Basic pizza dough and pizza assembly

For the breadsticks instructions, scroll down.

Pizza dough can be mixed together quickly and stored
in the fridge for a day, or frozen for up to six months.

Ingredients:

1 cup (250 ml) lukewarm water
1 pkg. (10 ml) active dry yeast
1 tsp (5 ml) sugar or honey
2 3/4 cups (625-750 ml) flour – all purpose or whole
wheat, or a combination of the two
1 tbsp (15 ml) olive or canola oil
1 tsp (5 ml) salt

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, stir together the water, yeast and sugar;
set aside for 5 minutes, until it’s foamy. (If it doesn’t
get foamy, either your water was too hot and killed the
yeast or it was inactive to begin with – toss it and buy
fresh yeast or try again!)

2. Add 2 1/2 cups of flour, oil and salt and stir until the
dough comes together. On a lightly floured surface,
knead the dough for about 8 minutes, until it’s smooth
and elastic, adding a little more fl our if it’s too sticky.

3. Place the dough in an oiled bowl and turn to coat all
over. Cover with a tea towel or plastic wrap and set
aside in a warm place for half an hour to an hour, until
doubled in bulk. If you like, you can let it rise more
slowly in the refrigerator for 8-10 hours.

Makes enough dough for two 10-inch pizzas, four to eight
smaller pizzas, or 18 breadsticks.

To make pizzas

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Divide the dough into pieces
and pat or roll out thin (it will rise in the oven); place on a
heavy baking sheet that has been lined with parchment
paper and sprinkled with flour or cornmeal. Spread with
your favourite sauce, scatter toppings and cheese on top
and bake for 15-20 minutes, until golden and bubbly.

Sauces

• Tomato
• Basil pesto 
• Alfredo

Cheeses

• Mozzarella
• Slices of fresh
  mozzarella balls 
• Gouda 
• Aged cheddar 
• Goat cheese 
• Feta

Toppings

• Roasted tomatoes
• Roasted peppers 
• Roasted squash 
• Caramelized onions 
• Sautéed
  mushrooms 
• Sautéed kale, chard
  or spinach 
• Cooked, crumbled
  sausage 
• Ham 
• Prosciutto 
• Pulled pork 
• Fresh pineapple 
• Olives 
• Cilantro 
• Arugula 
• Fresh basil 
• Olive oil with
  garlic and/or
  chopped rosemary

Breadsticks

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Divide a batch of pizza dough in half and roll or pat each
piece into a rectangle or square about 1/4-inch thick. Cut lengthwise into 1/2-inch
strips, and twist two together as tightly or loosely as you like.

2. Lay an inch apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet; bake for 20 minutes, or until
golden.

Makes about 18 breadsticks.

Originally published in ParentsCanada magazine, December 2012.