Enjoying Pizza Made at Home

Pizza is one of the most popular foods in America and there are many different ways to make it. When most people think of this tasty cheesy food, they think of flat bread that is baked in an oven and has various toppings. You can enjoy this delicacy in a restaurant or you can make it at home.

The first thing that you need to do when making your own is to prepare the crust. Dough has been made for centuries and making it can be difficult and can take a lot of time. When you make it at home, you do all the work by hand. To make it right, you need a large bowl in which to mix all the ingredients, a measuring cup and spoons, a large whisk or spoons that you can mix with, and a small towel on which you can wipe your hands between steps. To put it all together, you need to follow the recipe for the best results. When it is finished and kneaded, spread it onto a round pizza pan.

Next, you will need a good and tangy sauce. This is usually a tomato and herb based sauce that is easy to prepare at home. For the best sauce, you should use fresh tomatoes and herbs, olive oil, onions, and pepper and process them all in a saucepan until it reaches the texture and thickness that you desire. Now you are ready to spread it out on your prepared dough.

Now, you are able to put the toppings on your pizza. Because toppings vary by region and taste, they can be whatever you desire. They can include a variety of meats, such as pepperoni, chicken, hamburger, and even seafood on some gourmet style pizzas. You could add a variety of vegetables as well, such as fresh spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, pineapple, green peppers, and onions. No pizza is complete without cheese. This can be either put on before or after the other toppings, depending on how much you desire on your pie.

Other pizza options include dessert pizza, where you may use pizza crust or cookie dough, and place chocolate, cream cheese, pie filling, or other sweet or fruity toppings. It also includes breakfast, which usually includes cheese, eggs, bacon, and other breakfast meats. These are considered gourmet.

Now it is time to be baked and enjoyed. Most pizza is baked at around 400 degrees for between 10 and 20 minutes, depending on the crust thickness. When it is finished, cut it, serve it hot, and enjoy it.

Satisfying America's Pizza Love Affair

Americans have a love affair with food and one of the favorites is pizza. Various types are enjoyed all over the country with various traditional spices, crust styles, and the flavors of the different regions. The United States is home to four main styles.

The original style that came over from Italy with the immigrants is the Margherita, which is a Neapolitan style out of Naples, which is named for the queen of Savoy. To be able to have it called a true Margherita, you need to be certified by the Vera Pizza Napoletana Association. Traditionally, it has hand prepared and kneaded crust and is topped with fresh basil, mozzarella, and fresh tomatoes.

The New York style is a commonly enjoyed variation. The downtown Manhattan restaurant, Lombardi's, gave birth to the American-style pizza. It historically has been served in such large pieces that it is traditionally eaten folded down the center, lengthwise. The sauce is a simple tomato base and is usually eaten with just cheese, or with no more than two other toppings.

As you cross westward over the country, you come to Chicago where a unique style of pizza can be enjoyed. This is the deep dish, which is eaten with a fork because it is too thick to pick up with your fingers. The style was born at Pizzeria Uno by Ike Sewell and has a delicious butter crust and a sauce that is chunkier and sweeter than the New York style. The crust is placed up the sides of the pan, then is completely covered with cheese, then topped with layers of Italians sausage and more cheese, and covered with cheese. Chicago is also home to stuffed crust, which is topped with a layer of crust under the sauce. On this style, the crust often has to be pre-cooked due to its thickness.

Finally, there is the gourmet style that is served on the West coast and can usually be identified by the toppings, while you can tell the others apart by the crust. The non-traditional toppings include, but are not limited to, artichoke hearts, olive oil, oysters, and eggplant. Also included in the gourmet category are dessert and breakfast pizzas. Some toppings, such as eggplant, may need to be pre-cooked so that the crust does not get soggy.

Whether you are craving a simple meal or a meal with rustic and unique toppings, there is an American pie out there for you to enjoy anywhere you may be in the country. If you enjoy pizza, you will not be disappointed.