Sicilian Pizza

Ingredients

Warm water

1 cup

Sugar

1 teaspoon

Active dry yeast

2 teaspoons

Bread flour

3 cups

Salt

1 teaspoon

Olive oil

3 tablespoons (divided)

Tomato sauce

1 cup

Mozzarella cheese

2 cups, shredded

Toppings (your choice, e.g., pepperoni, bell peppers, olives)

1 to 2 cups

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine the warm water and sugar. Stir until the sugar is dissolved.
2. Sprinkle the yeast over the water and let it sit for 5 minutes, or until it's frothy.
3. Add the flour, salt, and 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the yeast mixture. Stir until a dough forms.
4. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes, or until it's smooth and elastic.
5. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a towel, and let it rise for 1 hour, or until it's doubled in size.
6. Preheat your oven to 500°F (260°C). If you have a pizza stone, place it in the oven while it preheats.
7. Punch down the dough and turn it out onto a floured surface. Roll it out into a rectangle that's about the size of your baking sheet.
8. Transfer the dough to the baking sheet and stretch it out to the edges. If you're using a pizza stone, transfer the dough to a pizza peel or an inverted baking sheet.
9. Spread the tomato sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a border around the edges for the crust.
10. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce, then add your choice of toppings.
11. Drizzle the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil over the toppings for extra flavor.
12. Bake the pizza for about 20 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.
13. Let it cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.