directions

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 12-cup muffin pan. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder; whisk in the milk and eggs. Stir in the mozzarella, oregano and sea salt, and then let stand for 10 minutes. Stir the batter and divide among the muffin cups. Bake until puffed and golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Heat the oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat, until the oil shimmers. Add the onion and garlic; cook for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring often, until they are golden and fragrant. Stir in the pepperoni; cook for about 5 minutes, until fragrant and evenly coated, then add the toasted fennel seed and crushed red pepper flakes. Cook for 1 minute, stirring. Add the tomatoes and their juices (to taste), the broth and the bay leaf; stir to incorporate. Once the mixture starts to bubble at the edges, cover and cook for about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. The pepperoni slices will be soft, with a deeper color. Remove from the heat. Working in batches as needed, transfer to a food processor or a high-powered blender (including the bay leaf). Puree until smooth. The sauce is ready to use.