pizzas tonight

Homemade pizzas are a delightful way to enjoy a fun and customizable dinner with family or friends. Here’s a basic recipe for making pizza dough and some topping ideas to inspire your pizza night:

Homemade Pizza Dough:

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups warm water (about 110°F or 43°C)
• 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, combine warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until foamy.
2. Add olive oil, salt, and 3 cups of flour to the yeast mixture. Stir until it comes together.
3. Knead the dough on a floured surface, gradually adding more flour until it’s smooth and elastic. This should take about 5-7 minutes.
4. Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm, draft-free place for about 1 hour or until it has doubled in size.

Topping Ideas:

Now, onto the fun part – toppings! Customize your pizzas to your heart’s desire. Here are some ideas:

1. Classic Margherita Pizza:
   • Tomato sauce or sliced fresh tomatoes
   • Fresh mozzarella cheese
   • Fresh basil leaves
   • A drizzle of olive oil
   • Salt and pepper to taste
2. Pepperoni Pizza:
   • Tomato sauce
   • Shredded mozzarella cheese
   • Pepperoni slices
3. Veggie Supreme Pizza:
   • Tomato sauce
   • Shredded mozzarella cheese
   • Sliced bell peppers
   • Sliced red onion
   • Sliced mushrooms
   • Sliced black olives
   • Sliced tomatoes
   • Fresh basil leaves
4. BBQ Chicken Pizza:
   • BBQ sauce
   • Shredded cooked chicken (seasoned with a bit of salt and pepper)
   • Red onion slices
   • Chopped cilantro
   • Shredded mozzarella cheese
5. Hawaiian Pizza:
   • Tomato sauce or BBQ sauce
   • Shredded mozzarella cheese
   • Sliced ham or Canadian bacon
   • Pineapple chunks

Baking:

1. Preheat your oven to the highest temperature it can go (usually around 500°F or 260°C) with a pizza stone or an inverted baking sheet inside to preheat as well.
2. Roll out your pizza dough into the desired shape and thickness on a floured surface.
3. Transfer the rolled-out dough to a pizza peel or another inverted baking sheet dusted with flour or cornmeal.
4. Add your chosen sauce, toppings, and cheese.
5. Slide the pizza onto the preheated pizza stone or baking sheet in the oven. Bake for about 10-12 minutes or until the crust is golden brown, and the cheese is bubbling and slightly browned.
6. Remove from the oven, let it cool for a minute, slice, and enjoy your homemade pizza!

Feel free to get creative with your toppings and have a fantastic pizza night!