Pizza Dough

1  1/4 oz packet yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
1 cup warm water
1 T  Honey

1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon olive oil
2 1/2 - 3 cups bread flour

Pizza dough instructions:


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 and the dough so it doesn't dry out, cover with plastic wrap and let it rise overnight.  Overnight is the best but could be made in the morning to use later in the afternoon.

Tips:

• We used a cast iron pizza pan but you can also use a stone.  If you are going to use a stone make sure it is a quality stone as it makes a LOT of difference.  
• Set the oven to 550 degrees and put in cast iron pizza pan or stone.  (Most ovens only go to 500.  So if that is all the higher yours go it is perfectly fine.  Just have to add another minute or two to cooking.)  Let it get nice and hot while you are making your pizzas.
• We make our pizzas on a peel.  But you MUST have LOTS of flour and cornmeal on them so they slip into the pan.  This is the hardest part of making pizza. LOL.
• Work fast when making pizza on the peel as the warmer it gets the more it will stick to the peel.
• We cooked our pizza for 8 minutes.  For us it was perfect.  But if baking at 500 you might want to add another or two for cooking.