Home made pizza

It’s our 3rd wedding anniversary last week. We were planning for a dinner outside, but mother nature was totally against us. Predictions were —- 70% chance of rain. So I didn’t want to take risk of having any disappointments. So decided to have a wonderful dinner at home, with fresh home-baked pizza. And all the more, whole wheat pizza.

For the dough:
1 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon sugar
3/4th cup warm water
1/2 tablespoon dry yeast
1/2 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon dry Italian seasoning

Method:
1. Mix sugar and dry yeast together. Add warm water to it and leave it for 15 mins until you see nice froth.
2. Add salt, oil, dry seasoning and keep adding oil in 1/2 cup. Mix well until they just combine.
3. It will take almost 1 and half cup of flour. Sprinkle some on the counter top and start kneading the dough well for about 10 mins.
4. Grease a mixing bowl with oil. Make a nice ball of the dough, brush it with oil fully, cover with a damp towel and let it rise in a warm place for about 2hrs.
5. If you want to use the dough for a later period, punch the dough well to release air, cover tightly without any air with a plastic wrapper and freeze. Before using, bring it to room temperature 2hrs before and use.

For the topping:
Olives, tomato sauce (I used home-made pasta sauce, cooked it well to remove any moisture), fresh mozzarella slices, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, 1/2 bell pepper diced, or any other topping of your choice.

1. Pre-heat the oven to 500 deg F, along with a cookie sheet for 20 mins. The cookie sheet or pizza stone should be hot enough before sliding the pizza on top.
2. Roll the pizza dough on a counter top into a 1/2″ thin base.
3. Sprinkle the cookie sheet with corn meal / bread crumbs. Slide the pizza base and bake for 10 mins.
4. Add the toppings and bake for another 20 mins until nice crispy base forms.