Pizza Dough

Ingredients:

1/2 cup warm water (about 105 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit)
2-1/4 tpsn (1 package) regular or fast acting dry yeast
1-1/4 to 1-1/2 cups flour
1 tspn olive oil
1/2 tspn salt
1/2 tspn sugar
cooking spray

Directions:

1. In a medium sized bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Using a wooden spoon, stir in half the flour, and all of the oil, sugar, and salt. Stir in enough of the remaining flour (1/4 cup at a time) until dough is easy to handle.

2. Sprinkle flour unto a counter top or large cutting board. Place dough of floured surface, and kneed dough for 10 minutes. Sprinkle surface with more flour if dough starts to stick. Dough should be smooth and springy. Spray a large sized bowl with cooking spray. Place the dough in the middle, turning the dough to grease all sides. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for 20 minutes. (For a warm place to rise my bread, I also stick a small cup of water in the microwave for 1 minute. After the minute is up, I put the bowl in the microwave, with the cup. DO NOT start the microwave, just let everything sit for the full time.)

3. Gently push your fist into the dough to deflate it. Recover, loosely, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (but no longer than 48 hours). If the dough should double in size during refrigeration, gently push fist into dough to deflate it

4. Ensure the rack is in the middle position. Preheat oven to 425. Place dough on the center of an ungreased cookie sheet, or 12-inch pizza pan. Press the dough into a 12-inch round, using floured fingers. Press dough from center to edge, so the edge is slightly thicker than the center. Spread sauce over dough, and top with favorite toppings and cheeses.

5. Bake 15-20 minutes, until crust is golden brown and cheese are melted.

(Thank you Betty Crocker!)