Thin Pizza Dough

Here's a Thin Pizza Dough I've been making forever (even before I became
fat-free) with no oil. Note: I use a pizza stone or fire bricks that I
purchased from a masonry supply house after I broke my pizza stone. Leftover
slices always crisp up nicely in the toaster oven the next day for lunch.

1 cup warm water (110-115 deg F)
1 envelope (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
3-1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt

Sprinkle yeast over the water and stir gently until dissolved. Should be a
smooth and beige-colored mixture. If not, throw it out and start again -
check the expiration date on the yeast package. Put in a warm spot for about
5 minutes (I set it in the microwave).

Put 3 cups of the flour and all the salt in a mixing bowl, stir together.
Make a well in the center of the flour and pour in the yeast mixture. Stir
from the middle, mixing in flour from the sides just until a soft dough
forms.

Turn dough out onto floured surface. Dust your hands with flour and knead
gently. Gradually add the remaining 1/4 cup of flour until dough is no
longer sticky or tacky - about 5 minutes. As you knead, scrape up bits of
dough that stick to the work surface with a metal dough scraper. Knead 10-15
minutes until dough is smooth, elastic, and shiny. Knead only until smooth
and springy. (Overdoing it makes a tough crust).

Shape dough into a ball and put in clean bowl (note: don't use a cold bowl -
rinse out with warm water and wipe dry). Cover bowl tightly with plastic
wrap and put in draft-free warm place (75-85 degrees F). It will double in
size after about an hour - takes 1-1/2 hours at lower temperatures.

Press the air bubbles out of the dough (don't "punch" it - be gentle).
Gently shape into a round ball. Let rest for 10 minutes. I cover it with
the inverted mixing bowl so that it doesn't dry out. Roll or stretch out
into pizza shape, cover with favorite toppings and bake at a high
temperature. If I am going to use especially moist toppings, I precook the
crust for 5-10 minutes.

Makes a 15-16 inch pizza. Or divide dough into two equal pieces for two
12-inch round flat pizzas. Or divide into 18 equal-size portions for 3-inch
appetizer sized pizzas.

Use within 2 hours. Or press out air bubbles again, shape into round ball,
put in bowl covered with plastic wrap, and set in refrigerator. Refrigerate
up to 24 hours. Let it come to room temperature before using.

Will freeze nicely - wrap tightly in plastic and freeze up to 4 months.
Before using, thaw in refrigerator 1-2 days or a few hours at room
temperature.