I Love My Breadmaker!

Anyone out there have a breadmaker?  Well, I technically don't have one, but I did borrow my mom's about 2 years ago and I think she's forgotten.  Who am I to remind her that I still have it out on loan?!  Anyway, one thing I LOVE to make with it is homemade pizza dough.  I also make homemade sauce and this is now a weekly family tradition.  Every Friday or Saturday night I make sure to create pizza for my boys.  I always make two pizzas.  The first is plain cheese for the boys and the second is half mushroom (for me-yum!), all pepperoni and sometimes sausage too.  So yummy!  Anyway, if you have a breadmaker, here's the recipe I use:

In order, place the following ingredients into your bread machine:

1 c. beer or water (I use water, I don't really drink, so never have it on hand)

1 Tbsp. shortening (they do have organic shortening out there, if you don't do the trans fats)

1 Tbsp. sugar

1 tsp. salt

shake garlic powder (opt)*

1/4 tsp Italian seasoning (opt)*

3 c. Flour

1 1/4 tsp. yeast

*These two ingredients really add some flavor to the dough

Set bread machine on dough or if you don't have that setting, for 2 hours.  The dough should have a 25 min preheat delay before mixing begins (this is included in the 2 hours).  When cycle is complete, remove dough from pan and split into two.  Roll out both circles on floured surface and place on pizza pan or stoneware.  Heat oven to 425 degrees.  Par bake the dough for 6-8 min (watch for bubbles in the dough and use a knife to break as necessary).  Remove from oven, place sauce (see recipe below), ingredients, cheese, and more ingredients on pizza and cook for 5-8 more minutes.  You really need to watch it so it doesn't burn or undercook.  So worth it, though!  Cut and enjoy!

Sauce

1 can crushed tomatoes

1 Tbsp olive oil

Dash Ital seasoning

Pinch of sugar

Simmer above ingredients for 2at least 20 minutes in saucepan.

The finished products...