Making Pizza

Making Pizza

Pizza is easy to make and is cheaper takes less time than ordering it.  It can be a family affair, one team making the dough and the other slicing the toppings, and everybody taking turns putting it all on the pie.  Costs about the same as pizza you order, but tastes better and is more satisfying because it was a group effort.  Enjoy!

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Pizza pan can be the traditional round pan, or any baking sheet with shallow sizes.

• 1 envelope yeast
• 1/4 cup hot tap water
• 1/2 tsp. Sugar
• 2 cups flour – you can use up to half whole wheat flour if you want
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• extra warm water, up to 1/2 cup
• small package mozzarella, or other cheese if desired
• half jar of tomato sauce
• toppings of choice:  peppers, onions, pepperoni, broccoli, anything else you like. 

Empty yeast into a small bowl with 1/4 cup hot tap water.   Add 1/2 tsp. Sugar and let sit. It will begin to bubble within five minutes as the yeast eats the sugar and grows.

Mix flour and salt.  Mix in olive oil.  This can be done in a food processor, or just use a big bowl and a sturdy cooking spoon.

When yeast begins to bubble and “grow,” add it to the flour mixture.  Process in food processor – or stir vigorously with a sturdy cooking spoon - until the dough becomes a ball, adding small bits of water if necessary.

Knead the dough with your fingers. This just means mess with it so that the gluten in the flour begins to develop and the dough becomes elastic.

Roll the ball out on a floured board and shape to fit your pan.  Oil the pan with olive oil and arrange dough in pan.  Top with cheese, then sauce, then toppings of choice.

Please into hot oven and bake until dough is crisp on the edges, cheese is melted, and toppings are cooked.  This can vary, but approximately 10 minutes.

Remove from oven, slice and serve.