Celebrating Pizza

Although you may have eaten quite a few pizzas in your lifetime and even made a handful, did you realize there is an entire month devoted to celebrating this widely popular and incredibly diverse food?

October was designated as National Pizza Month in the US back in 1987 but you do not have to wait for autumn to start your pizza celebration, as any time of year is perfect for enjoying this simple but delicious food.

Americans eat an estimated 46 slices of pizza per year eating the food at least one time each month. However, pizza could be eaten every day of the month and you would never have to have the same kind twice since there are so many different ways of making it.

From Brooklyn, Chicago, and New England styles to vegetarian to meat lovers to strictly cheese, there are countless ways to make pizzas. Although the components may be simple, the dough, sauce, and toppings, the combination's of ingredients are endless.

For your own pizza celebration get creative with the toppings you use and commit to making a different type at least once per week. No matter which toppings you prefer most, the general rule of thumb is less is more when it comes to making pizzas with a crisp crust. Precooking some vegetables such as onions will help to cut down on the water content which leads to soggy, unappetizing pizzas.

Another unique way to celebrate pizza is to throw a BYOT (Bring Your Own Toppings) party. You supply the dough and the sauce as well as all the supplies needed such as bowls, rolling pins, spoons, pizza stones and cutters, baking sheets, and flour and cornmeal.

Inform guests they are to bring their favorite toppings along with extras like pizza pans. Set up a station, a large dining room table will work, and have everyone make their own signature style pizza.

Once everyone's pizza has cooked they can be cut, shared, and sampled amongst all the guests. You might also want to have a few recipe cards on hand so the chefs can write down the ingredients and method used giving everyone a new recipe to take home.

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon butter

1/2 cup onion, chopped

1/4 cup celery, finely chopped

1 medium garlic clove, finely minced

1 8 ounce can plain tomato sauce

1 6 ounce can tomato paste

3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 small to medium sized bay leaf

1 teaspoon fennel seed

In a large skillet, melt the olive oil with the butter then add the chopped onions and celery and the minced garlic and saute until all are soft and translucent.

Stir in the tomato sauce and paste and mix until smooth.

Add the grated Parmesan, basil, oregano, salt, sugar, black pepper, bay leaf, and fennel seeds, mix well, and bring to a slow simmer.

Simmer the sauce mixture for at least 30 minutes, preferably longer for a full bodied, rich tomato taste.

Remove the bay leaf from the pizza sauce and discard. Spread thickly on 1 medium sized pizza crust or thinly on 2 crusts.

Serves 4 to 6.

You can never go wrong with pizza as just about everyone can find a type to become their favorite with so many choices of dough, sauce, and toppings to use. A fruit pizza recipe is the perfect solution for a refreshing treat whether you're having guests or just want a cool treat to have after dinner as dessert.