Homemade Easy Cheesy Pizza

Homemade Pizza Dough — The dough takes about 15 – 20 minutes to put together, then sits for an hour or two or whatever works with your life.

Ingredients for dough

• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

DIRECTIONS for dough

1. In a large bowl, dissolve sugar in warm water. Sprinkle yeast over the top, and let stand for about 10 minutes, until foamy.
2. Stir the olive oil and salt into the yeast mixture, then mix in the whole wheat flour and 1 cup of the all-purpose flour until dough starts to come together. Tip dough out onto a surface floured with the remaining all-purpose flour, and knead until all of the flour has been absorbed, and the ball of dough becomes smooth, about 5 minutes. Place dough in bowl, and cover loosely with a towel. Let stand at room temperature until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
3. When the dough is doubled, tip the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and divide into 2 pieces for 2 thin crust, or leave whole to make one thick crust. Form into a tight ball. Let rise for about 45 minutes, until doubled.
4. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Roll a ball of dough with a rolling pin until it will not stretch any further. When the circle has reached the desired size, place on a cookie sheet dusted with corn meal or flour or well greased.  Or use a flour-dusted pizza stone.
5. Pre-bake crust at 425 for 8-10 min or so, then baked with toppings at 425 for about 7 min.

TOPPINGS

After pre-baking the crust, add sauce and toppings and return to the 425 oven just long enough to heat the toppings and melt the cheese, or about 8 minutes.

Anything works on top of pizza! Shredded mozzarella and jarred sauce, fresh goat cheese and homemade sauce.  Whatever floats your boat.

My kids love peanuts on theirs (gross, I know, but to each her own, right?)

My favorites are balsamic glazed onions, thinly sliced tomatoes, spinach and fresh mozzarella.  I use all the ingredients raw except the onions–here’s how I cook the onions.

• Category: Recipe
• Tag: Homemade, pizza dough, wheat