Homemade Pizza Night

Saturday night in our house was homemade pizza night.  I love homemade pizza!  It's so much cheaper than chain pizza and it just tastes better - probably because it was made with love!  Plus, I can have my pizza exactly the way I want it and there is nothing wasted from the things I pick off.  Win/Win!!

I make my own pizza dough.  It's pretty easy and doesn't take too much time.  While the pizza dough is rising, I prep the toppings.

Once that is done, the pizza dough is usually ready to start rolling out.  The dough can make a bunch of small pizzas or about three larger ones.  That's the fun of homemade pizza - it's all to your preference.

 

 

Then you can start piling the toppings on!  First the pizza sauce (on another post I will have to share my pizza sauce recipes), then whatever else tickles your fancy.

 

 



We place the pizza on a pre-heated pizza stone.  Really adds to the crispness of the pizza crust. 

 

 

Yum!!  We normally make three larger pizzas, each with different toppings, then munch on all of them.  Here is my recipe for pizza dough:

 

Ingredients

* (1) pkg. active dry yeast

* (1) c warm water (105F - 115F)

* (1) tsp. salt

* (2) tsp. sugar

* (3) tbsp. olive oil

* (2) cloves garlic

* (1) tbsp. basil

* (1) tsp. oregano

* (3) c all-purpose flour

 

Directions

*  Dissolve yeast in warm water in warmed mixer bowl.

 

* Add salt, sugar, olive oil, garlic, basil, oregano and (2) cups of flour.  Attach bowl and dough hook to mixer.  Turn to Speed 2 and mix about (1) minute.

 

* Continuing on Speed 2, add remaining flour, (1/2) cup at a time, and mix about (2) minutes longer.  The dough will be slightly tacky.

 

* Place dough in greased bowl, turning to grease top.  Cover.  Let rise in warm place, free from drafts, about (1) hour, or until doubled in bulk.

 

* Punch dough down and use as desired.

 

** If you like a sweeter pizza crust, substitute (2) tbsp. of sugar for the (2) tsp. of sugar.  You will have to allow the dough to rise longer.  I would suggest letting it rise (1) hour, punch it down, and then let it rise for one more hour.  JCMT