Happy National Cheese Pizza Day! #Recipe #Foodies

Pizza! Everyone loves it! Yes, you can order out. But it's much more fun to bring the whole family into the kitchen to make your own. It's pretty easy to do, too.

Pizza Dough

Yield: enough dough for 2 14-inch pizzas

4 cups bread flour, plus more for rolling

1 1/2 teaspoons sugar

2 1/4 teaspoons instant dry yeast

2 teaspoons salt

1 1/2 cups water (110 degrees F)

2 tablespoons olive oil, plus 2 teaspoons

Directions:

Combine the bread flour, sugar, yeast and kosher salt in the bowl of a stand mixer and combine. While the mixer is running, add the water and 2 tablespoons of the oil and beat until the dough forms into a ball. If the dough is sticky, add additional flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough comes together in a solid ball. If the dough is too dry, add additional water, 1 tablespoon at a time. Scrape the dough onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead into a smooth, firm ball (about 5-8 minutes).

Grease a large bowl with the remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil, add the dough, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and put it in a warm area to double in size (about 1 hour). Scrape the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 2 equal pieces. Cover dough balls with plastic wrap and let rest for 15 minutes.

Note: Using bread flour results in a much crisper crust. Can't find bread flour? Substitute all-purpose flour which will result in a chewier crust.

Easy Pizza Sauce

2 Tablespoons olive oil

1/2 cup onion, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 28-ounce can plum tomatoes packed in tomato juice

1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped fine

Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and cook until soft (about 5 minutes). Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Add tomatoes, increase heat to simmer, and cook, stirring occasionally until thickened (about 20 minutes). Stir in basil and season with salt and pepper to taste.

To make the pizza:

1 recipe Pizza Dough
1 recipe Easy Pizza Sauce
12 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Optional Toppings:
Red onion, sliced
Fresh mushrooms, sliced
Pepperoni, sliced
Black olives, sliced

Directions:

Heat oven to 475 degrees F, with a 16-inch-diameter pizza stone on lowest shelf position, for at least 30 minutes.

Place one round of dough onto a lightly floured surface, keeping the other covered with a kitchen towel. Roll dough into a 14-inch round. Transfer to a pizza peel.

Spread 3/4 cup of sauce over the dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border around edges. Spread half of the mozzarella over the top. Add other toppings, if using. Slide the pizza onto the hot stone. Bake until crust is golden and cheese is bubbly, about 15 minutes. Remove pizza from the oven; sprinkle with Parmesan. Repeat with second pizza.