Think pizza, grinders, garlic bread, grilled cheese, toast and croutons. It’s the bread that makes them all taste so good. And jacks up the price.  I don’t think there’s a bigger rip off in the market than pre-made pizza crusts. Why pay $4 for something you can make for less than 50 cents? I don’t know, but people do. This recipe is easy (even easier if you have a bread machine) and inexpensive. 

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Basic White Bread Dough

Makes 2 – 14″ pizza crusts, 2 round loaves or 2 – 12″ family size grinder rolls

• 1 5/6 cup warm water (1 1/2 cups + 1/3 cup) 
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 5 cups all purpose flour
• 2 1/4 teaspoons salt
• 3 teaspoons yeast
• cornmeal
• 1 egg yolk (for wash)
• 1 teaspoon water

Note: This recipe is too large to bake in your bread machine. Please follow the directions below carefully.

Bread Machine Method

1. Combine water and olive oil in bread pan.
2. Add flour. Make a well on top of the flour, and drop yeast and salt in the well.
3. Place pan in bread machine. Use the dough cycle.
4. After the last kneading cycle, remove dough and place in lightly oiled bowl, turning once to coat the entire surface. Cover with a towel and place in a warm, draft free location until dough rises to double original size.
5. Punch down dough, let rest for 10 minutes. If you are making bread loaves, continue with step 6. For pizza crusts, skip to step 10.
6. Preheat oven to 375°.
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7. On a lightly floured surface, divide dough in half and form into desired shape.  If you are making loaves, cut a few shallow marks into the top of the loaf. Sprinkle a small amount of cornmeal over the baking surface (baking sheet, or stone). Place formed dough on baking pan, cover and let rise until double, 30 – 60 minutes..
8. Whisk egg yolk and water together. Brush top of loaves with egg wash.
9. Bake at 375° for 35-40 minutes, until top is deep golden, and bread sounds hollow when tapped. Remove from oven and allow to cool 10 minutes before slicing.
10. For pizza crusts. After first rising and punching down, divide dough in half and let rest for 10 minutes.
11.  Preheat oven to 425°.
12. Lightly oil pizza pans. Shape pizza crusts and place on pan.
13. Pre-bake crusts for 8 – 10 minutes before topping.
14. Remove crusts from oven, add your favorite toppings and bake for another 15 to 20 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and crust is nicely browned

Alternative Method

1. Sift together dry ingredients into large mixing bowl.
2. In small bowl combine 1/4 cup of the warm water and the yeast. Let sit until yeast begins to foam.
3. Make well in the dry ingredients. Add the yeast mixture, remaining water, olive oil and salt. Mix.
4. Turn dough out onto floured surface and knead for at least 10 minutes.
5. Follow the directions for Bread Machines, listed above, from step 5. 

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