"Homemade" Pizza

prep time:: 1 hr 15 minutes
total time:: 1 hr 25 minutes

Makes 4 servings

The ingredients are very simple but make a wonderful finished product, and a good base for your favorite toppings. If you can’t find fresh pizza dough at your grocer, ask for it at your local pizzeria, or make it yourself!

ingredients

1 ball fresh pizza dough
1/4 cup tomato puree
1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 tbsp garlic salt
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp coarse cornmeal
Topping ideas:
thinly sliced fresh mushrooms
roasted red peppers
black olives
sliced deli ham
pineapple chunks
crumbled bacon
diced onion
prosciutto and arugula

directions

1
Rub dough with 1 tbsp olive oil, and allow to rest in a covered bowl at room temperature for 1 hour.
2
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Oven MUST be fully preheated for a good crust.
3
Remove dough from bowl and place onto counter.
4
Pour remaining oil on your hands and begin to press and shape dough into a round.
5
When round is about half the size of your pan, pick it up and carefully stretch the dough. Stretching helps to form the chewiness of the crust. Be careful not to tear.
6
Sprinkle pan with cornmeal and lay dough into pan, pressing all the way to the edge. Sprinkle with garlic salt.
7
Pour tomato puree in center of dough and spread towards edges, leaving a 1/2 inch crust.
8
Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, then mozzarella cheese.
9
Add toppings of choice.
10
Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until crisp and bubbly.

notes

"Basil-Walnut Pesto" (see recipe) can be used in place of tomato puree.It's great topped with cheese and sliced fresh tomatoes. This pizza is even better cooked on a preheated baking stone, if you are familiar with them.

Source: Heather