Tammi's French Bread Pizza Dough and French Bread

My friend Tammi made this pizza for us and shared the recipe.

 

Here's her recipe with a few slight modifications.

Heat oven to 400*

In medium sized bowl dissolve:
2 T. yeast
½ c. warm water
1 T. sugar
Set aside and allow to proof for approximately 10 minutes

Meanwhile, boil:
1/3 c. Crisco
2 c. water

Add to mixing bowl with:
3 c. flour
1 ½ t. salt
3 T. sugar

Mix using dough hooks. Allow to cool for a few minutes, and then add an additional 3 c. flour and mix. Add yeast mixture and mix for an additional 4-5 minutes.

Roll out onto greased baking stone or pizza pan. Divide in half for thin crust or use entire amount for a deep dish, thick crust pizza.

Bake dough for approx. 12 minutes. Remove from oven, add pizza sauce, cheese, toppings. Return to oven for approximately 15 minutes or until done.


French Bread Variation:
Allow dough to rise for 10 minutes, then punch down for 1 minute. Repeat three times.
Separate into 6 balls for braided loaves, or divide into two balls and roll each into a rectangle, then roll into a loaf. Allow to rise for 20-30 minutes on greased pan.

Bake at 400* for 25 minutes.