The crust and the sauce....

I may have posted these recipes before, but I just didn't feel like digging through the archives. Here they, possibly again.

The Best Pizza Crust Ever

(This make four pizzas for me using one 13" round stone, two of the 10x14 stones, and one deep dish baker)

2 1/3 c warm water, divided
3 t active dry yeast
2 t sugar
1/4 c olive oil
6 c flour (can use all purpose, bread. whole wheat or a combo of flours)
1/2 t garlic powder
1/2 t onion powder
1 t baking powder
1 1/2 t salt
3 T cornmeal

In a small bowl mix 1/3 c of the water, the yeast and sugar. Let rest while you gather the other ingredients. In the bowl of a standing mixer place 2 c warm water and olive oil. In a separate medium bowl measure out 2 c of flour, add the garlic powder, onion powder, baking powder, salt and cornmeal. Whisk and slowly add to the water/oil in the mixer using the paddle attachment. Mix at medium speed until creamy and blended well. On low speed, slowly add yeast mixture (the yeast should have bubbled up in the small bowl by now) until blended. Measure out another 2 c flour in the separate medium bowl and add 1/2 c at a time to mixer. Measure and slowly add remaining 2 c flour switching to the dough hook for the last cup. Depending on the air in your house, you may not need all 6 cups of flour. Make sure the dough is not dry, a little sticky is good. Transfer the dough to an oiled, deep bowl and place in a warm area (like the oven turned off with the light on) to let rise until doubled.

Turn out dough onto a floured surface and divide into four equal parts (if you want thicker crust divide into only two or three). Shape into balls and let rest five minutes. Oil whatever pizzas pans you will be using with olive oil (I use stones, but have used cheap pizza cookie sheets and it works fine, just not quite as crusty). Slowly start to stretch the dough to ft your pan. Just let it rest a minute or two in between stretches and it will cooperate a little nicer.

Top with sauce, meats, veggies, cheese and whatever you like on your pizza. Bake at 450 degrees for 10-15 minutes rotating as necessary. Enjoy!

The Best Pizza Sauce Ever!

My sister, Nicole, came up with this...so glad she wrote it down as she went!

1 T olive oil
3-5 cloves garlic
2-3 6oz cans tomato paste (depending on how thick you like it)
1 15oz can tomato sauce
1 T sugar
2 t Italian seasoning
1/4 t red pepper flakes

Saute garlic in olive oil over medium-high heat for two minutes. Add tomato paste, tomato sauce, sugar, Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes. Let the sauce simmer 10-15 minutes. Enjoy!