pizza dough

If you had to go to a desert island and could only bring one food with you, what would it be? Mine would be pizza...and I would secretly hope that someone else who had to go was bringing chocolate because together we'd be unstoppable...and happy. 

Today I want to tell you what's cooking in my bread machine right now as Superbowl Sunday rolls in and we get ready to cheer on the New England Patriots.  Yes, you can use this recipe if you're an Eagles fan but I hope you're ready for the Pats and our man Tom Brady tonight because we're gonna bring it.  Back to the food.  Years ago (as in well over ten years ago), I got a lovely gift of a bread machine from my in laws and it's still going strong.  I actually don't use it often for bread, but I use it weekly for fresh, homemade pizza dough.  I found a recipe online when I got the machine but I don't remember where I got it.  I've made it so many times and modified it so much that I just know it by heart.  I've made whole wheat versions and white flour versions, depending on what we're going for that week. We've used countless combinations of toppings, cheeses, herbs and spices (my favorites include a lot of garlic and basil).  I think homemade pizza beats any delivery services, it's kinder to the wallet, and it's really really easy!  I can set the ingredients in the bread machine in the morning before heading out the door and there's a pizza dough waiting for me that evening when we get home.  

Bread Machine Pizza Dough (Adapted)

Ingredients
-1 cup + 2 TBS water- luke warm
-2 TBS olive oil
-3 cups flour (this can be all white flour, half whole wheat or other combinations to suit your preferences)
-1 tsp sugar
-1/2 tsp salt
-2 1/2 tsp bread machine yeast

Directions
Measure all of your ingredients carefully.  This is where my "little bit of this, little bit of that" baking style can cause problems because bread machines are very precise.  Place the ingredients in the bread machine in the order listed.  Once the salt has been added, make a well using your finger or the back of the spoon on top of the flour and put the yeast into that well.  Put the machine on dough cycle (mine takes 1 1/2 hours) and press start.  Once the machine is done, place the dough on a lightly floured surface and roll out or toss until it is shaped for your pizza pan.  Add your sauce, cheese and toppings.  Place into a 400 degree oven for approximately 20 minutes.  Slice and enjoy!

Go Pats!