New York-Style Pizza Crust

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Yields: 1 twelve inch crust

Ingredients

• 2⁄3 cup water (11O°F to 115°F)
• 1  teaspoon sugar
• 1⁄8 ounce package fast rise yeast or 1⁄8 ounce package active dry yeast
• 1 3⁄4 cups all-purpose flour or 1 3⁄4 cups bread flour
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1  tablespoon cornmeal (optional)

Directions

1. Combine water and sugar in small bowl; stir to dissolve sugar.
2. Sprinkle yeast on top; stir to combine.
3. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes or until foamy.
4. Combine flour and salt in medium bowl.
5. Stir in yeast mixture.
6. Mix until mixture forms soft dough.
7. Remove dough to lightly floured surface.
8. Knead 5 minutes or until dough is smooth and elastic, adding additional flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, as needed.
9. Place dough in medium bowl coated with nonstick cooking spray.
10. Turn dough in bowl so top is coated with cooking spray; cover with towel or plastic wrap.
11. Let rise in warm place 30 minutes or until doubled in bulk.
12. Punch dough down; place on lightly floured surface and knead about 2 minutes or until smooth.
13. Pat dough into flat disc about 7 inches in diameter.
14. Let rest 2 to 3 minutes.
15. Pat and gently stretch dough from edges until dough seems to not stretch anymore.
16. Let rest 2 to 3 minutes.
17. Continue patting and stretching until dough is 12 to 14 inches in diameter.
18. Spray 12- to 14-inch pizza pan with nonstick spray; sprinkle with commeal, if desired.
19. Press dough into pan.
20. Preheat oven to 5OOF.
21. Follow directions for individual recipes, baking pizza on bottom rack of oven.