Homemade Pizza Dough

(recipe from the Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer instruction booklet)

INGREDIENTS
· 1 pkg. active dry yeast
· 1 cup warm water (105-115 degrees)
· 1/2 tsp. salt
· 2 tsp. olive oil
· 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
· t tbsp. cornmeal

DIRECTIONS
· dissolve yeast in warm water in warmed mixer bowl
· add salt, olive oil, and 2 1/2 cups flour
· using the dough hook on your mixer, mix at speed 2 for about 1 minute (low speed)
· continuing on speed 2, add remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, and mix until dough clings to hook and cleans the sides of the bowl (about 2 minutes)
· knead on speed 2 for another 2 minutes
· place dough in greased bowl, covering the dough in olive oil
· cover, let rise in warm place, free from draft for about 1 hour or until doubled in bulk
· punch down dough
· divide dough into thirds
· stretch each portion into 10 inch round circles (or rectangles to be baked on cookie sheets for a more rustic approach)
· brush 10 inch pizza pan with oil and sprinkle with cornmeal
· press dough across bottom of pan forming a collar around the edge to hold toppings
· add toppings as desired
· bake at 450 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes
· repeat two more times with different toppings each time

Now, get creative!

12 Days of Christmas: Recipe #6 Goat Cheese Pizza

recipe from: cookie mag

INGREDIENTS
· 2 1/2 cups green or red grapes, halved
· 1 tbsp. finely chopped rosemary
· 3 tbsp. EVOO
· 1 lb. homemade pizza dough (read next post for recipe)
· 8 oz. soft goat cheese
· kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS
· preheat oven to 450 degrees
· toss together the grapes and rosemary, and 1 tbsp. of the olive oil, set aside
· divide the dough into thirds and stretch each portion into a 10 inch circle
· place the rounds in the oven until cooked through, about 6 minutes
· distribute the grapes, spoonfuls of the goat cheese, and the remaining olive oil on the pizzas
· heat pizza in the oven until cheese begins to melt, about 5 minutes

This dish is a grown-up take on the toaster oven pizza. I haven't tried it yet but I have been keeping this recipe close at hand with hopes of making it real soon. If you are not a fruit + savory person, you could replace the grapes with grape tomatoes, sliced the same way. That's what is fun about homemade pizzas, you can mix and match the toppings to create you own masterpiece.

Mangia!