1 pkg. dry yeast
2 c. all-purpose flour
3/4 c. warm water
1 (8 oz.) can Hunts tomato sauce
1 (12 oz.) pkg. Mozzarella cheese, shredded
4 links Italian sausage (or bulk sausage)
mushrooms, onions, diced green peppers, etc. (optional)

Dissolve yeast in a small amount of warm water. Add yeast to flour and gradually add 3/4 cup warm water. Knead dough until all the flour is well blended and form into a ball and butter all sides of the ball. Cover bowl with cloth and let dough rise for about 2 hours.

Grease the bottom of a 14-inch round pizza pan or an 18x12-inch cookie pan. Spread dough until the bottom of the pan is covered and the dough extends up the sides to form a pie crust. Crust will be thinner in the large pan. Spread sauce on the dough and add Mozzarella cheese and crumbled Italian sausage. If using the links, squeeze sausage out of the skins and place on the pizza in small clumps. You can now optionally add mushrooms, onions, green peppers, pepperoni, etc.

Bake 45 minutes in a 475°F oven or until the bottom of the crust is slightly brown when lifted from the pan.

Note: If you like extra thin crust, then divide dough in half and spread over two 14-inch round pizza pans.

Submitted by: Sarah Decoste