to the preheated pizza stone. Bake pizza until edges of the crust turn golden and cheese starts bubbling or for 10-15 minutes.
4. Sprinkle some torn basil and dried oregano, and a pinch of freshly ground black pepper. Enjoy!

Just like that, these are 3 delicious pizza recipes all a little different from each other so that there is something for everyone. Perfect for any occasion, spread some cheer and have yourself a pizza party!

If you make any of these pizzas and want to share it with us, please tag us on Instagram @stokesstores and use the hashtag #StokesMoments.

So, how can you make sure you’re taking advantage of all the great deals at Stokes this Black Friday? Consumer experts say that the way to get the most out of all the Black Friday deals is to do your homework and to do it in advance.

And for this Black Friday, Stokes is doing your homework for you! We saved our best deals on our best products for this weekend and we’re letting you in on how amazing they are. Here are our 5 top picks of the best deals and best products from us at Stokes for this Black Friday. This is your Black Friday cheat sheet for great deals at Stokes.

Find out how these products will help you create your best meal yet, help you make a favorite recipe in a new way, give the perfect gift or just make your life all around easier. But, most of all by offering the greatest deals on these products, we want to make sure you get the most for your hard earned money!

Don’t forget to subscribe to our emails and follow us on social media to keep up to date with our best deals all holiday season!

Happy savings!

thinkkitchen Mandoline  

Our thinkkitchen Mandoline makes prep time easy and allows you to make precise cuts that are not possible with even the most extravagant set of chef knives. Our stainless steel blade can make 6 different cuts, 2 julienne settings, 2 slicing settings, a cube setting and a diamond dice setting by just turning a knob. The uniform cutting doesn’t only bring style to your meal, but with it, ensures that everything is evenly cooked within the same timeframe. Homemade potato chips or a vegetable gratin are now possible in minutes with our thinkkitchen mandoline. Spoil yourself by pairing this useful gadget with our cut resistant glove or make it the perfect gift for under 40$!

thinkkitchen Triple Taste Slow Cooker

We all know the benefits of a good slow cooker! They save time, are economical and there’s no comparing the tender texture of meats simmered in a slow cooker. The thinkkitchen Triple Taste slow Cooker allows you to simultaneously cook 3 different foods at the same time….at different temperatures. You can have your main dish, side dish and even a dessert dish going at the same time! It is a great item to use when entertaining to keep your food warm or hot for when guests are serving themselves.  Each crock pot is 1.5 QT (6 cups) capacity, they are oven safe up to 536⁰ and each is removable and easy to clean.  With convenience in mind, this slow cooker has a lid holder, dishwasher safe lids and crocks, along with rubber straps on the lids for easy portability. At more than 50% off this Black Friday, the Triple Taste Slow Cooker is at the top of our list.

thinkkitchen
Pizza Stone

Your pizza making tool kit will be complete with our Pizza Stone with Metal Rack and Pizza Wheel set. The 15” pizza stone will upgrade your homemade pizza by turning out a better tasting, more delectable golden-brown pizza crust. The even heat of the stone let’s you load on the toppings without worrying about making your pizza soggy because it guarantees crispy dough all the way through. The conductivity of the stone saves you time by cooking your pizza faster and evenly. The stone is also great for making flatbreads and Naan bread. Still not convinced? Stop agonizing over what to buy for the gift exchange, the unbelievably low price of our 3-piece pizza stone will have people believing you busted your 15$ Secret Santa budget.

Put your pizza stone to use with our Fig and Prosciutto Pizza Recipe.

thinkkitchen Belgian Rotary Waffle Maker

Have restaurant worthy Belgian Waffles for weekend brunch while staying cozy at home!  At a 60% discount, our Belgian Rotary Waffle Maker is a great gift for any kitchen.  The easy rotating feature and temperature control does almost all the work for you, and helps make a great brunch minutes away! The Belgian Rotary Waffle Maker works fast and produces 7” waffles and can handle all the toppings and fillings your loved ones desire. Clean up is no hassle either with the non-stick surface and removable spill tray. But you don’t have to stop at waffles! Have you ever tried Belgian styled hash browns or what about an omelet you don’t have to flip?

Try out our waffle recipe!

thinkkitchen Meat Grinder

Our thinkkitchen manual Meat Grinder is the perfect tool for the do-it-yourself, health conscious meat lover!  It has two plates for grinding; fine and coarse, plus a food pusher for safely guiding your meat.  Selecting your choice cut of meat and using one of the two grinding settings, enables you to get your desired leanness.   Ever want to make a chicken or pork burger, but there’s no ground meat available at your grocery store?  You can grind your own! Combining meats and mixing in some extras; like onion or cheese will definitely create a delight for your palate. The thinkkitchen Meat Grinder has a 900ml capacity and an ultra powerful suction base that will keep the grinder fixed in place.  Easy clean up and at under 20$ this meat grinder is an absolute steal!

Check out our brie burger recipe which includes a demo video of our meat grinder!

Here to make your Black Friday shopping a stress-free, easy savings experience,