Hi Doug,
don't feel despondent with your first attempt. My first attempt was almost as bad but tasted great. See:
http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f10/...zzas-2117.html (Making First Pizzas).
Got a few responses and got better with a little more experience. This is really a science combined with an art to get it all to work together as you hope or expect.
Even mixing your dough is a science and needs percaverence to get it to work properly, but be patient as it take a lifetime to obtain perfection, if it can be achieved at all. So long as you are getting better is the best road to success. If you are impatient, then maybe look at doing a course to get you better quicker. then experiment a little, slowly but surely we all get there.
Now, even though I am still a newcomer to the art, we are making progress. My wife who is rather fussy when it comes to what she likes and eats is keen on me making more breads and buns but not over fussed with pizzas. See my later attemps:
http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f25/...-veg-2158.html
Can't help you yet with any great pie receipes, but they will be here buried somewhere in the forum. I have been baking my wife's and sister's fruit pies with great success.
Regards.
Neill