All-Purpose Pizza Dough (California Style)

Ingredients

1 packet active-dry yeast (or instant yeast)
1 teaspoon honey
1 cup water, warm
3 cups all-purpose flour
1.5 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 450º.
2. In a bowl, mix warm water with yeast and honey. Let it sit for 20 minutes to ensure the yeast is alive and bubbly. If using instant yeast, skip the wait and go straight to the next step.
3. Add in oil, salt, then slowly incorporate the flour half a cup at a time until the dough is a soft and pliable consistency. I end up using around 2.5 to 3 cups but it should depend on the texture of the dough.
4. Knead for 5 minutes.
5. Oil another bowl and add the dough. Cover and let rise until doubled in size, usually about 40 minutes to one hour.
6. Punch down the bowl and then divide into four portions.
7. Shape each portion into a bowl and let sit, covered with cling wrap, for another 10-20 minutes or until doubled.
8. Take each portion and shape it into a pizza round. Transfer to a baking sheet and add toppings.
9. Bake on bottom rack for five minutes, then transfer to middle rack for another five minutes.
10. Once cooked, the pizza will not stick to the sheet. Remove from oven and serve immediately.