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!
This is my own recipe for pizza dough, made to satisfy that pizza craving without crashing my wallet.
1
Hint: Use a stand mixer if you’ve got it!
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.)
2
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.
3
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°.
4
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.
5
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.
6
Add toppings of your choice. I recommend 3 tablespoons of Exquisite Pizza Sauce or sauce of your choice.
7
Mozzarella and feta with pepperoni or Canadian bacon are my favorites!
8
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 $6 and $8 to make two fresh-from-the-oven pizzas!