Travis' Territory

1: Place dry yeast in a large mixing bowl.

2: Pour warm water on wrist (water should be warm enough to wash your hands in). Measure 1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp. warm water and pour into the large bowl with the yeast.

3: Stir water and yeast with a wooden spoon until all yeast is dissolved (no lumps or grains in the bowl).

4: Measure 1 tbsp. sugar and add to the bowl.

5: Measure 1 tsp. salt and add to the bowl.

6: Measure 2 tbsp. oil (olive oil for healthier) and add to the bowl.

7: Stir all these ingredients together with a wooden spoon.

8: Measure 1.75 cups flour - add flour slowly as the mixture will become more difficult as this is added - add 1 cup first, then 1/2 cup, followed by 1/4 cup. I advise adding extra flour here since the next step you'll be kneeding it, it shouldn't stick to anything that touches it and be a solid. Optionally, you can use a mixture of whole wheat flour here - I've not used any yet, the consequence of it would be it will rise less.

9: Let the mixture "rest" for a few minutes. Meanwhile, clean and dry a table and your hands. Sprinkle some flour on the table.

10: Use a rubber spatula to remove the dough from the bowl. Roll the dough around in the flour until it is coated.

11: Knead the dough for 5 to 10 minutes. Dough should be soft and smooth when it is ready.

12: After kneeding, flatten the dough in a lightly gressed pizza pan (a cookie sheet would work fine).

13: Wrap the dough with plastic wrap. Place in refrigerator if pizza is to be baked the following day. Place in freezer if it will be several days later.

14: Grate the mozerella cheese and put that in the fridge if this is days in advance.

1: Set pizza crust out several hours prior to give it an opportunity to rise.

2: Preheat oven to 425 degrees F

3: Spread pizza source, and sprinkle cheese on the crust. Put some oil on the crust around the edges to make that stiff afterword to give a place for the hands to grasp. I've used all the following as toppings to add here - feel free to add anything though: Cinnamon, provolone cheese, peppers, tomatos, basil, garlic, pinapple, ham, pepperoni, sausage, bacon. I also usually do a stuffed crust by putting some of the cheese around the outside and rolling the crust around that - don't be afraid of making that too tight, for the cheese will shrink once melted.