In the bowl of your stand mixer, dissolve the sugar in the warm water and then stir in the dry yeast.  Set your timer for 5 minutes and let the yeast bubble up in the water.

Add in the salt, oil, and half the flour.  Use your dough hook attachment and set the speed to "stir" or level 2.  Once the flour is pretty well incorporated, add in the rest of the flour while the mixer is still stirring.

Once the flour is mixed in, set your timer for 6 minutes and let the dough knead at a level 2. 6 minutes seems to be the magic number.  Watch your dough and it should clean off the sides of the bowl and be just sticky to the touch but not stick to your fingers.

If the dough is too dry, add in more oil 1 tsp at a time.  If the dough is too wet, add in more flour 1 TBSP at a time.  After the 6 minutes of kneading, your bowl should have clean sides and a ball of nice smooth dough.

Lift out your dough and set it on the clean counter for just a second and spray the inside of your bowl with non-stick cooking spray (no need to dirty another bowl).  Put your dough back in and cover with saran while it rises.

In the winter my dough usually needs 2 hours to double in size, but in the warmer months, I can count on in being ready in just an hour.

After your dough has doubled in size, you can use it immediately and roll out on a counter sprinkled with cornmeal.  I like mine rolled nice and thin.

Or, you can divide it up and put it in a ziplock in the fridge and use it within 24 hours.

*see notes for my pizza tips*