The Basics: Pizza Crust to Build Flavors On!

I want to take a minute and apologize for not posting recently. I’m a teacher by trade, and with summer vacation comes the search for summer work, which then leads to my working over an hour away from home.

On top of working, my Mister and I have been trying to squeeze in small vacations here and there, enjoying a little bit of the summer.  With that impact on my time and schedule, it’s really hard to cook frequently, much less have time to post. However, that doesn’t mean I haven’t been missing you all. Really, I have.

So to make it up to all of you, I’m going to post a favorite staple at the Estrada home – pizza dough. This isn’t the first pizza dough I’ve put on this blog, but it is a rising crust recipe that can be developed and tailored to your preferences.

I like my dough simple, while Matt likes his with a stuffed crust and butter/garlic coating before he bakes it. Whatever your preference is, start with this basic recipe, and build it to your personal enjoyment. I hope you have a wonderful day!

Beautifully Basic Pizza Dough

1 packet dry yeast

1 cup warm water (it should feel warm enough to bathe in)

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

2 ½ cups flour

• Pour your water into a medium sized bowl, then sprinkle the yeast onto the water.

• Pour in the sugar and give the mixture a small stir. You’ll notice the yeast will start to bloom after a few minutes. Allow it to stand for about 5 minutes, then add the salt.

• Stir in one of the cups of flour, making sure the mixture is completely smooth. Add your remaining flour in small increments, until all of the flour is absorbed. 

• If you are using a mixer, 6 minutes on medium speed with your dough hook should do it. If you are using your hands, wash them with cold water and knead for about 10 minutes, or until you do not feel lumps.

• Roll your dough into a ball, cover with a clean towel and allow it to sit for 30-40 minutes in your warm kitchen.

 

Nice neat ball, before. 

Beautiful dough, nearly 40 minutes later.

• Divide your dough into two even portions (each portion is enough for a medium-sized pizza). If you are going to only use one of the portions, tightly wrap one of the dough balls and place in the fridge. What you do use can be flattened into traditional pizza sizes at this point. 

• Now it's time to build your pizza to your preference! Use your favorite toppings, sauces and crust ideas.

We made barbecue chicken pizza. It's SUPPOSED to be a dark sauce, I promise. 

• Bake 450 degrees for 15-17 minutes, based on how crispy you want your crust.  (Note: If you have put a lot of toppings on your pizza, you will need to add time to your baking.)

Mmm... Pizza!

It's a Friday night, Jeopardy is on TV, and my husband is at work. So, what's a girl to do? I could go on a walk, but it's cold out. I could clean, but... I don't want to. I could start a new novel... but who's got the time to go to Barnes & Noble?

Now that I've eliminated all my other options, how about I cook? 

Actually, that's nearly always my go-to when I want to do something fun. It's a creative outlet for me. I can't draw, and can barely play an instrument, so this seemed like the best thing to try. Three to four nights of the week are spent in my itty-bitty kitchen, whipping up something new and fun. So... I figured I'd follow my heroes and try cooking up something delicious, then share the experience.

Pizza so good, you want to lick
 the plate after

 

So why not start my first blog with something simple - something delicious: Pizza. I'm talking a gooey, thin crust, I-can-eat-it-in-one-sitting pizza. 

I found the beginnings of this recipe on Cinnamon, Spice, and Everything Nice, then tweaked it to make it my own. I like it because the recipe is super easy to follow, and chances are, you have all the ingredients you need in your fridge already. 

Enjoy!








Crust ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour 
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons olive oil 

Topping ingredients:

2/3 cup pizza sauce
1 and 1/2 cup shredded smoked provolone or mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup shredded Swiss cheese
dried Italian or pizza seasoning

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 425°F and lightly grease two 12" round pizza pans, or a couple of large baking sheets. I used one of each, because my kitchen is still being stocked.
• Mix the flour, oil, and water together for your dough. Use your hands to gather it together and form into a ball. Divide it in two and form each half into small balls then flatten into discs. Cover with saran wrap and allow them to rest for approximately 10 minutes to make them for easier rolling. I shredded my cheese while I had my dough sit in the fridge to firm up. 

 

•  Grease a piece of parchment or wax paper about 12" square and set one of your dough circles in the middle. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough very thin - 1/8 inch or less, if you can, then place the dough on the prepared pans.

Don't be upset if your pizza dough isn't perfectly round.
It tastes delicious, regardless of shape.

Oh so saucy!

• Top each pizza with 1/3 cup of your sauce, then sprinkle your cheeses onto the top. Season with your herbs/seasoning to your preference. I went lightly because I chose to add chopped garlic to each pizza, which adds a lot of bite and zest.
• Add your toppings of preference. My husband is picky, so he gets simple pepperoni and garlic on his pizza. I wanted something a little more flavorful, so I put heirloom tomato, garlic and basil on mine.