Perfect Pizza Dough Recipe

I have tried a bunch of different pizza dough recipes but the first one I ever tried is the best. And super easy! The only hard part is remembering to make it a couple hours before you want to eat it so it can rise.

Pizza Dough
1 package active dry yeast
3/4 cup warm water

2 cups flour
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
3 tbsp olive oil

Pour 3/4 cup warm water into small bowl; stir in yeast. Let stand until yeast dissolves, about 5 minutes.

Brush large bowl lightly with olive oil. Mix 2 cups flour, sugar, and salt in processor. Add yeast mixture and 3 tablespoons oil; process until dough forms a sticky ball. Transfer to lightly floured surface. KNEAD dough until smooth, adding more flour by tablespoonfuls if dough is very sticky, about 1 minute. Transfer to prepared bowl; turn dough in bowl to coat with oil. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let dough rise in warm draft-free area until doubled in volume, about 1 hour. PUNCH down dough. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Store in airtight container in refrigerator. ROLL out dough according to recipe instructions. (Start in center of dough, working outward toward edges but not rolling over them.)

While the pizza dough is very important, I think the sauce is equally important. I tried to use Trader Joe's pizza sauce once and it was a disaster. This recipe is the best! Make a bunch of this sauce and freeze it in batches so you always have it when you want pizza. I have modified it in many ways depending on what I have available but I think the most important components are the honey and a little bit of spice; red pepper flakes and cayenne pepper. It won't be spicy but it adds a LOT of flavor.

NOW, my other piece of advice on pizza making is to buy some fresh mozzarella and basil and just make a pizza with splotches of each. Spread olive oil on the dough, and put a slice of mozzarella next to a dollop of sauce and place some basil leaves over it. I always get rave reviews on this pizza!

This pizza from the other night had mozzarella, chanterelles, big chunks of garlic on one side and pizza sauce, cheddar cheese and spicy sausage from TJs on the other. Yummy!!