How to make pizza at home

This is part of a homemade take-out food series. Here are three more ways to enjoy the meals you typically order in:

How to cook Thai food
Indian food recipes
Take-out Chinese food recipes

Pizza Recipes

Thin Crust Pizza

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients:
1 envelope or 1 tablespoon dry yeast
1/4 teaspoon of sugar
3/4 cup of warm water (105 degrees F.)
1-3/4 cups of unbleached all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon of salt

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 500 degrees F. If you have a baking stone, place it in the oven to heat. In a small bowl, combine yeast, sugar and water. Do not over mix. Let rest 6 to 7 minutes.

2. Combine flour and salt in a large bowl or food processor. Pour yeast mixture in a large bowl or food processor and knead until dough is formed. About 30 seconds in a food processor, longer if doing by hand.

3. Turn dough onto a lightly-floured surface and knead 2 to 3 minutes. Roll dough using a rolling pin into a 12-inch circle. Move dough to a lightly-oiled round pizza pan or baking sheet. Top with your choice of sauce, cheese, vegetables and other toppings. If using a pizza stone, pizza can be topped then slid onto stone directly, using a pizza peel

6. Cook pizza in the oven for 8 to 12 minutes or until bottom is crispy. Remove from oven and let sit for 5 minutes. Use a pizza cutter or sharp knife to slice and serve.

Thick Crust Dough

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients:
2 packages active dry yeast
4 cups all purpose flour, divided
1-1/2 cups of warm water (105 degrees F)
1 tablespoon of salt
4 tablespoons of olive oil

Directions:
1. Combine yeast, 1/2 cup flour, and water in a bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest 15 minutes. Stir.

2. Add 2 cups flour, salt, 1 cup cool water, and olive oil. Mix well. Add remaining flour and knead on a floured surface for 15 minutes.

3. Place dough in a bowl covered with plastic wrap and let rise 1 to 2 hours. Dough will double in size. Punch dough down. Roll out on a lightly-floured surface and place on a lightly oiled jellyroll pan (large rectangular baking sheet). Let rest 10 to 15 minutes.

4. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Top dough with your choice of sauce, cheese, vegetables and other toppings. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden on bottom. Let pizza cool for a few minutes, then slice and serve.

Sweet Pizza Pie

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients:
1 thin crust pizza dough (recipe above)
1 (21-ounce) can fruit pie filling, any flavor
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
2 tablespoons butter

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Roll out pizza dough into a thin 12-inch circle. Place in a lightly-oiled round pizza pan or on a baking sheet. Top with pie filling, leaving a 3/4-inch border around the edge.

2. In a small bowl, combine sugar and flour. Cut butter into sugar and flour to make a crumbly mixture. Sprinkle topping over pizza. Bake until golden, about 15 minutes. Let pizza cool before cutting.

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