Basic Pizza Dough

So, after my last post, my friend Ashley asked me if I would post my recipe for homemade pizza dough! I have this book called Making Fresh Bread that I found in Marshalls or TJ Maxx for like $3. I feel like making your own dough and bread just takes practice, because the first several times I didn't really know how long to knead it, or the consistency, or really much else. Then, I decided I like wheat pizza dough more, and wheat always takes more water/oil. So... here is the recipe. Just keep trying until you figure out the best recipe for you!

1 1/2 cups of wheat flour (you can use all-purpose flour)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp active dry yeast
2 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for brushing and drizzling (less with white flour)
10-12 tbsp lukewarm water (You have to kinda experiment with the water and oil. If your dough is too dry, then add more of these. If your dough is too sticky... just add more flour. I personally like my dough pretty moist, but not so sticky that it is sticking to my hands.) (You only need 6 tbsp for white flour).

I used my Kitchen Aid mixer, but you don't have to. I'm blessed with it and I like it.

1. Sift your flour and salt together. I never do this. LOL. I just dump the flour into the bowl and then stir in the salt. Sift if it makes you happy. I hate cleaning the sifter.

Stir in the yeast. (It needs at least 30 seconds with your flour before the next step.)

Push your flour to the sides by making a little well inside your bowl. Pour in your oil and lukewarm water. Then stir this all together until it leaves the sides of the bowl and gets all piecey looking. This is where I use my mixer. I let it knead for several minutes. If kneading by hand, then knead well for 5 -10 minutes, until smooth and elastic. Sprinkle your counter with flour and turn out. Knead for a couple minutes by hand, if using a mixer.

2. Brush a bowl with oil. Shape the dough into a ball, put it into the bowl, and cover with a warm damp dish towel. Let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour, until the dough has doubled in volume. (I just turn my oven on the warm setting, and let it heat up a little, and then let my dough sit in the oven to rise).

3. Brush a cookie sheet with oil. Get out the bowl with dough and punch it down with your fist! Turn out onto floured counter and knead for 1 minute. Roll it out onto your cookie sheet. Put the towel back over the cookie sheet and let it rise for 10 more minutes in your warmish oven. (I am usually cutting up the toppings when this is happening).

Get it out and preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Spread out your sauce. Cover with your favorite toppings, add a little salt and pepper. Bake for 15 - 20 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and crisp. Serve to your happy hungry family!

I will try to post my pizza sauce recipe sometime, too, because that is really easy to make and then just freeze in little containers for pizza time. Just take one out to thaw.

Just remember that it may take a few times to feel like you are good at making dough. We still ate the pizza I made the first several times, but I just feel like it gets better the more you make it. :)