Instructions

• In a large mixing bowl, combine 1.5 cups warm tap water and 1.5 teaspoons granulated sugar; stir until the sugar dissolves. Sprinkle 1.5 teaspoons active dry yeast over the surface, stir a few times, and let sit until foamy (about 5 minutes).
• Add 2 cups all-purpose flour to the bowl and mix with a wooden spoon until combined. Stir in 1 tablespoon vegetable or canola oil.
• Add 1 more cup of flour (the third cup) and stir until incorporated.
• Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead while gradually incorporating the remaining 1 cup of flour. Knead until the dough is smooth and no longer sticky.
• Place the dough into a large bowl that has been lightly greased with oil, turning the dough once so its top is lightly oiled. Cover with a kitchen towel and place in a warm, draft-free spot until doubled in size (about 1 hour).
• While the dough rises, lightly grease two pizza pans with oil for greasing pans and sprinkle the pans with cornmeal for dusting pans.
• After the dough has doubled, punch it down and transfer it to a floured surface. Smooth it into a ball and divide it into two equal pieces.
• Roll or stretch one piece into a circle roughly the size of your pizza pan. Place it on one prepared pan and stretch the edges as needed to fit.
• Preheat the oven to 420°F.
• Place the prepared pan with the dough in the preheated oven and par-bake the crust for 7 minutes.
• Remove the par-baked crust from the oven. Brush the crust edges with 1 tablespoon melted butter and sprinkle 1 tablespoon yellow cornmeal evenly over the crust edges.
• Spread 1 cup pizza sauce over the dough, leaving a small border at the edges. Arrange approximately half of the pepperoni slices, half of the 1/2 cup chopped green peppers, half of the 1/2 cup chopped yellow onion, half of the 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms, and half of the 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the sauce.
• Bake the assembled pizza at 420°F for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbling and the crust edges are golden.
• Repeat steps 8–13 with the second piece of dough, using the remaining prepared pan, 1 cup pizza sauce, the remaining toppings (pepperoni, peppers, onion, mushrooms, and cheese), 1 tablespoon melted butter, and 1 tablespoon yellow cornmeal.