Pizza Dough

Preparation

1. Combine warm water and malt syrup or sugar in a large mixing bowl.  Sprinkle yeast over water.  Gently stir once or twice.  Let sit in a draft free place for about 5 minutes or until the yeast begins to erupt.  Whisk in the olive oil.

2. Begin whisking in flour about ½ cup at a time.  After you have added about 1 ½ cups of flour, whisk in the salt and then continue with the flour.  Switch to a wooden spoon when mixture becomes too thick and sticky for the whisk to be effective.  Continue gradually adding flour until the dough forms a cohesive, but still sticky ball.

3. Turn dough onto a well-floured counter or board and begin kneading.  Continue to slowly add flour to keep dough from sticking to your hands.  Scrape work surface from time to time with a dough scraper to remove sticky bits of dough.  Knead for 8-10 minutes or until the dough forms a soft, satiny ball.

4. Place the dough in a large, clean, lightly oiled bowl.  Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise.  For a fast rise, place bowl in a warm spot; it will double in 1 ½-2 hours.  For a slow rise, place bowl in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight.  Let refrigerated dough sit at room temperature for an hour or so before shaping.