The "Hubby's" Homemade Pizza

The "Hubby's" Pizza Dough


This basic pizza dough recipe is inspired from The California Pizza Kitchen Cookbook.

Ingredients:
1 tsp. yeast
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon warm water (105 to 110 degrees fairenhight)
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil plus 1 tsp for coating


Directions:
To Make The Dough:

Dissolve the yeast in the water and set aside for 5 to 10 minutes. Be sure that the water is not hot; temperatures above 120 degrees fairinheight and above will kill the yeast, and your dough will not rise.

The next step can be 3 different ways depending on what appliances you have in the kitchen.

If you have an upright electric mixer (this is what the hubby uses).....

Use the mixing paddle attatchment beacause the batch size is too small for the dough hook to work.

Combine all other ingredients (except the additional teaspoon of olive oil) and combine them with the disolved yeast in the mixing bowl. (Do not pour the salt directly into the yeast water because this will kill some of the yeast).
Allow these 2 ingredients to mix gradually; use the lowest 2 speeds to mix dough. Mix for 2-3 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic. Overmixing will produce tough, rubbery dough, and friction will cause the dough to rise too fast.


Next lightly oil the dough ball and the interior of a 1 qt. glass bowl. Place the dough ball in the glass bowl. and seal the bowl with plastic wrap; seal air tight. Set aside at room tempwerature (70-80 degrees fairinhight) to rise until it doubles in size, about 1 1/2 - 2 hours.

After the dough has risen you can use it now or save it for later.

If you are going to save for later then punch down the bowl with your fist, reform a nice round ball and return it to the same bowl; cover again with plastic food wrap. Place the bowl in the refrigerator overnight, covered airtight.



Toppings vary depending what we have in the refrigerator. Mostly the "Hubby" uses a combo of pepperoni slices and salami.

Leftover Italian Sausage and Pepperoni Pizza