Mmmm, pizza!
With the changing economy, ordering pizza for a family of four has been out for quite a while. What to do, what to do? Well, make our own damn pizza!
Since I started making my own pizza, pizza family night has become a tradition every Friday. We watch t.v., eat pizza, and just laugh and talk together. Pizza night makes the world go round!
This is my own recipe for pizza dough, made to satisfy that pizza craving without crashing my wallet.
Make Your Own Damn Pizza (Crust!)
- 3 cups flour + 1/2 – 1 c
- 1/2 cup cornmeal
- 2 1/2 tsp. instant yeast (not quick-rise)
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp sugar, honey or agave nectar
- 1 egg plus enough room-temperature water to make 1 1/2 cups
- 2 tbs olive oil
Hint: Use a stand mixer if you’ve got it! You can also do this by hand, it just takes a little longer.
Mix dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl (or stand mixer bowl). Mix wet ingredients together, adding slowly to the dry ingredients until a sticky dough forms. Slowly add additional flour 1/2 cup at a time until dough is no longer sticky. (It usually takes me about 1/2 c.)
Knead for approximately 5 minutes (by hand or with a dough hook in a stand mixer).
Allow to rest for about 1 hour or until double in size.
Punch down and split in half, forming two balls of dough. Allow to rest while preheating oven and preparing pizza pans or baking sheets.
Preheat oven to 425°.
Oil two round pizza pans (12 – 15″) or baking sheets with olive oil. Using your hands, slowly stretch one ball of dough to cover pan.
Just keep working with it and it will eventually cover the pan. It will shrink a little after you stop working with it, but that’s okay. As you’ll see in the “after” photo, the pizza will plump right up to the edges! Repeat for the second pan.
Add toppings of your choice. I recommend 3 tablespoons of Exquisite Pizza Sauce or sauce of your choice.
Mozzarella and feta with pepperoni or Canadian bacon are my favorites!
Cook for 18 – 20 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown.
Optional: for a crispier crust, remove pizza from pan and cook directly on the oven rack for the last 5 minutes OR cook the pizzas on a pizza stone.
Allow to rest at least 5 minutes before slicing. Makes enough for 2 12-15″ pizzas, which serves four nicely. Enjoy!
All told, and depending on toppings, it costs between $8 and $10 to make two fresh-from-the-oven pizzas!
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