Syd's Basic Pizza

Total Time: 1 hr 40 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr 10 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 2 (1/4 ounce) envelopes dry yeast
• 2 cups warm water
• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, low-sodium
• 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (optional)
• 2 -3 cups pasta sauce
• 2 cups romano cheese, shredded
• 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded

Recipe

• 1 for the dough, dissolve yeast in warm water.
• 2 in large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, salt & sugar.
• 3 add yeast mixture & oil into middle of flour mixture, mixing until dough is soft but not sticky. if sticky, add a little more flour in the next step.
• 4 turn dough onto lightly floured board, & knead until dough is smooth & elastic. dough will pop back if you stick a finger into it.
• 5 put dough in lightly oiled bowl & brush it with oil, then cover with towel & put in warm place.
• 6 allow to rise for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until dough has doubled in size. a hole remains if you poke your finger into the dough.
• 7 remove dough from bowl & punch it down on a board.
• 8 preheat oven to 400 degrees f.
• 9 divide dough into 2 equal balls, then cover & let rest 10 minutes.
• 10 taking 1 ball at a time, roll it out or pat & stretch it into a circle about 14 inches in diameter. dough should be thinner at center than at edge.
• 11 pinch edge of dough to form a rim, & place the whole of the dough on a lightly oiled baking sheet.
• 12 prick lightly all over with a fork.
• 13 for the topping, if you want, you can brush the pizza dough lightly with olive oil, or just start by covering the dough with a pasta/pizza sauce, to about 1 to 1 1/2 inches from the edge.
• 14 add a layer of shredded romano cheese over the sauce.
• 15 if desired, at this point add any meat/veggie topping(s) that you like.
• 16 sprinkle top with shredded mozzarella cheese.
• 17 bake until crust is done, about 30 minutes.