Homemade Pizza Bar

• 1 cup warm water (not heated higher than 110)
• 2 teaspoons yeast
• 1 Tbs sugar

Combine and stir gently, let stand for about 5 minutes.

• 1 Tsp salt
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 3 cups of flour

In the bowl of the mixer, put the flour, salt and olive oil. Mix with a spoon to combine. Add the yeast mixture and stir again. Add the Dough Hook to the mixer and let the machine knead the dough for 5-10 minutes.

Once the dough has come together, and is not sticky, take it out of the mixer bowl. Get another mixing bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Take a paper towel and wipe the oil around the bowl. Put the dough into the bowl and cover with plastic wrap and put it in a non drafty place in the kitchen. Let rise for 2 to 3 hours until it doubles in size.

Preheat the oven to 450-500f.

Grab golf ball sized balls of dough and roll them out in extra flour on the counter. Work it around and keep turning the dough and put flour on the rolling pin if the dough sticks. Roll out to the desired size and thickness. If you are making several doughs for a family or party, roll them out and put the parchment paper in between each dough. Do this 30-40 minutes before you are wanting to top and bake the pizzas.

Prior to the evening, prepare the toppings you want to offer. Brown the sausage and ground beef, sauce’ onions and mushrooms, slice tomatoes, gather basil leaves. Put everything in separate ramekins or bowls. I usually offer a garlic/olive oil, so mince the garlic into the oil and let it sit. Either make the sauce ahead of time or buy a jarred sauce. I like the Rao’s pizza sauce in a pinch.

Put corn meal on the pizza pan with olive oil to make sure the pizza won’t stick to the pan. Put the pizza dough on top. Put toppings on and bake for 10-12 minuets.

Let cool for 5 minutes and then cut with a pizza cutter. Serve with a salad!

This recipe was given to me by Jorja and Jim Johnson. They treated us to our first pizza night at their home years ago. We’ve used this recipe countless times and so thankful for it!