Pizza is a universal favorite. The great thing about pizza is that you can tailor-make it to suit any taste. Whether you enjoy veggies, meat or cheese, you can top your pizza with virtually anything you like. But it's not just the top of your pizza that you can be creative with; there is a lot you can do with its foundation - the pizza crust.

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Basic Pizza Crust Recipe

Here is a basic pizza crust recipe for those who want something homemade but quick and easy:

(Adapted from a recipe at AllRecipes.com)

Ingredients:

• 1 package active dry yeast
• 1 cup warm water
• 2 cups bread flour
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons white sugar

Dissolve the yeast in a bowl of warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes. In a large bowl combine the bread flour, olive oil, salt, white sugar and yeast mixture. Stir ingredients until completely mixed; then beat the mixture until the dough becomes stiff.

Cover and let the dough rise until doubled in volume, about 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place dough onto a well floured surface. Form dough into a round shape and then roll out into a pizza crust shape. Cover with your favorite sauce and toppings. Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 20 minutes.

The great thing about pizza crust is that you can make variations of it depending on your taste and needs. With a variety of flours available on the market, you have more to choose from. Of course, there is the traditional all-purpose flour but you can also choose bread flour, gluten-free flour, buckwheat flour, organic flour, spelt flour, whole-wheat flour or self-rising flour.

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You can also make your own self-rising flour. For each cup of all-purpose flour you use, add 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder. Mix all of the ingredients together.

Shaping Your Pizza Dough

The fun thing about using your own dough to make a pizza crust is that you can fashion it into any shape you like. Although the traditional shape of a pizza crust is round, you can also make it into a square or rectangle, or experiment by trying a triangle, heart or anything else that comes to mind. You can even use it to create a calzone by folding the ingredients into the middle and creating an "envelope" with the dough.

The Right Dough for the Right Crust

You need to use the right dough for the right crust. If you prefer a higher, puffier type of crust then an additional 2 teaspoons of yeast in your favorite pizza dough recipe will do the trick.

If you like a thicker crust, make sure the dough is about 1/2 inch thick and allow it to slightly rise. How thick you roll out your dough will determine how thick the crust is going to be, and how high you allow it to rise will determine how chewy it will be.
For a thinner crust, the dough should first be refrigerated. Roll the dough out as thin as you prefer and don't allow it to rise. Quickly put on your toppings and get it into the oven.

Flavorful Pizza Crusts

You can also make some really flavorful pizza crusts by adding delicious ingredients to your dough. If you like the taste of garlic, mince two garlic cloves and add to your dough. Herbs also provide some great flavor. Some delicious choices include:

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• Oregano
• Basil
• Grated parmesan cheese
• Chives
• Parsley
• Thyme

Extra-virgin olive oil can also add a nice hint of flavor. Simply use a pastry brush to "paint" the dough after it has been rolled out. You can also add touches like poppy seeds or toasted sesame seeds to the edges of the dough for a mild nutty flavor and satisfying crunch. For a richer flavor, brush the edges with melted butter and sprinkle with garlic salt and parmesan cheese.

Cheese Stuffed Crusts

Making a cheese stuffed pizza crust is easy. Once the dough has been rolled out to the shape you like, go around the edges of the dough and line with your favorite cheese. String cheese works great. Make sure that you don't place the cheese right to the edge because you need to be able to fold the dough over the cheese. Moisten the edge of the dough with water and then fold it over the cheese, completely covering it.
Helpful Pizza Crust Tools

Making the perfect pizza crust can be easier with some helpful tools. What you bake your pizza crust on can make a big difference in taste. Pizza stones consistently heat through, making for a nice crust and a great taste. They also keep the pizza warmer, longer.

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If you like a thinner pizza crust then a fun tool to use is a pizza docker. Because you don't want your pizza crust to inflate, use the pizza docker to "prick" the middle of the crust (but not the edge). This will keep the crust from blistering and bubbling.

If you have ever tried to get a pizza in and out of an oven, you know it can be tricky. A pizza peel, also known as a pizza shovel, will make the job simple. This is a long-handled, wide spatula-like tool that makes handling a pizza safer and easier. Pizza peels can either be made from wood or metal.

To make the pizza slide off a pizza peel easier you can either coat it with cornmeal or place the dough on parchment paper. The parchment paper can then go into the oven with the pizza, right on top of your baking stone.
Of course, when it comes time to cutting your pizza you want the right tool for that too. A high-quality pizza cutter saves time and gives you even slices. Knives are harder to work through the crust and tend to move your pizza toppings all over the place.

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Pizza can be the perfect treat at any time. Whether you make it as a meal or a quick snack, or enjoy it hot or cold. Homemade pizza dough is fun to make and allows you the opportunity to put your own twist into the recipe. You can be creative with the ingredients you place on top of your pizza, along with the ingredients that make up your perfect pizza crust.

Simple ingredients, bold flavors, or whatever fits your taste buds can turn pizza dough into one delicious, piping hot meal.