Basic Pizza Dough Recipe

Ingredients

• 4 cup of all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups of warm water
• 1 package of active dry yeast
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 Tbls of extra virgin olive oil
• 1 Tbls of sugar

Instructions

1. In a large bowl pour in warm water and sugar
2. Stir to dissolve sugar.
3. Add yeast and gently stir until yeast is disolved.
4. Let mixture sit for around 15 minutes to activate yeast.
5. Add oil and salt and gently stir.
6. Add one cup of flour and mix
7. Add a second cup of flour and mix until sticky.
8. Add third cup of flour and mix until dough becomes thick.
9. Place the dough on a floured board and gradually knead in the remaining flour.
10. Dust with extra flour and continue kneading until dough becomes firm. About 10 minutes.
11. Kneading is complete when you have a smooth silky ball of dough.
12. It’s better to over knead than to under knead.
13. Grease a large bowl with a little oil.
14. Place dough in the bowl turning once to coat the dough.
15. Cover with a dish towel an place in a warm place for about 2 hours allowing the dough to double in size.
16. Take the dough out of the bowl and cut in half and roll the into two balls.
17. With a rolling pin roll the dough and place onto a grease baking pan or carefully place in the stove on an already heated pizza stone.
18. Cover and let it sit in a warm place for around another hour.
19. Your now ready to add your favorite topping and cook.
20. Topping Idea’s:
21. Sausage
22. Pepperoni
23. Onions
24. Black Olives
25. Green Peppers
26. Mushrooms
27. Spinach
28. Tomatoes
29. Bacon
30. Anchovies
31. Ricotta
32. Artichoke Hearts
33. Hot Giardinaira
34. Sun Dried Tomatoes
35. Long Green Onions
36. Fresh Basil
37. Fresh Mozzarella
38. Prosciutto
39. Sage Leaves
40. Use any combination of the ingredients above plus a hundred more.