Having enjoyed a great day either relaxing on the veranda of your cottage at Willerin, or visiting one of the special places which abound in the South West of Westen Australia, you might want to finish off by cooking up some Pizza's in the wood fired oven. If you've never tried this before, but would like to give it a go, well then you're in for an adventure. The process is not difficult, but it does take time, and you need to be organised. Whilst one of you is getting the fire going then the other person will need to get the Pizza bases made (Unless you use prepared bases - the real thing is much better).

Firing the Oven: The first step is to collect the wood and get the fire going in the oven. To get the oven to the correct temperature to cook Pizza's will take around one and a half to two hours. You will need about two wheel barrows of wood. If there is no wheel barrow near the oven then you will find one by the wood pile near the old stables. Start by collecting a barrow of twigs and fallen branches. There should be lots around, but if you are having problems then just go down to the bank of trees towards the river and you will find lots. You need the barrow full, as this will be the start of your fire.

Place a number of scrunched up sheets of newspaper onto the floor of the oven, and place small twigs and branches on top. Light the newspaper and as the fire takes hold, keep feeding it so that you have a good burn at all times. Most of the flames and smoke will go up the chimney, but some will come out of the door, this is normal. Keep the fire going until you have burnt the barrow load of wood, then start putting pieces of split wood onto the fire. There should be split wood in the storage area under the oven.

Please do NOT use the wood in the tanks by the old stables, this wood is only to be used for burning in the wood heater in the cottage.

Make sure you have your split wood ready before you have burnt your barrow of twigs. A good indication as to when the oven has reached temperature is to look at the bricks which line the inside of the oven, they should appear whitish in colour all over, even the back of the oven.

Once temperature is reached push the fire either to the back or one side of the oven using the hoe provided. You need to move as much ash as you can from the centre of the oven floor as your Pizza is going to be cooked directly on the floor of the oven.

Next locate the mop and bucket and fill the bucket with clean water. Rinse the mop and squeeze out as much water as you can as you don't want it too wet or it will lower the temperature of the oven floor. Take the mop and quickly mop the floor of the oven where you are going to cook. Don't be too fussy as the heat of the fire will have killed any germs, you just want to remove any ash that's remaining.

OK that's the oven ready now it's time to put you Pizza's together and start cooking.

Making your Pizza Base: This is a tried and true recipe for making pizza bases.

4 Cups white flour (or 2 cups white flour, 1cup wholemeal flour and 1cup Semolina).

1 teaspoon Salt

2 packs dried yeast

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1 1/2 cups luke warm water

1 tablespoon oil

Add yeast to water, leave a few minutes

Combine flour, salt, sugar and oil in a bowl, make a well in the centre. Pour yeast mixture into centre of well. Mix well with a spoon to combine. Turn mixture out onto a floured board and start kneading dough by bringing mixture towards you and then pushing away the the heal of your hand. Knead dough until smooth. Roll into a ball, place back into the bowl, cover with a damp cloth and stand in a warm place for 20 minutes to rise.

Beat dough down to expel the air and knead again for a couple of minutes. Place back in bowl and cover with cling wrap.

Putting your Pizza together: You need to collect all your ingredients together and take them up to the Pizza oven, this is where it will be assembled. Lightly dust the marble slab at the side of the oven with semolina. Divide the dough into 6 even pieces, then roll out one piece at a time. Cover the remaining dough with a clean tea towel or cling wrap to keep moist.

Place your rolled out base onto the peel (flat stainless steel sheet with wooden handle), which has first been dusted with semolina (this stops the base from sticking to the peel). Apply tomato paste and your favourite topping, remembering that a good Pizza is not overloaded...keep it simple.

Cooking your Pizza: Lift the peel and make sure that the Pizza will slide off easily. Do this by making small jerking movements backwards and forwards. If the Pizza will not move, lift one edge and spread a small amount of semolina under, then using a large knife drag it under the pizza to spread it evenly. Check to make sure the Pizza moves. Now move to the oven door and place the peel into the oven and slide your Pizza onto the floor. When you first start cooking your Pizza should take 2-3 minutes to cook, but as the oven floor cools this will take slightly longer. Make sure you keep and eye on them as they may need to be rotated.

Pizza Suggestion:

Rosemary & Sea Salt:           Brush base with a little good olive oil. Lightly dust with sea salt and scatter rosemary over (there is plenty in the front garden)

Pear and Blue Cheese:         Use fresh or tinned pears, slice lengthwise and layout on base. Crumble blue cheese on top.

Nutella and Strawberries: Spread Nutella over the base. Scatter strawberries on top.

Tomato, Basil & Bocconcini: Spread a good tomato sauce over the base. Place slices of tomato over the base, and place a leaf of basil on each tomato slice.Top each basil leaf with a torn piece of Bocconcini.

Caramelized Onion & Sweet Potato: In a fry pan cook a sliced onion in a little oil until soft. Add a tablespoon of brown sugar and a generous amount of balsamic vinegar. Turn heat to low and allow to simmer for 20 minutes. Meanwhile peel and slice a sweet potato into circles 2cm thick. Toss in a little olive oil, spread out on a baking tray and place in the wood oven to cook. Turn after 5 minutes.

To assemble Pizza, spread the base with a good tomato sauce. Add sweet potato and top with caramelized onions. Top with a little mozzarella if you wish.

ENJOY