Ah, glorious pizza, a delightful staple in modern American cuisine. The art of pizza making has been taken to the next level with stuffed crust, garlic butter dipping sauce, specialty cheeses, not so common toppings and fusion themes. Have you ever tried a spicy Thai chicken pizza? How do people come up with these ideas?
Making pizza at home is an experience everyone should try. In my kitchen, we find ourselves using anything from homemade herb dough to tortillas for a pizza base. Making a pizza doesn’t require special ingredients or much time. Instead, pizza construction requires creativity and a willingness to experiment. When you open the refrigerator door and all you have is a tortilla, why not make a pizza quesadilla? Leftover naan or pita also work as great impromptu bases. When we are on long kayaking trips we often take Greek pitas with us as a base for quick pizzas in the field. IF I’m in a rush, I use cheater dough from Trader Joes, Whole Foods Market or PCC, but I make sure the ingredients label is short and includes real ingredients. If you want to dive in and go all the way, try one of the Moosewood Cookbook recipes or a recipe on the web. If you do not eat gluten, visit the gluten free girl’s blog for a wonderful pizza dough recipe.
Step away from the base for a moment and contemplate with me all of the delicious toppings you could include: fresh herbs (basil, yum), goat cheese, leftover salad fixings (spinach, peppers, olives, zucchini), onions, leftover Indian food with a dot of chutney, mushrooms, taco fixings, or just about anything rolling around in the refrigerator.
The homemade pizza is also a wonderful meal to share with friends at a dinner party. Because pizzas are so hands on, everyone can be involved, it brings out the children in us and often makes for a very memorable and fun evening.
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