My Culinary Blog

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1/4 Cup Chopped Onions
1 Tablespoon minced Garlic
3 Italian Plum Tomatoes, Finely Chopped
3 oz. Tomato Paste
2 1/2 Tablespoons Italian Seasoning
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
Black Pepper
1/2 Stick Unsalted Butter, Cut in Pieces

Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add onions and saute 1 minute. Stir in garlic, tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasoning; season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil and simmer, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and add butter pieces, stirring. When butter is half melted, remove skillet from heat and continue stirring until thoroughly incorporated.
Yield: 1 1/3 cups

(makes a 17 1/2″ X 11 1/2″ Pizza)
4 cups All−Purpose flour
1 tsp salt
4 tbsps oil
2 pkgs. dry yeast
1 1/2 cups of warm water (105F)

Mix yeast, 1/2 cup flour, and 1/2 cup water in a bowl covered with plastic wrap. Let rise for 15 minutes. Stir to deflate. Mix 2 cups of remaining flour with salt, 1 cup cool tap water, and oil. Add yeast mixture. Mix in remaining flour. Knead 15 minutes on a floured surface (10 minutes in a machine) until smooth. Place dough in bowl dusted with flour and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise until doubled (1 to 2 hours). Punch dough down and put in ziploc bag in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Preheat oven to 500F.
Remove dough from refrigerator when ready to shape into crust. Punch down dough thoroughly and roll out dough on a floured surface.
Lightly oil (olive) a 17 1/2″ X 11 1/2″ X 3/4″ pan. Place dough in pan and push to stretch evenly leaving a lip up against sides of pan.
Let rest for 10−15 minutes (while you prepare toppings). Stretch out dough again (it will have receded) and place desired toppings.
Cook in center of oven until crust is golden brown.