Pizza dough recipes

These recipes are basically the same, but one doesn't have to rise as long (I guess they both probably don't have to rise that long, since they are basically the same...). We love the first one because it's really quick, in case I've forgotten to make the dough beforehand and we're hungry.

Ingredients

• 1½ cups warm water
• 2 Tbsp. sugar
• 1 Tbsp. yeast
• Let that sit for 5 minutes. Then add:
• 3½ cups flour
• 1 tsp Salt

Instructions

• Mix until smooth then let raise for 10 minutes. Roll out dough into a large square on a floured surface. Brush with melted (real) butter mixed with minced garlic and then sprinkle with kosher salt. Fold in half and cut into 1 inch strips. Twist and place on a cooking sheet. Let sit for 15 to 20 minutes to raise. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately after baking, brush with more garlic butter and sprinkle with kosher salt and grated parmesan cheese.
• Serve with marinara(see below), alfredo sauce, or ranch for dipping.
• Dough also makes a great pizza dough, just roll out into a large circle, add your favorite toppings, and bake at 400 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes.

The longer-rising dough:

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 c. warm water
• 2 T. sugar
• 2 1/4 t. active dry yeast (one 1/4 oz. packet)
• 3 3/4 c. flour
• 1 T. Kosher salt
• 3 T. extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

• Combine water, sugar and yeast in small bowl. Let sit 5 minutes. Mix flour and salt together in the bowl of a heavy duty mixer fitted with dough hook. Add oil to yeast mixture. Pour yeast mixture into flour mixture and knead on low speed for 10 minutes. (If mixing by hand, knead dough for same amount of time.) Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turning to coat. cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour.
• Punch dough down and divide in half. Shape into 2 balls. lightly brush dough balls with olive oil and cover completely with plastic wrap. Let rise another 45 minutes. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Lightly grease pizza pan or dust with cornmeal. Take each dough ball and using your fingers, pat it out from the center to the edge, leaving the outer edge a bit thick. Top with favorite toppings. Bake 10-15 minutes until edges are golden brown.

We've also recently used dough recipes from the Our Best Bites cookbook and my Pizza cookbook, and those are both good as well.