Coming from Chicago where there's a pizza joint on every corner I'm very picky about my pizza. I don't really care for the chain pizzas and will choose a sandwich before I eat a slice. When I do get a craving for pizza I'll make my own and I can honestly say it's better than any place around here.

Ingredients for crust

Crust ingredients in mixer bowl

Dough on greased pans

Crust before baking

Toppings (sun dried tomatoes, green pepper, sauce, pepperoni)

Uncooked Pizza with sun dried tomatoes, peperoni and green peppers

Unbaked Pizza with pepperoni and sun dried tomatoes

Finished Product fresh from the oven

PIZZA

CRUST: (2 Pizza’s)
1 cup lukewarm water
1 pkg yeast
1 tblsp honey
3 cups flour
2 tblsp oil
seasonings of choice (example: oregano, basil, garlic powder, onion powder or minced onions, italian seasonings)

PIZZA TOPPINGS:
Pizza sauce (canned, jar or homemade)
(I use homemade spaghetti sauce without meat. Let it cool and thicken before topping pizza and it's soooo good)
Toppings of choice (example: pepperoni, cooked italian sausage, mushrooms, onions, peppers, ham, pineapple, cooked hamburger, cooked bacon. tomato)
Cheese (mozzarella or pizza cheese (combination of mozzarella and cheddar)

PREPARATION:
Sprinkle yeast into water stir and let it sit about 5-10 minutes. If the mixture develops a foam on top the yeast is active and OK for use. Add this to the 3 cups of flour and mix well using your hands. Add honey and oil. When all is mixed put the dough on a floured surface and knead about 10 minutes until dough is soft and springy. Place in warm area and cover for about 20- 30 minutes and allow to rise.


(Can also be mixed in food processor or stand mixer such as KitchenAid)

Place 1/2 of the dough in the center of a greased pizza pan and using oiled hands work it out to the edges of the pan, folding and pinching the edges. If you prefer you can place the dough on a floured surface and rool out to the shape and size of the pan you're using. Place dough in a greased pizza pan, pinch edges over to create a lip, cutting off excess if necessary.

Grease top of dough, prick with fork or knife several times and add seasonings. (garlic, onion, oregano, basil, italian seasoning or any other seasonings you desire). Place pan into 350 degree oven for 5-10 minutes or until dough pulls slightly away from side of pan.


ASSEMBLY:
Spread homemade sauce or 1/2 jar or can of pizza sauce on each pizza crust. Add toppings of choice and cheese (avoid having cheese hang off the crust) and bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until cheese starts to turn a golden color. Let cool about 5 minutes before slicing.


PREPARING AHEAD OF TIME:
I like to make my pizzas, up to the final baking the day before. then cover with foil and place in the fridge. When I'm ready to bake I remove from the pan and put it on a pizza stone for baking. If baking both pizzas, return to pan for serving before placing the second pizza on the stone.

If 2 pizzas are a bit much for one sitting, let one crust cool completely before topping. Add toppings and cheese and place in freezer for about 1/2 hour to flash freeze. Remove from freezer and pan and wrap pizza twice in foil. Place back in freezer. When you are ready to enjoy it, place frozen pizza directly on rack in oven and bake at 350 for about 20-30 minutes or let pizza thaw before baking .