martha stewart homemade pizza

for nearly twenty years, i have used a recipe for homemade pizza crust published by Martha Stewart in one of her quick cook recipe books.  this crust is both tasty and easy to prepare.

i allow the crust to rise twice, as i have found that to produce a more tender crust for the pizza.  the recipe is basic, requiring flour, water, powdered yeast, salt, and olive oil.  after kneading, i allow the crust to rise in a warm oven covered with a towel, with the oven light on.

about one and one-half hours before baking the pizza, i removed the risen crust and place into a well oiled pizza pan, then returning it to the oven.  this second rise gives the crust a very soft texture and prepares it well for the toppings.  for this pizza, we used pepperoni, green onions, diced tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and my favorite herb mixture.  before baking, i also use an olive oil spray for the crust and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

this homemade pizza has been a family favorite for years and can be made using a variety of toppings. it bakes well and is quite simple and delicious.