Great-grandma Lepre's 4th-generation Pizza (rhode Island Pizza)

Total Time: 3 hrs 45 mins Preparation Time: 3 hrs 30 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 6 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons shortening
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 2 (1/4 ounce) packets dry yeast (check expiration date)
• extra flour
• additional warm water, if needed
• olive oil
• 1 (14 ounce) can tomatoes, crushed
• salt
• pepper
• oregano
• basil
• freshly grated parmesan cheese (optional)

Recipe

• 1 using your hands, combine flour, shortening and salt in a large bowl. make a well in the center and set aside.
• 2 in a small bowl, mix sugar and 1/2 cup warm water.
• 3 when completely dissolved, add yeast and allow to foam up.
• 4 add wet mixture into the well of dry ingredients.
• 5 using hands, slowly bring flour mixture into the center, combining and kneading.
• 6 gradually add 2 cups of lukewarm water as you continue to knead. if dough sticks to your hands, add more flour a little at a time. if it feels hard and resistant, add a little water. when this forms a ball, coat with a thin film of olive oil.
• 7 cover loosely with a towel and let dough rise in a warm place 2 hours.
• 8 when risen, with dough still in the bowl, punch it in the center.
• 9 separate into halves, and place each half oil side down on two pizza pans or cookie sheets.
• 10 spread and stretch dough from the center out, being sure to leave a lip around the edge.
• 11 cover loosely with a towel and allow to rise another hour.
• 12 when you're ready to cook, preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• 13 spread a thin layer of one can crushed tomatoes over the dough.
• 14 add salt, pepper, oregano and basil to taste.
• 15 leave as is, or sprinkle freshly grated parmesan cheese over tomatoes.
• 16 bake 15 minutes, then check using a spatula to raise pizza and peek underneath.
• 17 bake further until the crust is crispy and golden brown.