Mom's Pizza

Another family staple 'round these parts is Mom's pizza. Every vacation from school or time when the family would gather at home we would request Mom's pizza. The crust is different (and way better!) than any delivery pizza. Plus, making pizza at home is fun! There's so much shredded cheese to eat. That's gotta be the best part!

Emily and I had our first attempt at Mom's pizza when she came down for a visit. Overall I would consider it a success. I definitely needed some extra instruction as far as rolling out the dough. But with some help and a little practice, I managed to roll out a lovely circle, all ready for topping!

Mom's Pizza

1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
1 c. warm water (use very warm tap water)
1 tbsp. sugar
3 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt

In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm water, Add the sugar and leave it for 5 to 10 minutes. This will result in a little film or foam, like the picture below:

Add 1 cup of flour and beat well. Sift together the remaining 2 cups of flour and 1/2 tsp. of salt and add it to the bowl. Beat until smooth and if you find your dough too sticky, add some more flour. The dough should be fairly stuff by the time you're done. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and let it sit for 3 - 5 minutes. Knead the dough for 2 - 5 minutes.

Place the dough in a greased bowl and let it stand in a warm place, free from drafts until slightly risen, about 30 minutes. Divide the dough in half and knead each piece slightly. Wrap each piece loosely in plastic wrap. Be sure to wrap it loosely so the dough can continue to rise. Refrigerate until ready to use, at least 2 hours.

Preheat the oven to 425. Brush two pizza pans with oil. Roll out the dough to fit the pizza pan. Top your pizza with the sauce and toppings of your choice. Bake the pizza for about 15 minutes. It's probably best to bake one pizza at a time, or else the crust may not brown properly. Watch it to make sure it doesn't get overdone, you will be able to tell when it's ready. Let the pizza sit for 2 - 3 minutes before cutting into it.

Not so scary for pizza, huh?! Enjoy!