Mom's Pizza Dough
My family has been using this pizza dough recipe for as long as I can remember. It’s evolved with us, the toppings on it ever changing to fit our new tastes and diets. It’s gained and lost mushrooms, had a change to turkey pepperoni, and been given a brief adventure in veganism. No matter what we're doing, or where we are in our lives, this pizza dough works with everything.
One of my first memories was making pizza with my mom. We would put all the ingredients in a bowl and I would sit on the counter and mix them with a wooden spoon. She would throw the dough in the air to stretch it and always let me try. Inevitably it would come crashing down but no one really seemed to mind.
I would glob on tomato sauce and the two of us would spread it around with metal spoons. Then we’d sprinkle on cheese and whatever else we felt like. My mom would take the pair of red cooking mitts we still have and put the pizza in the oven. The smell of fresh dough and sauce would waft through the whole house and make my mouth water with anticipation.
When my brother was three he started helping us make the dough as well. With him on the counter, and me standing on a chair, we kneaded the sticky blob of dough flat and into a pan. When we got a dog he would stand by and watch, waiting for us to drop cheese or bits of pepperoni onto the floor for him to eat.
Making pizza has always been a family activity. Normally we don’t cook together unless it’s a holiday, but whenever we make pizza everyone's involved. My dad puts on bad music and we joke around while someone grates cheese and someone else kneads the dough.
Pizza has always been something that brings us together and this dough recipe has been a big part of my childhood.
One of my first memories was making pizza with my mom. We would put all the ingredients in a bowl and I would sit on the counter and mix them with a wooden spoon. She would throw the dough in the air to stretch it and always let me try. Inevitably it would come crashing down but no one really seemed to mind.
I would glob on tomato sauce and the two of us would spread it around with metal spoons. Then we’d sprinkle on cheese and whatever else we felt like. My mom would take the pair of red cooking mitts we still have and put the pizza in the oven. The smell of fresh dough and sauce would waft through the whole house and make my mouth water with anticipation.
When my brother was three he started helping us make the dough as well. With him on the counter, and me standing on a chair, we kneaded the sticky blob of dough flat and into a pan. When we got a dog he would stand by and watch, waiting for us to drop cheese or bits of pepperoni onto the floor for him to eat.
Making pizza has always been a family activity. Normally we don’t cook together unless it’s a holiday, but whenever we make pizza everyone's involved. My dad puts on bad music and we joke around while someone grates cheese and someone else kneads the dough.
Pizza has always been something that brings us together and this dough recipe has been a big part of my childhood.
Ingredients
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1 tsp dry yeast
1 tsp sugar - white 1 cup warm water 2 ½ cups white flour 2 tsp olive oil (Optional) 1/4 tbsp salt |
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Instructions |
- Preheat oven at 450℉
- In a bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Cover with a cloth and Let sit for 10 minutes
- Stir in flour, oil, and salt if you're using it
- Knead until smooth ball forms and let rest for 5 minutes
- Butter a pan and spread the dough on it
- Add toppings of your choosing, starting with sauce and cheese.
- Bake for 15 minutes at 450℉