Creamy Spinach Artichoke Pizza

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp instant or bread machine yeast
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 3/4-1 cup water
• 1/2 lb frozen chopped spinach
• 1 Tbsp butter
• 1 clove garlic
• 4 oz cream cheese
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 Tbsp vegetable oil
• 1/2 can artichoke hearts
• Pinch red pepper flakes, optional
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella

Directions

1. Get the dough started the night before. In a large bowl, mix the flour, salt, and yeast. Combine the olive oil with 3/4 cup water, then add it to the dry ingredients. Stir until the dough comes together into a slightly damp, tacky ball and there is no dry flour sitting in the bowl. If it needs help coming together, mix in 1 to 2 tablespoons more water. Cover the bowl loosely and leave the dough at room temperature for 12-18 hours.
2. The next day, thaw the spinach, then wring out as much liquid as you can. Heat the oven to 450 degrees. Pour 1 Tbsp of vegetable oil into a 10 or 12-inch cast iron skillet, then spread the oil across the bottom and up the sides.
3. For the sauce, mince the garlic and put it in a small pot with the butter. Cook over medium-low heat for 1-2 minutes, until the garlic softens and smells lovely. Add the cream cheese, milk, and salt, then whisk over medium-low heat until the cream cheese melts into the milk and the mixture thickens into a sauce, 3-5 minutes. Stir in the squeezed-dry spinach, breaking apart clumps as you go. Take the sauce off the heat and set it aside.
4. Rub your hands with the extra oil in the skillet, then pull the fermented dough from the bowl. Gently press and stretch the loose dough across the skillet until it fills the bottom evenly.
5. Spoon the creamy spinach sauce onto the dough and spread it all the way to the edges. Drain the artichoke hearts, chop them roughly, and scatter them over the sauce. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes, if you like. Finish with the shredded mozzarella.
6. Bake the pizza in the fully heated oven for 20-25 minutes, until the edges are sizzling and the top has turned golden brown. Take the pizza out of the oven, then run a butter knife around the edge to free any melted cheese. Slide the whole pizza onto a cutting board, or carefully cut it in the pan. Cut into 6 slices and serve.