Ingredients:
4 1/2 teaspoons of yeast
2 teaspoons sugar
4 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup olive oil
1 1/2 cups warm water
Instructions:
1. Put yeast and sugar in a cup. Add 1/2 cup of water. The water should be between 37° C- 43°C. Mix well. Wait about 5 minutes for the yeast and sugar to activate.
2. In a large mixing bowl, add the flour, salt, olive oil, 1 cup of warm water and the yeast mixture. Mix this with a fork to get all the liquid absorbed by the flour.
3. Place a handful of flour on a pastry board or mixing surface. Dust your hands and spread out the flour. Empty the contents of the bowl on to the flour.
4. Knead the dough for 8-10 minutes or until the texture is smooth and uniform. If the dough seems a little sticky, add a little more flour. One method to knead, is to lean on the dough with the palm of your hand. Press the dough to the mixing surface. Fold the dough and repeat.
5. Place the dough in a bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Place bowl in draft free area and cover with a cloth.
6. Let the dough rise for about an hour. Punch down the dough and wait about 45 minutes. Your dough is now ready.
7. Now, dust a rolling pin with flour and gently roll out on a floured pastry board until the dough is the desired shape. Keep using flour, as needed so the dough won't stick. You can also just use your fingers to shape the dough!
8. Dust a cookie sheet, slap the dough on it, and add toppings (recipes to come).
You can make tons of this stuff, add toppings, and freeze them for later. Then when you wanna chow, just pop one in the oven and you're good to go!
Or, you could just buy pre-made bases, but then this wouldn't be the Recipes forum, would it?
