Homemade Pizza

Ingredients:

Pizza Dough

• 1 ½ cup of warm water (105-115°F)
• 2 ¼ tsp of active dry yeast
• 3 ¾ cups of bread flour
• 2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tsp of salt
• 1 tsp of sugar

Toppings and Ingredients

• Extra virgin oil
• Cornmeal
• Tomato sauce
• Firm mozzarella cheese (grated)
• Fresh soft mozzarella cheese, separated into clumps
• Fontina cheese (grated)
• Parmesan cheese (crumbled)
• Feta cheese (crumbled)
• Other toppings that you want

Instructions for making the pizza dough:

Step 1- Place warm water in a bowl. Sprinkle yeast in the bowl and let it sit for 5 minutes until the yeast is dissolved. After five minutes stir the water until the yeast is completely dissolved.(The yeast should begin to foam indicating that the yeast is still active)

Step 2- Add the salt, flour, and olive oil to the bowl and mix for a minute. After completely mixed, knead the dough until it is a little sticky. If it is too wet add more flour.

Step 3- Spread olive oil in the inside of a different bowl and put the dough inside to coat it completely with oil.

Step 4- Cover the dough in a plastic wrap and place in a warm place (75-85°F) for 1 ½ hours.

Step 5- For a medium rise place the dough in a regular room temperature for 8 hours.

Step 6- For a longer rise, chill the dough in a refrigerator for 24 hours.

Instructions for preparing/baking pizza:

Step 1- Start with taking out a pizza pan or a baking sheet and set it aside. 

*Helpful Tip: You may want to have your pizza cook on parchment paper for a smoother transfer.

Step 2- Remove the plastic off of the dough and dust your hands lightly with flour and then divide the dough in half. Form both halves into round balls and place each in its own bowl, cover in plastic and let it sit for 15 minutes. 

Step 3- Prepare your toppings while you wait.

Step 4- Now flatten each dough ball and stretch into a round surface. While stretching, treat the dough gently. To stretch the dough start from the center and work your hands around working it outwards. Use your fingertips to press the dough to a ½ inch thick. Turn/stretch the dough until fully stretched. You may let the dough rest for 5 minutes here and there so it does not cause stress to the dough. Then hold the dough by the edge letting the dough hang and stretch; work your fingers around the edge. When working with the dough, if a hole appears then place the dough on a flat floured surface and push the dough back together to seal the hole.

Step 5- Brush the dough top with olive oil. Use your fingertips to press down the dent along the surface. Then let it rest for another 10-15 minutes. 

Step 6- Sprinkle your baking sheet with cornmeal, then transfer the dough to the sheet.

Step 7- Now spread the tomato sauce (or any kind of sauce you would like to use; it can include tomato, alfredo, salsa, and much more), and sprinkle cheese. Then add any more additional toppings. 

Step 8- Sprinkle cornmeal on the baking stone, slightly shake the sheet to see if the dough will slide off, after gently slide the dough off the sheet and onto the baking stone.

Step 9- It is time to bake your pizza. Bake at 475 F in the oven for about 10-15 minutes or until lightly browned. Toward the end you may add more cheese if desired. 

*Recipe adapted from “simplyrecipes.”