Pizza Dough

My husband's grandma makes the BEST pizza dough in town and she was kind enough to share the recipe with me.  After all, she can't have her grandson eating boxed pizza dough!  Makes enough dough for two pizzas!

1 package dry yeast (or 2 1/4 tsp.)

1 cup water, lukewarm

1 tablespoon sugar

1 tsp. salt

3 tablespoons vegetable oil (or olive oil)

2 1/2 - 3 cups all-purpose flour

In a large mixing bowl, or food processor, dissolve the yeast, sugar, and salt into lukewarm water and add oil.  Once dissolved add 2 1/2 cups of flour.  If it's too moist, add the remaining 1/2 cup flour until dough forms.  Cover bowl with dish towel and let it rise in a warm place for 30 minutes.  If dough still appears sticky, add flour until smooth.  Once the dough has had time to rise and is smooth, divide the dough into two balls, pat down onto pizza pans and add toppings.  Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

If you would like to use this recipe in a bread machine (which is the shortcut I usually take), do the following...

Add the ingredients to the bread pan in this order:

-water

-sugar

-salt

-oil

-yeast

-flour (I use the full 3 cups)

Lock your bread machine into place and select the Dough cycle.  My Dough cycle takes 1 hour 20 minutes.  Once your dough is finished, divide the dough into two and shape into a ball.  Spread each ball to your desired thickness on a pizza stone and top with your favorite toppings.

*Life hack: Friday's are pizza night in our house!  Our Friday's are also SUPER busy and I don't have time to make the dough on Friday so I make it on Wednesday!  Once the dough cycle is complete, remove the dough immediately, divide into two equal balls, wrap them each in plastic wrap and get them into the fridge!  They'll rise slightly in the fridge, but they'll keep for 3-ish days.  When you're ready to use them, remove from the fridge, take off the plastic wrap, place them on their pizza stones, and let them sit for a couple of hours before you're ready to make pizza.  Allow them to come to room temp and rise. Pat down into your desired pizza shape and add toppings.  (I've also not had time for them to come to room temp and only had them out of the fridge for 45 minutes or so and it still worked out perfectly.  I love this recipe so much!)