Basic Pizza Crust

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon cornmeal 
• 2.3 teaspoons yeast dry
• 3 cups flour all-purpose divided
• 1 teaspoon olive oil 
• 0.3 teaspoon salt 
• 1 tablespoon sugar 
• 1 cup water (100° to 110°)

Equipment

• bowl
• baking sheet
• knife
• plastic wrap
• measuring cup

Directions

1. Dissolve sugar and yeast in water in a large bowl, and let stand 5 minutes or until bubbly. Weigh or lightly spoon 15 ounces flour (about 2 cups) into dry measuring cups; level with a knife.
2. Add flour, salt, and olive oil to yeast mixture; stir to form a soft dough.
3. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic (about 5 minutes); add enough of remaining 13 ounces flour (about cup), 1 tablespoon at a time, to prevent dough from sticking to hands.
4. Place dough in a bowl coated with cooking spray, turning to coat. Cover dough with plastic wrap coated with cooking spray; let rise in a warm place (85), free from drafts, 1 hour or until doubled in size. (Press two fingers into dough. If indentation remains, dough has risen enough.)
5. Punch dough down; divide in half.
6. Roll each half into a 12-inch circle on a lightly floured surface.
7. Place dough on 2 (12-inch) pizza pans or baking sheets each coated with cooking spray and sprinkled with 1/2 tablespoon cornmeal. Crimp edges of dough with fingers to form a rim. Cover; let rise in a warm place (85), free from drafts, for 30 minutes.