- 2 packages (about 5 teaspoons) of active dry yeast
- 2 ¼ cups warm water
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 5 cups flour
- 1 Tablespoon salt
In the bowl of your stand-up mixer. Add the warm water to the yeast and let sit until foamy, about 5 minutes Add the sugar, oil, salt and flour. Mix with dough hook on low until everything comes together, adding flour in ½ cup increments, as needed until the dough starts to pull away from the bowl and is no longer sticky. Knead for 8-10 minutes. Form the dough into a ball and place in a greased bowl and cover with a towel. Let rise in a warm place until it's doubled in size. About 60-90 minutes. Preheat oven to 500 degrees F. If you're using a pizza stone, place in the oven while you are preheating. Lay out a large piece of parchment paper and sprinkle with flour. Divide the pizza dough into 4 equal balls. Take one ball and place in the center of the parchment paper and roll out until it's about a quart inch thick (if you're having problems with the dough stretching, let it sit for a few minutes and then come back to it). Poke the dough all over with a fork or your finger tips. This helps the crust to not to bubble up. Cover with toppings of your choice and bake for 10-15 minutes. Repeat with remaining crusts or freeze balls of dough for later use.
Recipe slightly adapted from: Williams-Sonoma Essentials of Baking.
Pear, Gargonzola & Proscuitto
Bruschetta Pizza
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Shape softened cookie dough into a ball and place in center of large pizza pan covered with parchment paper or a 9x13 greased casserole dish; flatten slightly. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, or your fingers, flatten to about 1/4 inch thick. Bake 16-18 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove from oven; cool completely. While it's cooling: Combine cream cheese, brown sugar, peanut butter and vanilla in medium bowl; mix well. Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over cooled cookie. Core and slice (peel optional) apples and arrange over cream cheese layer. Drizzle with caramel sauce and top with nuts. Serve right away.