I can not understand the attraction of buying pizzas either from a takeout or frozen.  The truth is that pizza is one of the easiest and most cost effective foods that you can make.

The Dough/

600 grams of strong plain flour (can use ciabatta flour and/or combination) (approx. 1lb 5 oz/ 4 1/2 cups)
2 Tbsp of dried milk powder
2 Tsp salt
2 1/2 Tbsp of sugar
34 grams of butter or olive oil (about 2 1/2 tablespoons)
2 1/2 Tsp of dried yeast
330ml of water

• Place ingredients in the mixing bowl. Preferably in the order listed above.
• Mix in with your food processor using the dough hook. Alternatively a metal bowl works using a metal spoon.
• When dough is well mixed and forming a moist ball of dough,
• Cover and leave to rest if possible. Resting for 15 to 30 minutes is sufficient, but I have been known not to have time and just go straight into using it

I use a very simple “about” pizza sauce.

• About 2/3 of a jar of passata/crushed tomatoes
• A spoon of sugar
• Oregano and/or Italian herbs (amount depends on your preference)
• Dried onion flakes (optional)
• Dried Garlic (optional)

• Roll out dough and place on a greased pizza pan with wholes on the base which helps make it crisp.  Alternatively, once pizza is prepared for baking you can place on a preheated pizza stone. (Not always so easy)
• Spread sauce on dough.
• Now here is the big questions.  Do you put cheese next or your toppings?
• I usually put a few toppings (ie mushrooms, peppers, artichoke hearts, etc.)
• Spread a combination of mozarella and cheddar.
• Finally a few more toppings such as olives or more mushrooms.
• Bake in a preheated oven set at 200 degrees C.  The time depends on your oven, but you can usually tell when the cheese starts to go brown.

Options to consider!

• Serve as is or be creative and add fresh grated parmesan or fresh leaves such as rocket or spinach!
• Pizza dough does freeze.  I usually make the above recipe and divide into 3.  Freeze just after you have mixed the dough.  Defrost, roll, top, and bake!
• A rough estimate of costs is about £2.00 per pizza excluding baking costs and more expensive toppings.