Fail-proof pizza dough

I really like this dough when I'm making pastry wraps such as Costco Chicken Bakes or Stromboli. The original author isn't kidding. This turned out perfectly the very first time I made it.

From laurenslatest.com

yield: 2-12 INCH PIZZA CRUSTS; ABOUT 1 LB. OF DOUGH

INGREDIENTS:

for the pizza dough-
1 cup warm water
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 tablespoon honey {or sugar}
2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons olive or canola oil
3 cups bread flour {give or take 1/2 cup...depending on the heat & humidity}

for the cheesy garlic bread sticks-
1/2 recipe Fail-Proof Pizza Dough from above
2 tablespoons softened salted butter
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese {use the real stuff!}
1/4 pound grated mozzarella cheese
{salt & pepper, if desired}

DIRECTIONS:

For the pizza dough--In a large mixing bowl, preferably that of a stand mixer, stir yeast and honey into warm water. Sit for 5-10 minutes or until bubbles form and mixture starts to foam. This tells you that the yeast is alive and kicking. 

Pour in salt, oil and half the flour and mix. Once that flour is incorporated, start adding flour in bit by bit until you get the pizza dough to the consistency you want: slightly tacky, but when you touch it it doesn't stick to your hands. Once you reach this stage, knead for 6 minutes. Turn a timer on and walk away! Resist the temptation to stop earlier than 6 minutes! That seems to be the magical number. The dough should be smooth and easy to work with. And the bowl should be clean! 

{*This is the point when you could freeze your dough!! Divide into portions, place into freezer bags, seal removing all air and freeze. To use, remove from freezer and let sit out to get to room temperature and double in size; 6-8 hours. Then use as you'd like.} Lightly grease the bowl & the dough so it doesn't dry out, cover with plastic wrap and let it rise 1-2 hours. That's it! Use as desired.

For the Cheesy Garlic Bread Sticks- Preheat oven to 500 degrees with pizza stone inside. {If you don't have a pizza stone, use an upside down cookie sheet...a tip I got from Natalie!}
Mix butter and garlic in a small bowl and set aside.
Spread pizza dough out into a 12-inch circle on parchment paper. {This makes it easier to transfer to the pizza stone.}
Spread the butter and garlic mixture over dough and top with Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses. Top with a light sprinkling of salt and pepper, if desired. {That step is totally optional!}

Lauren's Latest original recipe.

Ingredients for quadruple the dough

4 cups warm water
3 tablespoons active dry yeast
1/4 cup honey {or sugar}
2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons salt (or 1/6 cup)
1/2 cup olive or canola oil
12 cups bread flour {give or take depending on the heat & humidity}

Sweet, Sticky Chicken stir-fry

Ingredients

2 skinless boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch pieces

2/3 cup flour

1 tsp salt

2 T brown sugar

1/4 cup honey

1/2 cup reduced sodium soy sauce

4 tsp chopped fresh ginger root (or 1/2 tsp ground ginger)

4 tsp minced garlic

2 T hot sauce

salt and pepper to taste

2 T olive oil

1 head of broccoli

2 carrot, sliced into coins

2 cups brown rice, cooked

Directions

1. Steam broccoli and carrots for 5-10 minutes, until tender.

2. Place flour and salt in gallon ziplock bag. Dredge chicken pieces in flour, then place in pan with heated oil. Sear chicken then turn down heat and continue to cook until cooked through. Remove chicken from pan.

3. Mix together brown sugar, honey, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and hot sauce in a small bowl.

4. Pour sauce into pan previously used for chicken. Simmer uncovered until sauce thickens. Return chicken to the pan, add steamed broccoli and carrots, and coat to stir.

5. Serve over brown rice.