Whatever mood you are in, for crust that is thick or thin, herbed or stuffed, you are in luck. When you make your own pizza crust, anything is possible. Whether you want a supreme pizza with all the toppings, a vegetarian pizza or a simple cheese pizza, you can make it happen. You are in control of exactly what goes into the crust and onto the pizza. You are only limited by your imagination.

Making quality pizza at home is simple, inexpensive and fun. To make your own crust, you will need:

2-quart or larger mixing bowl and a wooden spoon or a mixer with a dough hook

Measuring spoons and cups

Ingredients

A pizza pan or cookie sheet

* *This easy-to-use recipe

EASY PIZZA CRUST

This recipe will make one large thick crust or two large thin crusts. It also makes excellent bread sticks to accompany your meal, and freezes well.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon or 1 package dry active yeast

1 cup warm (104*) water

1 teaspoon sugar (optional)

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups all-purpose flour

Instructions:

1. Pre-heat oven 400*. Grease pan(s).

2. Dissolve yeast in warm water.

3. Stir in sugar and olive oil.

4. Add salt and 2 cups of flour. Mix well.

5. Turn onto flour surface and knead with lightly floured hands, for 5 minutes.

6. Let the dough rest while you clean up your tools. Letting the dough rest makes it easier to roll.

7. Roll dough out to desired size and thickness. Place on greased sheet, and poke with fork, to prevent bubbles.

8. Bake crust 7 minutes, remove from oven and top with pre-cooked toppings or cool, bag and freeze.

9. Return to oven and bake until cheese is melted (7 minutes).

Variations:

For a healthier crust, substitute 1 cup of whole wheat flour for 1 cup of all purpose flour.

Add herbs, such as basil and marjoram to the dough, with the flour.

To make a stuffed crust, roll the dough about 4″ larger than the pan and fold extra dough around cheese sticks, pressing to seal. Bake and top as usual.

TOPPINGS

Most pizzas start with a layer of tomato sauce, followed by meat(s) and cheese and then fresh, sliced vegetables; but, there are many delicious ways to top a pizza. Consider your favorite taco fillings, substituting refried beans for the tomato sauce, or try this gourmet favorite.

We start with a whole wheat stuffed crust, then spread it with a basil pesto, crumbled feta cheese, diced cooked chicken, minced garlic and thinly sliced tomatoes. We serve it with a spinach salad and bread sticks, made from the same dough recipe, topped with Parmesan cheese before baking.

Making pizza at home is a great way to spend time with the whole family. Set out toppings and let each person top their portion of the pizza, or roll a small, individual crust (6″-8″) for each person. Children and teens love to make their own pizzas and take pride in their ability to help out. Pizza is also a great way to use up leftovers that are too skimpy to serve as meal.