Pizza Dough

This pizza dough recipe is my baby. I found it long ago when I was first married, and I have loved it, nurtured it, changed it, experimented with it and now it is right where I want to be. The best part about pizza dough, is you can top with whatever you want, be creative or be predictable, it will still taste good.

Sausage and Pepperoni

Clam Chowder

Pizza Dough
* this can be easily doubled!

1 package or 2 1/4 tsp quick rise yeast
1 c luke warm water
2 TBS vegetable oil
1 TBS honey
2 1/2 c flour
whatever seasonings you want, and how much you want: garlic powder, garlic salt, rosemary, oregano, basil....

Preheat oven to 450. Mix yeast and water in a glass bowl and let sit for a few minutes. Add all ingredients together, including the yeast mixture and mix until it forms a dough. Now this is important: You do not have to let the dough rise if you do not want to. If you don't, the dough may be a little harder to roll out, and you will get a more flat crispy crust. If you like bigger fluffy crust, then let it rise until double in size, punch down, and roll it out.

This is what I do. I make two pizza out of this one recipe. Both are decent sized, but it makes the dough thin crust style, which we really like. I also do not let it rise either because I usually don't have time to!

So, roll your dough out on a floured surface. If you are having trouble getting it the size you want, roll it out about halfway, then let it rest for about 10 minutes, then roll it out the rest of the way. Next, place rolled out dough on an olive oil greased  pizza pan. Brush top of dough with olive oil, and stick it in the oven for 5 minutes. When it is done pre-cooking, layer it up with your toppings and throw it back in the oven for about 10 more minutes. Watch it though, you do not want to ruin your masterpiece by burning it!

Some topping ideas:

Veggie pizza. For the sauce you mix ranch dressing with some garlic salt, then top with cut up artichoke hearts, green onion, tomato, and chopped zucchini, top with Parmesan cheese. 

BBQ pizza: Use your favorite BBQ sauce for the sauce of the pizza, top with shredded chicken or pork, green onion, and cheddar cheese. My husband makes amazing homemade bbq sauce, and it makes the pizza even better.

This is my new one: Clam Chowder Pizza: Boil cubed potato until soft. Make a white sauce by mixing 2 1/2 tsp flour and 3 TBS butter. Let butter melt at medium-high heat. Whisk in flour and continue whisking until sauce turns a golden brown color, then add 1 c heavy cream, cook until thickend. Top pizza dough with white sauce, cubed potatoes, chopped onion, old bay seasoning, celery salt, canned clams, and Parmesan cheese. This will taste exactly like you are eating bread that has been dipped in clam chowder. Also, try topping with cooked crumbled bacon or hot sauce!