Yield: 3 baking sheet size pizzas
Look around your farmer’s market for tasty and unique toppings to add to your homemade pizza!
Pizza Crust
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
2 1/2 cups warm water
1/3 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
6-8 cups flour (1/2 whole wheat & ½ white flour)
Directions:
In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water (not too hot!) around 100 degrees F.
Add the sugar & salt.
Begin adding the flour one cup at a time, stirring with a sturdy utensil. After you have added 3 cups of flour, add the olive oil.
Continue adding flour (6-7 cups) until the dough becomes somewhat stiff. Turn out on a floured surface and knead for 10 minutes.
Place dough in oiled bowl, then flip over so oiled side of dough is up. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise about 1 hour in a warm, draft free spot. The dough will almost double in size.
Baking Crust:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. When dough has risen for approximately 1 hour, punch down and divide evenly into 3 pieces.
Roll each piece of dough into a large rectangle and place on baking sheet. Press dough out to the edges of the pan.
Pre-bake in hot oven for 5 minutes to avoid ‘soggy crust’.
Bake completely for 20-30 minutes as is and cool and top for cold pizza or top with sauce, toppings and cheese and bake until crust is browned on edges and cheese is melted.
Pizza Topping Ideas:
Tomato sauce
Home-made pesto
Cheese
Fresh herbs (basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary)
Roasted garlic
Sautéed onions
Fresh spinach
Sautéed greens
Mushrooms
Sausage
Broccoli