Directions: |
Directions:Mix together 1 cup flour, sugar, salt, and yeast. Gradually add water and oil, then beat 2 minutes at medium speed with mixer. Add flour to make a soft dough, put on floured board, and knead 8 minutes. Place in greased bowl; turn to cover dough with oil. Cover with a dishcloth; let rise until double in size only. Keep away from draft. Punch down; press into pizza pan. Form a standing edge of dough. Cover with sauce and fillings. Makes two round pizzas or one large cookie sheet size pizza with a medium crust. If you like a thick crust, use the same amount of dough to make only one round pizza.
Tips for kneading dough: 1. Use a pastry cloth or floured board. 2. When adding flour to make a "soft dough," you should add enough so that it becomes impossible to mix with an electric mixer. 3. The dough is sticky; flour your hands and add extra flour to keep the dough from getting sticky. 4. Knead this way only. Hold the dough with the heel of one hand and push the dough away with the other. This will tear the dough. When about 1 inch thick, fold the dough in half back toward you, and turn the dough 1/4 turn clockwise. Repeat. After about 4 minutes, the dough becomes elastic and rubbery. This gives the bread or crust its texture.
Toppings (for two pizzas) - Sauce: 1 can pizza sauce 1 small can tomato puree Dash of hot sauce 2 Tbsp. Italian spices (oregano, basil, marjoram, sage, thyme, rosemary ) 1 1/2 lb. Mozzarella cheese, sliced into small pieces or grated
1 onion, diced 1 green pepper, diced 1/2 lb. mushrooms, sliced 1 lb. Italian sausage or hamburger, cooked Several hot peppers, diced (optional)
If you add other toppings, cut back on these, for you will run out of room. Spread the sauce on the pizza dough thickly. Cover with a nearly solid layer of cheese. Sprinkle other ingredients on top in any order. Bake immediately at 350 degreesfor 30 to 35 minutes, until brown. |