Short Prep: Measure and store prepared pizza toppings for a single complete pizza composition.

Just to review where we are: In episode 1 we did the simplest thing possible to start, we created a pizza with basic ingredients and a store brought crust. In episode 2 we learned to easily create the crust that we had bought from the store in episode 1. Episode 3 introduced Long Prep, the process by which our raw pizza ingredients are turned into usable pizza toppings and stored in clear containers. Which brings us to episode 4, Short Prep.

In Short Prep, here we take the pizza toppings we created in episode 3 and prepare them to be used in composing a pizza, that day or the next. We use sectioned trays to store the toppings. Some ingredients such as mushrooms need to be washed and prepared right before using. We will add our ingredients to the trays, stack them with paper towels in between, and then wrap them with plastic wrap.

With the trays securely wrapped in plastic wrap, we can store the stack in the refrigerator for 2 days. It’s usually best to Short Prep in the morning for later that day, or that evening for the next day. Somewhere around 1.5 days after Short Prep is a good time to have used all your ingredients for quality pizza.

By preparing everything we need to compose a pizza beforehand, we can really see the power of separation of concerns in pizza. When we have all our ingredients before hand, we can literally remove the plastic wrap and compose our pizza in under 5 minutes with ease (mushrooms take a bit extra) time. Those ingredients could easily be used in another meal, such as a stir-fry or to spice up left-overs. The value really shines through in the composition of pizza.

Today’s episode is short and sweet, so let’s get right to it!

EQUIPMENT LIST
compartment tray
1/3 cup measure
1/2 cup measure
saran wrap unfurled
knife to cut saran wrap
apron
dish towel
paper towels
wet rag

INGREDIENTS LIST
1/2 cup red peppers
1/2 cup orange peppers
1/2 cup yellow peppers
2 jalepeno peppers
1 cup whole mushrooms
2 limes
1 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1 dash apple cider vinegar
1 dash hot sauce

PREPARATION
measure 1/2 cup of each pepper into tray section
measure 1/2 cup of onion into tray section

measure 1 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese into tray
measure 1/2 cup parmesan cheese into tray
add garlic to tray
add jalepeno peppers, hot sauce, and acv to tray

stack and cover with saran wrap
VIOLA!

Today we learned about Short Prep, where we end up with the ingredients for a pizza, ready to use.

We saw how easy it is to prepare for pizza composition with Short Prep, when you have prepared for Short Prep with Long Prep. Where in Long Prep we process our raw ingredients into pizza toppings for multiple pizzas stored in convenient clear containers, in Short Prep we take those bulk toppings and measure out exactly what we need for the composition of a single pizza. We can do this for multiple pizzas as needed.

With our sectioned trays filled with toppings we learned to stack them with paper towels to absorb moisture, then to wrap them securely with plastic wrap. We then stored the stack of trays in the refrigerator, for up to 2 days.

Next up is episode 5 where we will learn about pizza Composition. It’s my term for the separate process of creating a pizza from a prepared set of ingredients, and an existing pizza dough. Please join me.

See you next time!