Recipe: New York Pizza with Sausage and Mushrooms

NEW YORK PIZZA with Sausage and Mushrooms
Two 12"--Recipe #1

1 Recipe CRISP PIZZA DOUGH (Recipe follows)
1 Recipe PIZZA SAUCE (Recipe follows)
Cornmeal for sprinkling, optional
1/2 lb. mozzarella cheese, about 2 cups grated
1/2 lb. Italian sausage (mild or hot, your choice)
1/4 lb. fresh mushrooms

PIZZA SAUCE: (About 1 and 1/4 cups)

1 Tablespoon oil (olive is best, vegetable makes a lighter crust)
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 cup canned tomatoes (with juice)
1 cup tomato puree (more liquid than tomato paste)
1 teasp. dried oregano
1 teasp. dried basil
Salt and pepper

In a saucepan, heat oil over low heat. Add onion. Cover and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Mince garlic, add and cook, stirring about 30 seconds. Stir in tomatoes with their juice; breaking up tomatoes with the side of a spoon. Add tomato puree, oregano, basil, 2 teasp salt and 1/4 teasp. pepper. Partialy cover and cook until thickened, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat to cool down, while preparing the dough.

CRISP PIZZA DOUGH (For one 16", or two 12", or four 8" Pizzas)

1 pkg active dry yeast
1/2 teasp. sugar
1 cup lukewarm water
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About 3 and 1/4 cups flour
1 teasp. salt
1 Tablespoon olive oil

Dissolve yeast and sugar in the water. Combine 2-3/4 cups flour and the salt. Stir yeast mixture and oil into the flour, until a dough forms. On a lightly floured work surface, knead about l10 minutes, working in up to 1/4 cup more flour until dough is still soft but no longer sticky. Put in an oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled, about 40 minutes.

Make the dough. Heat the oven to 475 degrees. Oil two 12" pizza pans and sprinke with cornmeal. Grate the cheese. Slice the sausage and the mushrooms. Put the mushrooms in a microwave-safe bowl with 1 Tablespoon
water. Cover with a paper towel and microwave on High 1 minute. Stir, ocver and microwave until cooked through, about 1 minute. Drain and pat dry.
Divide dough into 2 pieces. Press into the prepared pans. l Top with the Pizza Sauce, the mushrooms and the sausage. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake until the edges are browned, about 20 minutes.