Pizza Margherita Recipe

Place flour into a large mixing bowl and make a well in the center.

Add yeast, sugar, salt, olive oil and water and stir until combined.

Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5–10 minutes or until a smooth ball forms.

Place dough ball into a lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap or clean cloth. Set in a warm place for 30 minutes or until dough has doubled.

Turn dough out on a floured surface and punch it down to remove excess air, then knead lightly.

Divide dough into 4 balls.

Place 3 in a bag in refrigerator to use at a later date, set one to the side to use now.

If you have a high temp pizza oven, begin preheating now. If not, put your pizza stone in 400 degree oven now to get it hot.

In a medium saucepan heat oil on medium.

Cook garlic in pan for several minutes.

Add crushed tomatoes, juices, salt, and oregano to pan and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes.

Dust counter surface with cornmeal.

Stretch pizza dough out into a circle or square until size is about 10-12 inches.

Transfer dough to pizza stone or pan.

Cover dough with about 1/4 cup of sauce.

Cover sauce with about 3 oz of mozzarella cheese.

Top with basil either now or after you pull pizza from oven.

Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.

Place pizza in oven and watch for cheese to melt and get bubbly and crust to brown.