Vegan Mama Jodi's Pizza Crust

Everyone loves pizza, we often make pizza on weekends! Many of you have asked us for our pizza crust recipe, well now you have it! Ordering pizza out, buying ready made crusts or frozen pizza has to stop! We are going to help you make your own crust (let the kids top their own pizza)! This recipe makes 2 crusts, which means you can make two different pizzas or freeze one of the crusts.

Pizza dough (makes two crusts):

1 - 1/2 c lukewarm water

1 pkg active dry yeast

1 - 1/2 T molasses

2 t extra virgin olive oil

Approx. 4 - 2/3 c flour (any combination, we use half unbleached and half whole wheat)

If you have a food processor use it for this recipe! In a large bowl sprinkle yeast in water and let foam (if it doesn't foam, it's been sitting in your cupboard too long!). Add the molasses and extra virgin olive oil. Slowly add flour until the dough gets hard to handle with a spoon. Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead the dough until soft and smooth, but no longer sticky. Form the dough into a ball, place in a clean oiled bowl, cover and let rise for approx. 20-30 minutes. Split dough in half and carefully spread out on oiled pizza pans or cookie sheets (you can sprinkle corn meal on the pan before you spread out the dough for added crispness). Add your favorite pizza or marinara sauce (we use "Trader Joe's" Organic Marinara Sauce-No Salt Added) and your favorite toppings.

*Try a "pink sauce", by adding plain soy creamer to your sauce (Amy and Tim's favorite way to have pizza, since their trip to Italy in May 2011)

Bake in a 450 degree oven for approximately 30 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

Some of our favorite toppings include:
Vegan pepperoni, "Gimme Lean" sausage, soy chorizo, meatless ground or meatless meatballs, pineapple, artichoke hearts, black or green olives, tomato slices or sun dried tomatoes, spinach, roasted red pepper, green, yellow, orange or red bell peppers, mushrooms, broccoli, yellow squash or zucchini squash, jalapeno peppers, garlic (chopped or roasted), fresh or dried basil, oregano, pepperoncinis, Vegan cheeses include; "Veganrella", "Follow Your Heart" and "Daiya" and "Teese".