Pizza

When I have the time, I love to make homeade pizza with fresh crust and sauce and toppings. The crust recipe (PW's) will make 2 large pizzas, or 3 really thin crust pizzas. You could also make 8 individual pizzas and let everyone create their own; very fun with kids! Whatever crust you don't use will keep in your refrigerator in a plastic bag for a week.

This picture is a good representation of my taste versus my husband's taste - my side has sauted baby spinach, mushrooms, onion and fresh tomato; his side....sausage.

Pizza

Crust:
4 c. unbleached flour (I use 1 c. whole wheat flour + 3 c. flour)
1 t. kosher salt
1 t. dry yeast
1 1/2 c. warm water
1/3 c. extra virgin olive oil

Sauce:
1 T. extra virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
15 oz. can tomato sauce
1/2 t. oregano
1/2 t. basil
Good pinch of red pepper flakes, optional
1 t. sugar
salt & pepper to taste

Toppings:
Ham & pineapple
Sausage, cooked & crumbled
Pepperoni
Peppers
Onions
Olives
Sauted baby spinach w/mushrooms
Artichoke hearts
Goat cheese
Mozzarella cheese
Parmesan cheese
Be creative!

Sprinkle yeast over 1 1/2 cups of warm water and let sit for a few minutes. With mixer, mix flour and salt. While mixing on low, pour in olive oil. Then pour in water/yeast mixture. Mix until just combined and sticky. Coat a bowl with olive oil and place dough in bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and set on the counter for 2 hours, or place in your refrigerator until ready to use. It's best to make this a couple days in advance if you can.

To make the sauce, heat olive oil in small saucepan. Add garlic and saute for a couple minutes. Add tomato sauce and seasonings to taste. Let simmer while you roll out your dough and prepare your toppings.

Preheat oven to 450.

Take half of your dough and roll out on a floured surface. Place on a cookie sheet or pizza pan drizzled with olive oil. Create a "lip" around the edges of your pizza to hold the sauce and toppings in. Top with some of your sauce, freshly grated mozzarella (don't use the icky pre-shredded junk here, please), and your toppings. Bake at 450 degrees for 15-20 minutes until brown.