Homemade Pizza

Homemade Pizza
Serves 4
Ingredients
Dough:

• 1 packet of dry active yeast
• 1 cup lukewarm water
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons shortening
• 2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil

Sauce:

• 1 tablespoon vegetable or canola oil
• 1/2 chopped onion
• 6 oz can tomato paste
• 3/4 cup water

Seasonings: (optional)

• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon white sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt

Toppings:

• 1 bag of shredded mozzarella
• 1/4 bag of pepperoni (optional)

1. Mix the yeast with lukewarm water and set aside.
2. Combine the flour with the salt and shortening and then add the yeast-water.
3. Mix well together until all of the water is absorbed into the dough.
4. Lightly flour a flat space and knead out the dough for about 5 minutes.
5. Pour the oil into a large bowl and coat the sides.
6. Put the dough into the oiled-bowl and coat the dough on all sides.
7. Cover and set aside for about 45 minutes.
8. Chop the onion and saute until tender. 
9. Combine all the spice together.
10. Simmer the tomato paste, water, onion and spices for 15-20 minutes in a small saucepan.
11. When the dough is ready, spread it on a baking sheet into one giant oval or 2 smaller circles. Roll up the edges for a fluffy crust if desired.
12. Spread the tomato mixture evenly on top.
13. Cover with cheese and desired toppings.
14. Bake for 20 minutes on 400 degrees on a middle rack.
15. Cut into pieces and let cool, then enjoy!

Modified from http://allrecipes.com/recipe/mikes-homemade-pizza/

Nothing is quite as delicious as homemade pizza. This took about an hour and a half to make but there wasn't anything hard about it. I don't know where my pie cutter went so I improvised with a knife (that's why the slices look weird). The cheese had a tendency to fall off but I wasn't too concerned about that.

This is definitely a keeper. 

Note: I rounded up the cost for the spices so they are no doubt horribly exaggerated. 

Yeast, 1 packet of 3 at $1.11/trio = $0.37 at Food Lion

Flour: about $0.85 at Food Lion

Canola Oil: about $0.20 at Food Lion

Tomato Paste: $0.75 at Food Lion

1/2 onion: about $0.35 at Food Loin

Shortening: about $0.50 at Food Lion

Spices: perhaps $1.20 in total from Food Lion

Mozzarella: $2.27 from Food Lion

Pepperoni, 1/4 of a packet at $3.49/packet = $0.88 from Food Lion

Total : $7.37 for 4 servings or $1.84 per serving