Basic Cheese Pizza Recipe

I have never liked many homemade pizzas. This pizza dough is AWESOME! It tastes similar to Pizza Huts Pan Crust Pizza, my favorite!! The sauce was okay, need to tweak it a bit to make it better.

INGREDIENTS

1 pkg dry yeast

1 cup luke warm water

1 tsp sugar

3 cups flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 TBSP olive oil

1/2 cup tomato puree

2 TBSP tomato paste

1 garlic clove, minced

1 TBSP basil

4 ounces mozzarella cheese

DIRECTIONS

Dough:
1. In a glass bowl, combine yeast, water and sugar

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

3. Stir in 1 cup flour, add salt, then stir in another cup of flour

4. Dump mixture onto kneading board and work in the last cup of flour; kneading until dough is soft and elastic, not sticky. Form dough into ball.  (I also added some parmesan cheese, oregano and garlic powder in this step!!!)

5. In another bowl pour in the olive oil and spread around

6. Coat dough in oil and cover bowl with damp cloth. Let rise for 40 minutes

7. Punch down dough and knead on board for about 2 minutes.

8. Lightly grease pan. Spread dough on. (makes 1 14 in. pizza)

Sauce:
1. Combine pureed tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic, and basil

2. Spread onto pizza dough

3. Top with cheese (and whatever other toppings you like) and bake @ 500 for  11-13 minutes.