Pizza

I served pizza and tiramisu for our Italian World Cup meal. I sometimes make a double batch of pizza dough and freeze half, which makes homemade pizza an easy weekday option. I copied the dough recipe from a magazine many years ago…

Pizza
(enough for 4 good-sized individual pizzas)

• 2 tsp active dry yeast
• 1 1/3 cups of warm water
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 3/4 cups plain flour
• cornmeal or flour for sprinkling on the baking sheet
• olive oil for drizzling on the dough
• 4 Tb tomato paste (or tomato sauce)
• 2 Tb oregano
• toppings: mozzarella, olives, tomato, salami, mushrooms, anchovies, capers, whatever…

1. Stir the yeast, water and sugar together and let it sit for five minutes, or until foamy.
2. Stir in the oil and salt, then add the flour, a cup at a time.
3. Knead about ten minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic.
4. Place in an oiled bowl, turn to coat and leave covered for 45 minutes to an hour until we risen.
5. Preheat the oven to 450°F (or hotter if possible).
6. Flatten the ball of dough and divide into four portions.
7. Press and stretch the dough to the desired thinness, then place on a baking sheet or pizza stone sprinkled with cornmeal.
8. Drizzle a little olive oil onto the dough and smooth it over the surface.
9. Spread about a tablespoon of tomato paste across the dough, then sprinkle with oregano.
10. Arrange toppings to your liking, then bake for about ten minutes, or until cooked.

Family score: 9 out of 10

Tags: Italian food, mozzarella, tomatoes