Margherita and Sausage Pizzas

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The best way to enjoy pizza is to make it yourself!   It’s super simple –all you need is yeast,flour,and toppings.  This recipe is a blend of two recipes that we’ve tinkered with for better results,the first being Alton Brown’s Pizza Pizzas and the second Giada De Laurentiis’Pizza with Fresh Tomatoes and Basil.

Servings:this will make two pizzas –one margherita and one sausage.

• 1 packet instant yeast
• 3/4 cup warm water
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp kosher salt
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• basil
• tomato/pasta sauce
• canned whole tomatoes
• 1lb mozzarella (this will make enough for two pizzas)
• hot italian sausage
• onion
• hot pepper flakes,dried oregano,garlic powder (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 450F.
2. Mix the water,sugar,and yeast together and let sit for a minute.
3. Put the flour in a big bowl and pour the yeast mixture in,along with the salt and olive oil.
4. Form the flour into a nice round ball of dough.  Feel free to add more water or flour as needed.
5. Cover the dough with a wet towel and let sit.  After 45 mins,knead slightly and re-cover for another 45 mins.  Repeat this as many times as you can to make a fluffier dough (time permitting).
6. Take a flat baking sheet and sprinkle olive oil on it.
7. Cut the dough in half to make two dough balls.
8. Start on one dough ball,working with your knuckles and a flat floured surface to get it to fit into the baking sheet.  Place into baking sheet when done.  Repeat with second dough ball using different sheet.
9. Top with pasta sauce,dried oregano,then plenty of fresh basil (I rip mine into bit-size pieces).
10. From here,for the Margherita Pizza,roughly chop tomatoes and arrange on top.  Thinly slice 1/2 lb of the mozzarella and distribute evenly.  Sprinkle with more basil.
11. From here,for the Sausage Pizza,remove the sausage from the casings and sautee with the diced onion.  Once cooked,drain fat and arrange on top.  Grate 1/2 lb of mozzarella and sprinkle on top,along with more basil.
12. Place pizza into oven and bake for 10 mins.
13. Once done,remove and put somewhere to cool.  Take pizza off sheet,slice,and top with hot pepper flakes,garlic powder,and oregano.  Enjoy!