Pizza Dough

One thing that we missed when we first moved into our little cottage in the country was pizza on those nights when we just didn't have time or inclination to cook - we're pretty much out in the middle of nowhere, way too far from any takeout delivery routes.  After a lot of trial and error (too bland, too dry, too yeasty), I've finally settled on the perfect pizza dough for us.  Mixing it in the bread machine on the dough cycle, makes things really easy, but if you don't have one, using a stand mixer or even by hand and kneading will work fine too.  Once you've got the dough bases sorted out the skies the limit as to what toppings you want - my hubby and I are definite meat lovers but this recipe produces either dough to make two large rectangular pizzas (that's what we tend to do), or at least six smaller individual pizzas so you can all have whatever toppings you want :)

Pizza Dough
enough for 2 large rectangular or 6 small circular bases.

1 1/3 cups warm water
3 tsp sugar
1 1/4 tsp salt
2 Tbsp olive oil
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp italian seasoning
1 1/2 tsp instant yeast

• in a bread machine pan add the ingredients in the above order and set on the dough cycle.
• when the cycle finishes, remove dough from the pan onto a lightly floured surface. 
• divide the dough into however many pizzas you are going to make and using a rolling pin, roll out to approximate 1/4 inch thickness.
• transfer to baking sheets covered in parchment paper or silicone sheets, and pierce holes all over using a fork.
• let the pizza bases rise slightly for 20-30 minutes, then brush with olive oil and bake in a 400 F for 5-7 minutes.
• reduce heat to 350 F.
• cover with whatever sauce, vegetables, meat or other toppings that you want and bake for 15-20 minutes or until toppings are to personal preference.

 pizza dough ingredients.

I LOVE my bread machine :)

we usually make two large rectangular pizzas - evening meal and at least two days of lunch leftovers!!!

we're both meat lovers, hence the beef cooked sausage and lots and lots of peppered salami - yummy!

one had jalapeno peppers - that's for my hubby - he likes things a little hotter :)