Pepperoni Pizza!

In the mood for some homemade pizza? Try this easy hand tossed pizza recipe that will leave you feeling like a a pizza pro!

I follow the pizza dough recipe on this site (you just need yeast, warm water, flour, sugar, salt, and olive oil). Allow the dough to rise for 90 minutes.As the dough is rising, make a simple yet flavorful marinara sauce:

1. Heat two tablespoons of olive oil and one tablespoon of butter in a saucepan over medium heat for about 3 minutes..
2. When oil is hot (you should see it sizzle), add in 1 can (28 oz) of crushed tomatoes. Cover pan and lower heat.
3. Add in salt, black pepper, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, and Italian seasoning to taste. Add a splash of red wine and two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese and allow sauce to simmer for 25 minutes.

After allowing the dough to rise for about 90 minutes (it should have at least doubled in size), transfer the dough to a large generously buttered pan (if you don’t have a pizza pan, a large rectangular or circular cookie sheet can work) and press the dough so it fully covers the entire pan. Make sure you leave extra dough around the edges of the pan to create a crust.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Add a layer of marina sauce to the dough and then sprinkle with toppings of your choice (I like to use pepperoni, but you can use sliced green peppers, sausage, onions, chicken, you name it!). Add shredded mozzarella and provolone cheese on top, so that it fully covers the toppings.

Place the pan on the bottom rack of the oven and let bake for 20 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and slightly brown. Let pizza cool for a few minutes before cutting and serving. Enjoy warm!