Homemade Pepperoni Pizza
About 25 years ago we had dinner with some new friends. They made pizza with homemade dough. I loved it! I've been using this same recipe ever since. In fact we just had this same pizza for dinner tonight. I thought I would share it with you.
Place
1 Tablespoon active dry yeast and
1 teaspoon sugar in a big bowl. Carefully pour in
1 cup of very warm (but not hot)
water. I'm told it's about 115 degrees. In a few minutes you will see it bubble as the yeast dissolves and interacts with the sugar. That's called proofing. When the yeast is proofed, add the following ingredients:
2 Tablespoons sugar, 2 Tablespoons canola or olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and half of the flour. The total amount of
flour is
2 3/4 cups. In order to not have to knead, add
half of the flour and mix 2 minutes until elasticy with an electric mixer. Then by hand or with a bread hook attachment, mix in the rest of the flour.
You can let the dough rise while you grate your cheese and prepare your sauce and toppings. On an oiled surface, press the dough from the middle out. When the dough won't spread out, just wait a minute while it does its magic and in a bit it'll let you press it to the edge. After you oil the pan, try sprinkling it with corn meal for that special crunch. This dough works without having to rise, but rising is good for it, too.
It may take a little longer than 30 minutes from start to finish the first couple of times, but once you get used to it, I expect you should be able to make it and bake it in 30 minutes.
Add sauce, mozzarella cheese and toppings. In a preheated oven, bake for approximately 18 minutes. Let it cool a little before cutting.
Tips:
This recipe makes one 15 inch round pizza. If you prefer a thinner, crispier crust don't use all the dough Or double the recipe for three pizzas.
You can use a cookie sheet or jelly roll pan, or even a cake pan. You will want to adjust the amount of dough to the pan you choose.
This dough will keep several days in a zip-bag in the refrigerator.
Freezes well. Thaw it in the fridge.
Makes terrific garlic bread. Press dough out on pizza pan and spread with softened butter. Sprinkle garlic and spices over all.
Make a second pizza while you're at it, cut it up and wrap pieces for lunches.
This is one of our favorites. I hope you will give it a try!
My challenge is to create a costume for Trinity (2 1/2) that looks something like this. When her mama brought home a pretty Snow White costume for Madison, suddenly the hand-me-down Ariel costume didn't appeal to her. She cried for a princess dress, to be Sleeping Beauty. I will do my best to make her feel special. She's a little young to understand the lessons that could be taught at a time like this. We'll save those for another day. Today I want to make my little granddaughter happy.
Aerial view of our property and Ron and Sue's, too.
Ron and Sue's new outbuilding. Our property is on the other side of the trees.
What would you do with an interesting old building like this? I thought about turning it into a studio, but would need bigger windows for lots of light. I wonder if it would make a good cabin playhouse for the grandkids. We chose to not buy the property with these two old buildings on them after all. But the view from this shed is all ours.
I love the rustic feel of this barn window. On the other side of it is a beautiful brown horse. In my dreams.
Here is a picture of my new piece of exercise equipment. That's not me, though. It's really fun and easy to use. It's very quiet and I don't have to put on any shoes in particular; any shoes will do, even my slippers! I work up a sweat and can feel the aerobic benefit, but mostly I can feel it in my legs. I don't know if the elliptical has anything to do with it, but I've dropped a couple pounds, too.
Place 1 Tablespoon active dry yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar in a big bowl. Carefully pour in 1 cup of very warm (but not hot) water. I'm told it's about 115 degrees. In a few minutes you will see it bubble as the yeast dissolves and interacts with the sugar. That's called proofing. When the yeast is proofed, add the following ingredients: 2 Tablespoons sugar, 2 Tablespoons canola or olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and half of the flour. The total amount of flour is 2 3/4 cups. In order to not have to knead, add half of the flour and mix 2 minutes until elasticy with an electric mixer. Then by hand or with a bread hook attachment, mix in the rest of the flour.
Maddy learns how to work the apple, peeler, corer, slicer. What a great tool.
Isabella with her beautiful Mama...
Having fun with her papa. Just look at those little toes!
Isabella's birthday card for her memory book.
The rosebud print dress with eyelet pinafore. 
Grandpa and I painted the little table and chairs that have been in our family for 25 years. They belonged first to the girls' daddy and aunt Tracie. Then uncles Jon and Gabe used them for a long time. Now it's Maddy and Trinity's turn. Not only did they get a fresh coat of paint, I painted some roses on them in January. They enjoyed playing with it Christmas day, having tea with their babies but on the day when we told her they could take it home, Maddy was excited. She said, "Oh, my good-NESS!" 
A close-up view of the painted roses.
