My Very Favorite Pizza Dough

Total Time: 45 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons yeast (or 2 pkgs)
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 cups warm water (115-120 degrees)
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 cup oil (vegetable or olive oil)
• 1/2 cup oat bran (optional)
• 4 1/2-6 cups flour (my favorite combination is half bread flour and half whole wheat flour, but i have also used all-pur)
• cornmeal, for sprinkling pizza pans
• cooking spray

Recipe

• 1 mix yeast and sugar and dissolve in warm water. let stand for about 5 minutes. add in salt, oil and oat bran, if desired.
• 2 mix in 4 1/2 cups of flour. then continue to add additional flour (up to 6 cups) and knead until dough is smooth and elastic (i use my kitchenaid with the dough hook attached--dough should clean the side of the bowl).
• 3 place into a greased bowl, turning once, cover and allow to rise until dough is doubled in bulk.
• 4 prepare 2 large (14 inch or larger) pizza pans by coating them with cooking spray and sprinkling lightly with cornmeal.
• 5 punch down and roll dough to fit 2 large pizza pans.
• 6 top as desired.
• 7 for a crust that is crispy on the bottom, place pizza on the bottom rack in a cold oven, set the oven for 500° and bake for about 20 minutes or if the oven is already hot, bake at 500° for 10-15 minutes (watch closely).