My Sisters Pizza

Come on now who doesn't like a cheesy slice of heaven cooked to perfection with zesty sauce and a heavily mix of basil and fresh ingredients.  Pizza is one of those simple crowdpleasers and each community has recreated its own version and the options are endless.   We all have had good pizza and some of us have had the best.  Living in NYC you can find a mixture of both.  Either way pizza is a classic and if you can't find the best perhaps its time to toss some dough in the air and get those perfectly manicured fingers dirty.

Let there be pizza correction: Let there be good pizza..

Dough Recipe:

2 cups of flour (plus more if dough is sticky)

1 packet of yeast

1 tsp of salt

3 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil (Plus 1-2 more tbsp as needed)

3/4 cups of warm water

Put the packet of yeast in warm water let activate for 5 minutes. Then add all the ingredients into a bowl and stir either by hand or mixer for a couple of minutes. Pour dough out on a floured board. If dough is to sticky just add a couple of tablespoons of floor.  Kneed dough for 5 minutes until dough is smooth and not sticky.  Finally place dough in a clean bowl that is coated with olive oil.  Place dough in bowl with a light layer of olive oil on the dough. Place in a warm dry place for an hour.  When dough has rested, punch down and kneed for 5 minutes.  Preheat oven to 425.  Place dough on a lightly greased pan either square or circle and press out until just barely over the edges.

Pizza Sauce:

1 can of tomato sauce 

2 tbsp of olive oil

1 clove of chopped garlic

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp red pepper flakes

1 tsp dried basil

Put all ingredients in a medium sauce pan on med to low heat.  Let simmer for 15 minutes. Place on low heat until ready to use on dough.

Pizza Toppings:

This is the beauty of pizza, it caters to our creativity and mood.  My personal favorite toppings are mushrooms, onions, peppers, sausage, pepperoni, olives, jalepeneos and don't forget the cheese!! This recipe is so versatile, it can be made in advance and if the dough seems to plain for you add rosemary, garlic or any other pizza flavors that appeal to you.  

The cooking time may vary depending on crispier crust.  I cooked mine for almost a 30 minutes.  It should be watched because the top cooks faster than the crust and the cheese might get a little burnt.  I actually prefer a nice crisp crust and golden brown cheese.  

Thanks Brittney, recipes should be shared agreed?

Ummmm yes they should be shared.  If you have a awesome recipe that you would like to contribute don't hesitate to email me at danielle.mueller@ymail.com and you can be featured in my blog.  Lets share.