Pizza Dough

This is a very simple and yummy Pizza Dough recipe that is kind of a mix of different recipes.  It's really my husband's, but I don't feel remotely guilty about stealing it.  We typically make two batches of the dough, which makes four pizzas.

Ingredients:

1 tsp or 1/2 packet active dry yeast

2 cups whole wheat flour

2 cups unbleached organic white flour

1 tsp kosher or sea salt

1-2 tsp tuscan style Italian Seasoning

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

1.  Pour 1 1/2 cups of warm water into a bowl.  Sprinkle the yeast over the water.

2.  Combine the flour and the salt and seasonings into a mixing bowl.  I do this in our kitchenaid mixer.

3.  With an electric mixer or the kitchenaid hook, mix on low speed and drizzle the olive oil until just incorporated.

4.  Stir the yeast/water mixture very gently.

5.  Drizzle it into the flour/oil mixture until the dough forms a ball.  (You can also mix by hand until the dough comes together.)

6.  Drizzle a little olive oil into a clean bowl.  Toss the ball of dough into the bowl and turn over to coat in oil. 

7.  Cover the bowl with a moist kitchen towel and set in a warm place for 1 or 2 hours, or cover with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to two days.

8.  To prepare the pizza, preheat the oven to 500 degrees.  

9.  Divide the dough in half.  Lightly drizzle olive oil on a pizza pan or rimmed baking sheet.

10.  Using your hands, stretch the dough to the desired shape, pressing the dough into the pan with your fingers.  The thinner the better!  The surface of the dough should be lumpy from finger marks.  All the better to hold the toppings!  

11.  Lay the desired toppings over the dough and bake the pizza for 8 to 10 minutes, until the edges of the crust are golden brown.  

The other half of the dough may be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerated fr up to 3 days before use, or frozen for up to 6 months.  Make a huge batch in advance and have it ready when you need it!