Pizza Crust

Making your own pizza can be so much fun for your family. Once you've made the crust,put out an array of toppings and let your kids go at it. Kids love it when they have control over what they are eating. When they pick their own topping, they get this control. You won't be hearing any, "I don't like it" for this meal.

PIZZA CRUST

(1 large pizza or 4 personal pizza's)

Ingredients:

*1 cup warm water

*1 package active dry yeast

*1 teaspoon sugar

*1 teaspoon salt

*2 teaspoons olive oil

*2 1/2 cups flour

*1 teaspoon ground basil (optional)

*1 teaspoon ground oregano (optional)

*1 egg white (optional)

*1 tablespoon water (optional)

*garlic salt (optional)

*corn meal

Crust Directions:

~In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast & sugar in the water.

~Allow the yeast to proof, about 10 minutes.

~In a large bowl, mix flour, salt, oregano, basil and olive oil.

~Mix in yeast mixture.

~Sprinkle flour on a clean dry surface.

~Knead dough, until it is no longer sticky. You may need to add another 1/4 cup of flour, but no more.

~Place the dough into a well oiled bowl, and cover with a damp cloth.

~Let the dough rise until double. About 1 hour.

~Punch down the dough, and form into one tight ball (more if you are going to make personal pizza's).

~Let dough sit for a few minutes.

~Roll out dough to desired thickness.

~Mix egg white & water together.

~Paint a light layer of egg wash on outer edge of pizza.

~Sprinkle with desired amount of garlic salt.

~Spray the pizza stone, pizza pan or cookie sheet with pam.

~Sprinkle corn meal on pan.

~Put flour on hands and flatten pizza dough to desired thickness.

~Place dough on pizza stone, pizza pans, or cookie sheet.

~Top with your favorite toppings.

~Bake in 400 degree oven for 15-20 minutes.

*If you like deep dish pizza crust, let the dough rise for 15-20 minutes once you have it on the pizza pan.

*You may want to cook in in the oven for 10 minutes before putting the toppings on if you aredoing deep dish pizza.

**If you want to cook the pizza on the grill, make sure you put olive oil on both sides of the crust before cooking and oil the grates. Place grill on high. Brown one side of crust (this will happen very quickly) and remove. Place toppings on browned side of crust. Return pizza to grill, cover and cook until cheese is melted. Watch that it doesn't burn. (All veggies & meat need to be cooked before putting them on the pizza).

Variation:

`Substitute garlic salt with sesame seeds.

`Substitute garlic salt with poppy seeds.

`Substitue garlic salt withgarlic powder.

`Substitue garlic salt with onion powder.

`Substitute garlic salt with grated parmesan cheese

`Buy frozen pizza dough, thaw and use.

Helpful Hint:

Some pizza places sell just the pizza dough. All you have to do is roll it out to your desired thickness. I know in our area you can buy a large pizza dough at "Hungry Howies".

Topping Ideas: 

*green/red peppers, cut thin and partially cooked

*mushrooms, sliced

*onions, sliced and partially cooked

*tomatoes, sliced thin

*zucchini, chopped very small, and partially cooked

*egg plant, sliced thin and partially cooked

*black olives, sliced

*pineapple, chopped

*bacon, cooked and crumbled

*sausage, cooked and crumbled

*hamburger, cooked and crumbled

*pork, shredded

*chicken (marinated), cooked, shredded, sliced or chopped

*ham, chopped

*pepperoni

*fresh basil, chopped

*fresh grated parmesan cheese

*mozzarella cheese, shredded, or sliced

*provolone cheese, shredded or sliced