Basic Cheese Pizza

Ingredients

• 1/4 ounce dry yeast
• 1 cup water, lukewarm
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 3 cups bread flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 cup tomato puree
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
• 4 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese

Directions

1. 1

   Dough:.

2. 2

   In a glass or plastic bowl, combine yeast, water, and sugar (the water can just be water from the tap, make sure it's below 100°F).

3. 3

   Stir to dissolve the yeast and let the yeast "bloom" for 15 minutes.

4. 4

   Stir in 1 cup flour, add salt, and then stir in another cup of flour (the remaining cup of flour will be your "bench" flour and added flour).

5. 5

   Dump mixture onto kneading board and work in last cup of flour, kneading until dough is soft and elastic, but not sticky. Form dough into a ball.

6. 6

   In another bowl, pour in the 1 tbsp olive oil and spread around.

7. 7

   Coat ball of dough with oil and cover bowl with a damp towel and let dough rise for 40 minutes.

8. 8

   Punch down dough and knead on board about 2 minutes. Dough is now ready to spread in the pan.

9. 9

   To avoid sticking of crust, lightly spray pizza pan with olive oil or vegetable oil spray and then work dough to pan (or use free form pan) - this dough is enough for 1 14-in pizza with a thin bottom crust and enough dough around the edge to munch.

10. 10

    Sauce:.

11. 11

    Combine pureed tomatoes, tomato paste, minced garlic, and basil.

12. 12

    Spread onto prepared pizza dough.

13. 13

    Top with sliced mozzarella cheese and bake at 500°F for 11-13 minutes.