Pizza Crust (From Pioneer Woman)

This Pizza Crust has become the foundation of a weekly tradition here at our house - Pizza & Movie Night.
It is super easy and even more delicious!

Pizza Crust

1 1/2 cups warm water
1 teaspoon or 1/2 packet dry yeast
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

1. Pour warm water into bowl.  Sprinkle the yeast over the water.
2. Combine the flour and salt in a mixing bowl.
3. With a mixer on low speed, mix in the olive oil into flour and salt until just incorporated.
4. Gently stir the yeast/water mixture and pour into flour/oil mixture until the dough forms a ball. (You can also mix my hand until the dough comes together.)
5. Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and let sit for 1 to 2 hours, or cover with plastic wrap and store in fridge for up to 2 days.
8. To prepare pizza, preheat oven to 500 degrees.
9. Divide the dough in half.  Spray cooking spray onto two cookie sheets.
10. Using your hands (if it's super sticky, coat your hands with flour and knead the dough a bit) stretch the dough to the desired shape, pressing the dough into the pan with your fingers.  You can do it as thick or thin as you like.  A lumpy surface is perfectly fine.
11. Lay the desired toppings over the dough and bake the pizza for 8 to 10 minutes, until the edges of the crust are golden brown.

The other half of the dough may be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerated up to 3 days before use, or frozen for up to six months.  We always make two pizzas on pizza night so I've never stored it.

This really is delicious and we look forward to it every week!