Basic Pizza Dough

Total Time: 4 hrs Preparation Time: 3 hrs 30 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
• 1 (1/4 ounce) package active dry yeast
• 1/4 lukewarm water
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• olive oil
• cornmeal

Recipe

• 1 add yeast to 1 cup of lukewarm water.
• 2 let that stand about 5 min until it starts to get a bubbly appearance.
• 3 in a warmed medium bowl you dissolve the salt in 1 cup lukewarm water and add the dissolved yeast.
• 4 in this, stir in 2 1/2 cup flour.
• 5 beat it well until you get a soft dough.
• 6 in a large bowl make a well and pour the soft dough into it.
• 7 with your hands, you will work the rest of the flour into the softened dough a little at a time until it is all blended well.
• 8 work in any dry flour.
• 9 transfer the dough onto a board.
• 10 oil the bowl and set it aside.
• 11 here is where you will knead the dough.
• 12 make sure your hands are lightly floured so the dough doesn't stick to your hands.
• 13 make a ball, which you will cover to keep warm with a clean towel to rest.
• 14 you want this to double in size that takes about 45 minute.
• 15 now, punch the dough down.
• 16 divide the ball into two halves, placing each in oiled bowls so they don't stick.
• 17 roll the balls so the oil get around the dough.
• 18 i sometimes put a little on my hands and rub the dough gently.
• 19 it will absorb some of the oil and make a tasty bread.
• 20 again you want this to rise 1 1/2-2 hours.
• 21 when it is ready.
• 22 stretch and pull it to fit your 10" pizza pan that has been sprinkled with the cornmeal.
• 23 make sure you form a rim around to make a ridge.
• 24 repeat of course with the second ball of dough.
• 25 note: for a thicker sicilian type pizza which is what i like to make one ball will fit a 9x13" pan, top with crushed tomatoes, grated romano cheese, oregano, basil, salt, and black pepper.
• 26 i also add the mozzarella black olives, sausage, green and red pepper, and red pepper flakes.
• 27 bake at 375°f for 35 to 45 minutes or until it sounds hollow when tapped at the bottom.
• 28 you will also get a nice coloring the darker the pan you're using.