David's Pizza Dough and Tomato Sauce

This post is for you Melissa, and the other chicks who like pizza!

David's Pizza Dough
Ingredients:
1 cup wrist temperature water
1 scant tablespoon (or 1 packet) dry yeast
2 teaspoons olive oil or canola oil
2 teaspoons honey
1 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 to 3 cups flour (I use unbleached white bread flour and whole wheat flour combined)

1. In a large mixing bowl, blend the warm water with the yeast.  Let sit for a few minutes until it starts to bud.
2. Mix together the olive or canola oil with the honey and salt in a small bowl. Really mix well until combined.
3. Add the oil/honey/salt mixture to the large bowl of water and yeast, and blend well.
4. Add the flour a little bit at a time, mixing well after each addition.  When the mixture starts to become a dough ball, sprinkle some of the remaining flour on a clean, flat surface and knead the additional flour into the dough ball.
5. When the dough ball can no longer take any additional flour, continue kneading for 5-10 minutes.  When the dough ball is the consistency of an ear lobe when pinched, it is ready to set aside for rising.
6. In a clean mixing bowl, pour a tablespoon of oil and gently rock the bowl until the oil evenly covers the bottom of the bowl.
7. Set the dough ball into the bowl, then turn it rapidly so that both sides are oiled. 
8. Place a plate over the top of the bowl and set in a warm (80 degree) oven  or other warm place for 45 minutes.  It should be risen to double its original size, if not, leave it in the oven a little bit longer.
9. Punch down the dough and roll it onto your floured surface.  Knead for another 5-10 minutes.  
10. With a rolling pin or stretching it carefully by hand, flatten and shape the dough to the size of your pizza sheet or a cookie sheet.  The dough should be very thin.
11. Place the dough onto the sheet and turn up the edges all around so that the tomato sauce and cheese won't drip outside the edge.
12. Fill the pizza with your favorite toppings, sauce, and cheese.
13. Bake in pre-heated 425 degree oven for 30 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and the dough is fully baked.

Tomato Sauce

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil

1  6-oz. can tomato paste

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1  28-oz can crushed tomatoes or tomato puree

Italian seasonings: Oregano, Basil, Parsley

Black pepper or red pepper flakes

1/4 cup red wine (optional)

1. In a Dutch oven or large saucepan, heat the olive oil and add the tomato paste and brown sugar.  Cook on medium heat until it starts to sizzle.
2. Add the crushed tomatoes or tomato puree, Italian seasonings, and pepper.  You can also add the red wine at this step, if you wish.
3. Stir until well-blended, bring to a boil.
4. Lower the heat and simmer, covered, for an hour, or until the sauce has thickened.