I love this pizza dough recipe and it hasn't failed me yet. In fact, it seems to get better the more I use it! I hope you think so too.
Pizza Crust
by Melanie Johnson
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Ingredients for 1 pizza(approx. size 16 inch round):
1 cup warm (room temp.) water
1 T yeast (or one packet)
Sprinkle of sugar
Let sit while doing the next step. In a large bowl sift or stir together:
2 cups flour
1 t sugar
1 t salt
1 T olive oil
Ingredients for 3 pizza's for a party or a big family:
3 cups warm (room temp.) water
3 T yeast (or one packet)
Sprinkle of sugar
Let sit while doing the next step. In a large bowl sift or stir together:
6 cups flour
1 T sugar
1 T salt
3 T olive oil
Add the now activated foamy yeast to the flour mixture. Stir until well-blended. Add just a little flour at a time until the dough isn't sticking to the bowl. Flour the counter well, dump out the dough and knead for 5-8 min. Knead the dough only until it is smooth and a few air bubbles start to appear. Add additional four only if needed to prevent sticking to your hands and counter top. At this stage, less flour is better than more.
It is OK to use right now OR the dough can rise for about 30-45 min., punch down and roll out into pizza shape. If you let it rise the dough is a little softer. Roll out the dough with a floured rolling pin just to the size of the pan. Spray the pan with a no-stick spray. Lightly flour the pan, with cornmeal if desired.
Lightly four the 1/2 dough circle. Fold in half. Place the 1/2 circle in pan against the edges and unfold. About 1/4 - 1/2 cup tomato/pizza/pasta sauce is spread on top to the near edges. Then add the grated mozzerella/cheddar/colby jack/monterrey cheeses of your choice. Add other toppings as desired: meat toppings include pepperoni, ham, sausage, hamburger etc... vegetable toppings include mushrooms, peppers, olives, artichoke, spinach, pineapple, etc... as you like!
Bake in the oven for 16-20 min. Carefully check the bottom of the crust for the crustiness that you may like. Let stand 2 min. before slicing. I slice on a breadboard counter top never on the pan. Slice, serve and enjoy!
