1 pizza dough, from bakery(or use refrigerated or frozen pizza crust)
1Tablespooncornmealto prevent sticking
1Tablespoonolive oil
½cupmarinarayou can use any of your favorite jarred pasta sauces
4-6ouncesfresh mozzarella cheesesliced thin
1tomatosliced or chopped
20-25slicespepperoni
½cupfresh basil leaves
¼cupParmesan cheesegrated
Garnish: fresh basil, Parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes
Instructions
Place your pizza stone in a cold oven and preheat for 20 minutes at 500°F.
While stone is heating, roll out your pizza crust on a cutting board or countertop that has been lightly dusted with cornmeal, to a size that will fit your stone.
Place the rolled out pizza dough on a pizza peel (or a board with no slides so that pizza can slide off onto hot stone).
Brush the dough with olive oil then spread marinara sauce to within ½″ of edge. (Make sure you keep that ½″ edge with all ingredients to prevent toppings bubbling over the side as well as giving you a place to more easily handle the finished pizza)
Place sliced mozzarella on top of sauce, top with chopped tomatoes, basil leaves, and pepperoni slices then finish with a topping of Parmesan cheese.
Slide the pizza onto the hot stone and return to oven. Bake for about 12-15 minutes depending on thickness of toppings or until bottom is crisp and top is bubbling.
Slide off the stone onto a wooden cutting board and garnish with more basil leaves.
Cut with pizza wheel and serve immediately with additional Parmesan cheese and hot red pepper flakes.