Pizza Dough and Cheesy Garlic Breadsticks

Ingredients:

for the pizza dough-
1 cup warm water
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 tablespoon honey {or sugar}
2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons olive or canola oil
3 cups bread flour {give or take 1/2 cup...depending on the heat & humidity}

for the cheesy garlic bread sticks-
1/2 recipe Fail-Proof Pizza Dough from above
2 tablespoons softened salted butter
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese {use the real stuff!}
1/4 pound grated mozzarella cheese
{salt & pepper, if desired}

 

Directions:

For the pizza dough--In a large mixing bowl, preferably that of a stand mixer, stir yeast and honey into warm water. Sit for 5-10 minutes or until bubbles form and mixture starts to foam. This tells you that the yeast is alive and kicking. Pour in salt, oil and half the flour and mix. Once that flour is incorporated, start adding flour in bit by bit until you get the pizza dough to the consistency you want: slightly tacky, but when you touch it it doesn't stick to your hands. Once you reach this stage, knead for 6 minutes. Turn a timer on and walk away! Resist the temptation to stop earlier than 6 minutes! That seems to be the magical number. The dough should be smooth and easy to work with. And the bowl should be clean! {*This is the point when you could freeze your dough!! Divide into portions, place into freezer bags, seal removing all air and freeze. To use, remove from freezer and let sit out to get to room temperature and double in size; 6-8 hours. Then use as you'd like.} Lightly grease the bowl & the dough so it doesn't dry out, cover with plastic wrap and let it rise 1-2 hours. That's it! Use as desired.

For the Cheesy Garlic Bread Sticks- Preheat oven to 500 degrees with pizza stone inside. {If you don't have a pizza stone, use an upside down cookie sheet...a tip I got from Natalie!}

Mix butter and garlic in a small bowl and set aside.

Spread pizza dough out into a 12-inch circle on parchment paper. {This makes it easier to transfer to the pizza stone.}

Spread the butter and garlic mixture over dough and top with parmesan and mozzarella cheeses. Top with a light sprinkling of salt and pepper, if desired. {That step is totally optional!}

Bake 9-10 minutes or until bubbly and golden. Remove from oven and cool 1-2 minutes before cutting. Serve hot, with marinara.

http://www.laurenslatest.com/fail-proof-pizza-dough-and-cheesy-garlic-bread-sticks-just-like-in-restaurants/

Chicken Pesto Pizza

1 Jar Pesto
2 large chicken breasts, cooked with lemon pepper seasoning
1 large red onion
3 large tomatoes
Mushrooms, (optional)
1 lb. shredded mozzarella cheese
4 oz. feta cheese

Cook the chicken breast and shred or chunks. Prepare homemade pizza dough and roll out on greased cookie sheet.  Spread pesto sauce liberally, top with feta, onion, chicken, tomato, mushroom, mozzarella (in that order). Bake at 400 for 20-25 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and crust is golden brown. Lift up to make sure it's cooked through to the bottom of pizza so not doughy. 

Pizza Dough Recipe
1 c. warm water, divided
1 tsp. sugar
1  package active dry yeast(2 ½  tsp. I think)
3 Tb. olive oil (or vegetable)
2 ½ c. flour
1 tsp salt

Put warm water in bowl. Stir in sugar and yeast and let sit for 10 minutes. Stir in rest of ingredients. Knead for 10 minutes. Let rise for 1 ½ hours till double. Then spread out on cookie sheet and cook as directed.