Pizza

Pizza

5 ½ to 6 ½ cups flour               
2 pkgs active dry yeast          
½ tsp salt                       
2 cups warm water (120-130 F)
4 Tbsp cooking oil
Pizza sauce
Toppings (pepperoni, cheese, onions, peppers, olives, mushrooms, pineapple, etc.)

In a large bowl, combine 2 ½ cups flour, yeast, and salt.  Add warm water and oil.  Beat well, and fast (by mixer or by hand) for 3 minutes.  Using a spoon stir in as much of remaining flour as you can.  Turn out onto a floured surface. Knead in any more flour necessary to make a moderately stiff dough that is smooth and elastic (6-8 minutes of kneading).  Divide in thirds, cover and let rise (45 minutes).

Grease pizza pans (3 -12 inch circles or equivalent in cookie sheets or baking pans).  Sprinkle with cornmeal.  With greased fingers, pat dough into bottoms and partially up sides of pans.  Cover, and let rest 10 minutes.  Add pizza toppings.  Bake in a 400 F oven for 20 minutes or till lightly browned.