Pizzadoughandbonusfocacciabread Recipes

PIZZA DOUGH AND BONUS FOCACCIA BREAD

Steps:

• Add yeast and sugar to water, whisk and set aside until foamy.
• Add yeast mixture and oil to flour; mix and turn out onto lightly floured surface; knead 5 minutes (10 minutes if under stress or worried).
• Place in oiled bowl, loosely covered with plastic wrap or clean towel; allow to rise in warm place until doubled in size, 45-60 minutes.
• Divide dough in half and roll out 2-12"to 15" pizzas; or 1 large 9" focaccia (using all of the dough); or 1 pizza and 1 small 5" focaccia; or 2 small focaccia.
• Bake topped pizza at 500° for 10-12 minutes.
• Focaccia: After first rising, knead desired ingredients into dough; suggestions are herbs, cheese, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, artichokes, garlic, onions or pesto.
• Pat and stretch dough into small or large rounds; place on oiled cookie sheet, cover with towel and let rise in warm place again until doubled.
• Just before putting bread in oven make indentations in the surface with your fingertips; if desired brush with olive oil and sprinkle with coarse salt; other suggestions are sesame seeds, beaten egg, flavored oils, pepper, sesame oil, rosemary or basil.
• Bake on cookie sheet or pizza stone until golden brown at 475°, 10-25 minutes depending on size and ingredients.

THE BEST PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix warm water and 1 teaspoon sugar; add yeast and whisk until dissolved. Let stand until bubbles form on surface. In a large bowl, whisk 3 cups flour, salt, remaining 1 teaspoon sugar and, if desired, dried herbs. Make a well in center; add yeast mixture and oil. Stir until smooth. Add enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. , Turn onto a floured surface; knead, adding more flour to surface as needed until no longer sticky and dough is smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a large greased bowl; turn once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes; transfer bowl to refrigerator and chill overnight. Allow dough to come to room temperature, about 30 minutes, before rolling.

CLASSIC PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• Whisk together the flour, salt, and yeast in a large mixing bowl or the work bowl of a stand mixer. Pour in the water and olive oil. Stir together with a sturdy spoon until a shaggy dough forms. Knead with floured hands or by stand mixer for 10 minutes on medium or until the dough is smooth, elastic and stretchy.
• Return the dough to the bowl. Cover the bowl with a clean shower cap, plastic wrap or a damp tea towel and let it rise in a warm, draft-free place for 1-2 hours., or until approximately doubled in size and puffy.
• Divide the dough into your desired size (see note). Use your hands to roll each piece of dough into a tight ball and allow it to rise for 20 more minutes before baking.
• This dough can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 6 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months before using.
• To store: label a zipper-top freezer bag with the size of the pizza. (Use one bag per round of dough you wish to use later.) Drizzle 2 teaspoons of olive oil in each bag, rub around with your hands to make sure the inside is well coated, and insert one dough ball into each prepared bag.
• To use refrigerated dough: place the dough in its bag on the kitchen counter and allow it to come to room temperature and rise for an hour before you want to use it and bake it.
• To use frozen dough: transfer the bag of dough to the refrigerator the day before you plan to use it, then onto the counter to come to room temperature and hour before you wish to bake it.