Because Everyone* Likes Pizza

*Most Everyone

BY: CARMEN WEBER

Before life got really hectic with three kids, I really enjoyed cooking. I still enjoy cooking for my loved ones, and getting my kids involved in making dinner has brought this passion of mine full circle. One of my kid’s favorite things to cook is homemade pizza, and with the holidays here finding time to cook can be a little strained. This easy recipe for homemade pizza dough can be made in advance and refrigerated or used right after it rises. Best of all its engaging for everyone. My kids really like ‘decorating’ their own pizzas, which helps when it comes time to eat dinner!

Ingredients:

1 packets of dry, active yeast
½ teaspoon of sugar
1 cup of warm water
1 tablespoons of salt (kosher)
2 tablespoons of olive oil + a little more for the bowl to rise in
3 cups of flour

MAKING THE DOUGH!

In a stand mixer with the hook attachment:

Pour in one packet of dry, active yeast, ½ teaspoon of sugar, and 1 cup of warm water (around 100°. Too hot of water can kill the culture in the yeast)
Let the yeast activate for about 10 minutes or so. It can over-activate so don’t let it go too long!
Add 1 tablespoon of salt (I prefer kosher), 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and start up the mixer
Add three cups of flour and let the mixer with the hook work the ingredients into a ball of dough

Once the ball of dough has formed (you might need to kneed it and form it into a ball), place it in a ceramic bowl and coat with olive oil to prevent it from drying. Cover with a wet paper towel and let it sit in a warm, dark environment.

After about 45 minutes the dough will be ready to either be used or put in a zip lock bag and refrigerated. Preheat the oven to 425° and begin building your pie! I have listed the order in which I like to build my favorite homemade pizzas. Depending on how many ingredients you have on your pizza will influence the amount of cooking time. Typically, I start out cooking my pizzas for 15 minutes and then deciding if they need more time.