Making a pizza at home can be a fun and delicious experience! Here's a simple recipe for homemade pizza

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Ingredients:

• For the dough:

  • 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
  • 1 1/2 cups warm water (about 110°F or 45°C)
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

• For the sauce:

  • 1 cup tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp garlic powder (optional)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

• For the toppings:

  • Shredded mozzarella cheese (about 2 cups)
  • Your choice of toppings (e.g., pepperoni, bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, olives, etc.)
  • Fresh basil leaves (optional)
  • Olive oil (for drizzling)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Dough:

• In a small bowl, mix the warm water, yeast, and sugar. Stir and let it sit for 5-10 minutes, until the yeast becomes frothy.
• In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt. Make a well in the center and pour in the yeast mixture and olive oil.
• Stir until the dough starts to come together. Then, knead the dough on a floured surface for about 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
• Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let it rise for about 1-1.5 hours, or until it doubles in size.

2. Prepare the Sauce:

• In a small saucepan, combine the tomato sauce, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Let it simmer on low heat for about 10-15 minutes to enhance the flavors.

3. Preheat the Oven:

• Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C). If you have a pizza stone, place it in the oven while it preheats for an extra crispy crust.

4. Shape the Dough:

• Once the dough has risen, punch it down and divide it into 1 or 2 portions (depending on how big you want your pizza). Roll out each portion into a round shape on a floured surface to your desired thickness.

5. Assemble the Pizza:

• Place the rolled-out dough onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet or pizza peel (if using a stone).
• Spread a thin layer of sauce over the dough, leaving a border around the edges for the crust.
• Sprinkle a generous amount of mozzarella cheese on top.
• Add your chosen toppings.

6. Bake:

• Transfer the pizza to the oven (or onto the pizza stone) and bake for about 10-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.
• If you like, drizzle a bit of olive oil on the crust for extra flavor.

7. Serve:

• Remove the pizza from the oven, slice, and serve hot. Garnish with fresh basil leaves if desired.

Enjoy your homemade pizza!