Pizza Dough

bG's Perfect Pizza Dough
(Recipe for 2 good-sized pies)

A.P. Flour (use bread flour for a crispier crust) - 3 cups
Warm water - 1 cup
Extra Virgin Olive Oil - 1 ½ tablespoons
Dry Active Yeast - 1 packet
Kosher Salt - 2 teaspoon
Sugar - 1 teaspoon

*This recipe can also be made in your electric mixer.*

Method:

1. Bloom the yeast in warm water. Add olive oil & sugar, whisk. Let stand for 2-3 minutes.

2. Put half of the flour into a large bowl. Add salt.

3. Add the wet ingredients into the bowl of flour. Mix thoroughly. Begin to add the remaining flour little by little until it is all incorporated. The dough should be slightly sticky.

4. Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface, and knead for 5 minutes. Dough should be smooth, and not sticky.

5. Place dough into an oiled bowl, and set in a warm area (I heat my microwave for 25 seconds just to warm it) so it can proof (it will double in size). This will take 1 hour.

6. Preheat oven to 500° F.

7. Divide dough in 2 sections.

8. Shape as desired, and roll out to a 1/8-inch thickness.

9. Add sauce, cheese, toppings, etc.

10. The pizza will take about 10-12 minutes to cook depending on toppings and thickness of crust.
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Once you have this method down, your creativity can run wild. Imagine impressing your friends or co-workers with a pear & gorgonzola pizza. how about a prosciutto & cantaloupe pie? of course a classic pepperoni pizza topped off with some buffalo mozzarella is never a bad thing.

The key is to be adventurous, try what you like. Don't be confined by the traditional red sauce, try just olive oil, or a white sauce on your pizza.

One of my favorite pizzas is a buffalo chicken pizza - garlic white sauce, grilled chicken, mozzarella cheese - drizzle on Frank's Red Hot sauce when it comes out of the oven. It's innovative, yet classic.

Stay tuned for more recipes, including some Big Time Live gourmet pizza party ideas.

Copyright 2010, Brian Griess, All rights reserved