**Title:** Classic Cheese Pizza with Fresh Herbs
**Recipe:**
**Ingredients:**
- 1 pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil leaves, torn (or oregano) for garnish
- Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- Crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Olive oil for brushing
**Instructions:**
1. **Preheat the Oven**: Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C). Place a pizza stone or baking sheet in the oven to heat up for at least 15 minutes.
2. **Prepare the Dough**: Roll out the pizza dough on a floured surface until it reaches your desired thickness. Transfer the dough to a parchment paper or a pizza peel if using a pizza stone.
3. **Assemble the Pizza**: Brush the dough lightly with olive oil. Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce over the dough, leaving a small border for the crust. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella evenly over the sauce, followed by a generous layer of grated Parmesan.
4. **Bake the Pizza**: Transfer the pizza to the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden, and the crust is golden-brown with a slightly crispy texture. If you like your cheese extra bubbly and golden, you can broil the pizza for an additional 1-2 minutes.
5. **Finish and Serve**: Remove the pizza from the oven and sprinkle with fresh torn basil or oregano. Season with a pinch of salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes, if desired. Slice and serve hot.
This classic cheese pizza, with its stretchy, melted mozzarella and golden crust, is the perfect comfort food, simple yet bursting with flavor from the fresh herbs and rich cheeses.
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