HOMEMADE PIZZA RECIPE

A great recipe for homemade pizza dough & sauce


Pizza-making is a fun family activity for mixed ages," All enjoy playing with the dough -- kneading it, watching it rise, punching it down, stretching, and shaping it. Although it is messy, it is hard to really mess up. If it ends up being a little too thick here or a little too thin there, who cares? You made it and it's yummy."

PIZZA DOUGH:

5 cups unbleached flour
2 packets yeast
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt plus a big pinch of sugar
2 cups warm water

PREPARATION:

• .Put the flour in a mound on your counter, in a large bowl and make a well in the middle.
• .Pour the yeast, salt, and sugar into the well. Add just a bit of warm water and start stirring with a fork. As the water and flour mix, and a paste starts to form, add more water. Keep on stirring and adding water to the paste until all the water is used
• Take turns kneading the dough for about 15 minutes. The dough should be smooth and soft. When it starts to sticky, add flour. Shape into a ball.
• Put 2 teaspoons of olive oil into a large bowl and turn dough ball around in the bowl to coat with a thin film of oil. Cover with a damp dishtowel and place in a warm place until the dough has doubled in size, about 45 minutes.

While the dough is rising, start the sauce.

Seasoned Tomato Sauce

12 oz can tomato paste
2 tablespoons oil
2 tablespoons dry onion
2 cans filled with water
1 teaspoon basil
1/4 teaspoon oregano
1 tablespoon sugar or honey
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons dry onion

This sauce is so easy,Heat the oil in a 2 quart size saucepan. Add the dried onion and garlic. Stir the onion and garlic around in the oil for about 30 seconds, or until they start to smell good. Add the tomato paste. Now fill the empty can with fresh water and add it to the pot. Do it again, so two cans of water have been added. Stir it all up until the sauce is smooth and thick. Add the seasonings. Cover and simmer for about 5 or 10 minutes depending on your time and fuel situation. After the flavors have mingled long enough to know each other better, you are done.

Place toppings in bowls, ready to assemble. Remove the sauce from the heat and the dough from the unheated oven, and preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

Assembling your Pizzas:

• On a counter, punch down the dough and divide it into 2 or more, equal sized balls (2 balls will give you enough for 2 medium pizzas)
• Roll out the dough with a rolling pin. Then flour your hands. Here comes the fun "pro pizza parlor" part. It may take some practice, but once everyone gets the hang of it, there's no going back. Make two fists. put rolled dough on clenched hands, and moving your fists in a rotating circular motion,
• Stretch the dough with your hands to fit two jelly roll pans, or four 8" pie tins, leaving a lip to hold in the sauce and toppings.
• Spoon tomato sauce over dough and cover with desired toppings.
• Bake pizza at 425 degrees for 25-30 minutes. If baking two at a time, exchange racks half way through. As always, cook until done.

Give the pizza a couple minutes to cool, and dig in!