All-American Pizza and Homemade Pizza Sauce

Steps

1. Homemade Pizza Sauce
2. In a small saucepan, sauté garlic in oil until tender. Stir in the remaining sauce ingredients. Bring to a boil.
3. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes or until sauce reaches desired thickness. Sauce may be refrigerated for up to 1 week.
4. Dough
5. In medium mixer bowl, combine 2 cups flour, yeast, and salt; mix well. Combine water and oil; heat to 120° to 130°F; add to flour mixture. Blend at low speed until moistened; beat 3 minutes at medium speed.
6. By hand, gradually stir in enough remaining flour to make a soft dough. (I used my KitchenAid dough hook attachment.) Knead on floured surface 3 to 5 minutes. Shape the dough into a ball, cover, and allow it to rest for 15 minutes.
7. Divide dough into 4 parts (2 parts if you want larger pizzas). With well-floured or greased fingers, press each half into greased 12- or 14-inch pizza pan.
8. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of your favorite shredded cheese over dough to prevent a soggy crust. Spread prepared pizza sauce on each pizza (approximately 3/4 cup of sauce per pizza). Add your favorite toppings---mushrooms, onions, olives, green peppers, pepperoni, cooked Italian sausage, anchovies, etc. Cover with shredded cheese of your choice- Mozzarella, Parmesan and Asiago.
9. Bake at 400°F for 25 to 30 minutes until edge is crisp and light golden brown and cheeses are melted. Serve immediately