Cooking Together! Pizza with Purpose

This spring, community members were able to purchase a pizza kit filled with delicious products provided by our local sponsors and partners. They were invited to watch and cook along with Mo Cheeks as he walked us through his favorite pizza recipe and shared tips on how to get the whole family involved and up your pizza game!

Cooking Together! Pizza with Purpose was presented by Edible Madison and Niman Ranch, featuring Mo Cheeks of Bread & Justice and Pasture and Plenty.

Click here to watch a recording of Cooking Together! Pizza with Purpose

What was in the kit?

• Athenos Feta from Athenos
• Sliced Spicy Finnochiona from Driftless Provisions
• Bad Axe from Hidden Springs Creamery LLC
• Organic Bolted Bread Flour from Meadowlark Farm and Mill
• Uncured Pepperoni and Uncured Prosciutto from Niman Ranch
• Hot Honey from Pasture and Plenty
• Roth Creamy Havarti from Roth Cheese
• SuperCharge! Radish Mix from SuperCharge! Foods
• Bomba Spice Blend from The Deliciouser
• Oyster Mushrooms from Vitruvian Farms
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Dark Balsamic from Saffi Saana
• Additional items included: Semolina, roma tomatoes, instant yeast, salad mix

Pizza Topping Ideas

• Pepperoni with hot honey and Bad Axe cheese
• Mushroom and feta with microgreens, prosciutto and balsamic drizzle
• Spicy finocchiona with havarti and Bomba Spice Blend

Meet Mo!

Fresh out of college, Mo moved to Madison to work for Apple in 2007, where he worked with K-12 education leaders across the state to build modern learning environments in schools. Quickly establishing himself as a leader in the Madison community, he was elected to serve three-terms on the Madison Common Council, and later ran for Mayor of Madison.

Today he is Head of Sales for a political technology startup, Grow Progress, and currently serves as President of the Board of Directors for Schools Make Madison Advocates, Inc. He also runs a small sourdough bakery out of his home, called Bread & Justice, with all profits going to charities. And for many years now, Mo has expressed his love of pizza through a weekly ritual of Friday night pizza-making with his wife, Melissa, and their children, Hannah and Cyrus.

In 2020 Mo’s passion for baking sourdough bread led him to start his own micro-bakery called Bread & Justice, which donates 100% of their profits each month to a different organization that is working to create a more just society. Pasture and Plenty is collaborating with Mo on a series of Pizza with Purpose events to expand his mission. Let’s knead some dough, eat delicious pizza, and make a difference together. A portion of our Pizza with Purpose proceeds will benefit Community Action Coalition’s Food Security Programs and Community Hunger Solutions. breadandjustice.org

Mo's Top Pizza Tips

1. Set your oven to 500 degrees F (or as hot as your oven will go) and allow it to preheat for at least 30 minutes
2. Using a kitchen scale to weigh dough ingredients will help ensure it is consistent with the recipe
3. Use a pizza stone or steel
4. Use a bench scraper to make for easier cooking and clean up

Click here to watch a recording of Cooking Together! Pizza with Purpose