Whole Wheat Pizza Crust

Ingredients

• 1 envelope active dry yeast
• 1 cup very warm water
• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 1/2 cups unbleached white flour

Instructions

1. Dissolve yeast in warm water. Allow to rest for 5 minutes.
2. Stir in whole wheat flour, sugar, salt, olive oil and 1 cup of the unbleached white flour. Knead in the remaining 1/2 cup of unbleached white flour by hand, kneading for about 5 minutes. The dough will become smooth and elastic.
3. Spray a medium size glass bowl with nonstick cooking spray. Place dough in bowl and turn to coat thoroughly. Cover bowl and allow to rise in a warm place for 15 minutes.
4. Spray one 15 inch pizza pan or two 10 inch pizza pans with nonstick cooking spray.
5. Stretch pizza dough to fit pan and flute outer edges of crust to hold fillings.
6. Put crust in a preheated 425 degrees F oven for 5 minutes.
7. Remove from oven and place desired toppings on partially baked crust and return to 425 degrees F oven until cheese is melted and crust is browned (about 15 minutes).
8. Top with pizza sauce and any combination of: provolone cheese, shredded mozzarella cheese, ground beef, onions, green peppers, mushrooms, black olives and pepperoni.

Notes

You can save about half of the mozzarella cheese to add to the top of the pizza about 5 minutes before the pizza should be done.