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Using a mixer, stir sugar into warm water in the mixing bowl. Sprinkle yeast on top of the water/sugar mixture and let set for about five minutes.
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Stir yeast into water/sugar mixture and let sit another five minutes or until frothy or bubbly. This is how you know your yeast is working. If not frothy, your water was too hot or, in rarer cases, your yeast had no life left in it. To repair, just start over again.
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Turn on mixer and slowly add flour, salt and olive oil.
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Switch mixer to kneading attachment and knead until a stiff yet elastic dough forms. It may not take 3 cups of flour to reach this consistency.
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Optional step: While kneading, add finely chopped, fresh herbs such as rosemary, thyme, oregano or basil and/or grated parmesan cheese into dough.
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Cover dough and allow to rise in a warm location for a half an hour or until it doubles in size.
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While dough is rising, prepare your oven or grill and favorite pizza toppings.
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If baking pizza in the oven, preheat to 425u00b0F. If grilling, clean grill well with cleaning brush and cooking oil so that dough won't stick to grill. Turn grill onto medium to medium-high heat.
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After dough has risen, roll out into two 1/4-inch thick pizza crusts.
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If baking in the oven, place on a baking sheet coated with non-stick spray or on a well-seasoned pizza stone. Cover with toppings and bake until crust is done and cheese is melted. This should take about 30 minutes.
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If grilling, coat both sides of rolled-out crusts with cornmeal (it's okay to coat with cornmeal if baking in the oven as well). Putting each on parchment paper is helpful for placing the crust on the outdoor grill. After the first side is cooked on the grill, the pizza dough will be easier to handle and flip over. After pizza has been flipped, immediately place sauce, cheese and toppings on pizza and close lid to grill until dough is fully baked and cheese is melted. If dough cooks faster than the toppings, just place a baking sheet under it to help prevent burning.
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Next step? Celebrate your new found discovery and have a pizza party with friends!
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See my recipe box for my homemade pizza sauce recipe.
