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Here's a recipe for two family-sized pizza doughs, which should yield two large 14-16 inch pizzas:

Ingredients:

4 ½ cups (540g) all-purpose flour (or bread flour for a chewier crust)

2 ¼ teaspoons (7g) instant yeast (1 packet)

2 teaspoons sugar

2 teaspoons salt

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 ¾ cups (420ml) warm water (about 110°F / 45°C)


Instructions:

1. Prepare the yeast mixture:

In a small bowl, combine the warm water, sugar, and yeast. Stir gently and let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until it becomes foamy (this activates the yeast).



2. Mix the dry ingredients:

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and salt.



3. Combine the ingredients:

Once the yeast has activated, pour it into the flour mixture along with the olive oil. Mix everything together until a shaggy dough forms.



4. Knead the dough:

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead by hand for about 8-10 minutes (or use a stand mixer with a dough hook on medium speed for 5-7 minutes) until the dough becomes smooth and elastic. If the dough is too sticky, sprinkle a bit more flour as needed.



5. First rise:

Lightly grease a large bowl with olive oil and place the dough inside, turning it so that it's coated with oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a damp kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for 1-1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.



6. Divide the dough:

Once the dough has risen, punch it down to release the air. Divide it into two equal portions for your two family-sized pizzas.



7. Second rise (optional but recommended):

Shape each dough portion into a ball and let them rest for 20-30 minutes before rolling them out. This makes the dough easier to stretch.



8. Roll out and bake:

Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C) and place a pizza stone or baking sheet inside to heat. Roll out each dough portion on a lightly floured surface to your desired thickness (thin or thick crust). Transfer to parchment paper or a lightly floured pizza peel.

Add your favorite toppings, and bake the pizzas on the preheated stone or baking sheet for 12-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbling.




Enjoy your homemade pizza!