i want pizza

it's true. i've had one thing on my mind for months now...pizza.

pizza pizza pizza pizza pizza.

before we moved i started experimenting with pizza dough recipes, as we live in an area with very, very, few restaurants and the only pizza comes from a gas station (yikes!).   little did i know how much pizza i would be making (read: LOTS).

we finally found the best recipe to date. mainly because it is 1. simple 2. easy and 3. moderately healthy. I'm sure I could try and use whole wheat flour for the entire recipe, and I will. nothing ventured nothing gained right?

anyhoos, the girls used to love pizza night on fridays and now, well, they love pizza night many times a week. they especially love to put on the toppings-and i admit- it's hard to watch them do it and not fix it. so so so hard.

whether or not it's good for us- we love our pizza night.

so, here you go, a fabulous pizza crust recipe for my prosperity!

it's fabulous because you just dump everything in, no warm water, no sugar or honey, you don't mix for very long and just a teeny tiny bit of yeast (my thighs like this fact).

Easy Pizza Dough (adapted from Mark Bittman's pizza Dough Recipe- New York Times Cookbook)
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
2 teaspoons coarse sea salt or kosher salt
1 cup water
2 tablespoons olive oil

1. Combine flour, yeast and salt in food mixer with a dough hook.  Add the water and oil and mix for 30 seconds- adding a little more water at a time until mixture can form a ball and slightly sticky. If too sticky add more flour (this usually doesn't happen). Mix a few minutes longer. Turn out onto floured surface and knead a few times into a ball. Place in greased bowl and let rise 1-2hours covered with saran wrap or towel. Or (preferably) let rise in refrigerator 5-6 hours.

(after rising you can use immediately or freeze it up to a month!) defrost at room temperature.

2. Split into two balls and set on greased area and cover with towel for 20 more minutes until slightly puffy.

Enjoy with your favorite toppings. We bake ours at 550* for 6-7 minutes with a pizza crisper.

*my pride demands me to add that we usually eat with a table cloth, napkins, a little candle and much more vegetables- but after having sick kids again and me fighting a cold- i'm a little tired. so forgive me.

** i also have to thank my niece emma for requesting this project for school. i know i'll be happy someday to have these memories.