Meghan's Homemade Pizza

Meghan emailed this recipe to me while ago. I'm posting it here so we all have access to it!

Easy Dough from Scratch

¼ oz. (2 ½ teaspoons) package Active Dry Yeast

½ teaspoon Sugar

2 tablespoons Olive Oil

2 to 2 ¼ cups Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

½ teaspoon salt

In a large bowl, proof the yeast and sugar in 1/3 cup lukewarm water for 10 minutes, or until it is foamy. Stir in an additional 1/3 cup lukewarm water, oil, 2 cups flour, and salt. Blend mixture until it forms a dough. Knead the dough on a floured surface, incorporating as much of the remaining ¼ cup flour as necessary to prevent the dough from sticking, for 5 to 10 minutes, or until it is smooth and elastic.

Put the dough in an oiled bowl and turn it to coat with the oil. Let the dough rise, covered with plastic wrap, in a warm place for 1 hour, or until it is double in bulk, and punch it down. The dough is now ready to become a pizza!

Constructing the Pizza

2 tablespoons Olive Oil (separated)

7-8 cloves of Garlic, thinly sliced

7-8 Roma Tomatoes, thinly sliced

Salt

Pepper

Red Pepper Flakes

Approx 8 oz. Fresh Mozzarella, cubed

Lots of freshly shredded Parmesan

1 package Basil, finely sliced

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Coat a 9x13 sheet pan with 1 tablespoon oil. Knead dough in hands, stretching to the general shape of the pan. Once dough becomes too large to handle, drop onto pan and pull edges so that the dough covers the entire pan. Let rest.

Sauté sliced garlic in olive oil on medium heat until garlic is in beginning stages of turning brown. Set aside.

Prior to piling on the toppings, revisit the dough, as it may have retreated slightly from the edges of the pan. Stretch the dough to ensure that it covers the entire pan. Immediately layer toppings, beginning by covering the dough with sliced tomatoes, a generous sprinkle of salt, pepper and red pepper flakes, then cubes of mozzarella, followed by sliced basil and lots of freshly shredded parmesan.

Bake at 425 degrees for 10-15 mins (until edges are no longer soft and beginning to slightly brown). Kick the heat up to broil and cook for an additional 5 mins, or until the cheese is crispy.

Using a spatula, remove pizza from pan and let cool on cutting board for 5 minutes. Slice, serve and enjoy!