Showing posts with label pizza. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pizza. Show all posts

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Combining Cheeses On Your Pizza

How many people enjoy cheese pizza? It is arguably one of the most popular versions of this much loved treat in all age groups. However, what makes a really good cheese pizza? What makes it the choice of so many people when they could fill it with all sorts of other toppings? The cheese makes all the difference.

Most people think of mozzarella when they think of pizza. This is a mild, creamy cheese that melts really well. Once melted, mozzarella stretches, creating that signature cheese stretch that we all look for in a classic pie. You should use fresh mozzarella for the best results. It is a fresh cheese that is ready to eat only a day or two after being started. It is usually too soft to shred. However, do not stop there; mozzarella does better when it has friends.

Another traditional cheese to use is parmesan. It adds a lot of zing when you sprinkle it on top of your next one. An aged cheese, parmesan is formed into large, hard wheels of cheese that is then sliced into wedges and sold. You can also get it at the market already grated. Parmesan has a firm place in the history of pizza.

There are lots of other cheeses that also add depth of flavor to this treat. After all, the perfect cheese should make the most of as many types of cheese as you dare to add. Perhaps you want to try creating one yourself at home. If so, you may want to consider some of the following cheeses.

Provolone is a creamy cheese from Italy made from cow’s milk. It blends well with other cheeses. It has a stronger flavor than mozzarella, but it stretches very well, so it is always a good choice. Good provolone is aged at least 4 months. Smoked provolone is also available if you like a smoky flavor on your pie.

Asiago is similar to parmesan, but it has a mildly spicy flavor. It is an aged cheese that has a hard texture, so it is best for shredding or grating. Asiago adds a lot to the other cheeses on a top. You could also place paper thin slices on the top before baking for a different experience. The flavors of this cheese are very concentrated, creating a nice complexity of taste that makes your meal even better.

Feta cheese is great if you are making a truly gourmet pizza. Made from sheep’s milk or a combination of sheep and goat milk, feta is usually sold in crumbles or blocks. It varies in taste from mild to sharp. Adding crumbles of feta to the top adds a salty, tangy flavor to the combination of cheeses.

Cheddar cheese is not a typical cheese used on pizza unless it is blended with other varieties. This is because cheddar can burn easily under high heat. Cheddar comes in different strengths from mild to extra sharp. Cheddar cheese is one of the most popular cheeses in the world. Adding a little bit of shredded cheddar to your cheese mix adds color and flavor.

Grate all your cheeses and mix them together with the exception of any you are sprinkling over the top. Spread the cheeses liberally over the surface of your pizza and add some of your favorite dried herbs to complement it. Rosemary, thyme, basil, and parsley are good choices.

With homemade pizza recipes you never have to restrict your pizza toppings because you can make mix and match pizzas with all different toppings on which somehow go together wonderfully. We have some great ideas for pizza toppings at our site for you to use in your homemade pizza recipes.

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Monday, October 11, 2010

Creating A Delicious Pizza Sauce

If you are making your own pizza, you may want to try making your own sauce, too. However, what do you do? Where do you start? Should you just use sauce from a jar? Should you look for recipe? What is the best method to create the perfect pizza?

While plenty of people will just tell you to go get a jar of spaghetti sauce from the store, there are just as many people who will disagree with you. You will hear everything from which type of tomato is best to discussions about whether you should cook it or not. In fact, some delicious pizzas are made that only have a light drizzle of olive oil on top before you add your toppings.

Most people, however, think of a tomato-based sauce when they think of pizza. Fresh tomatoes from your garden or a local farm are best, but they are not always available. Second best would be canned plum or Italian tomatoes. Make sure the can does not say “Italian-style”… that is different. Even in cans, whole tomatoes are best for making sauce. If you like it smooth, you can use a food processor or blender after you remove the seeds.

Good pizza sauce is thick so it will not make your crust soggy. Use your favorite herbs to season it with. Oregano, basil and thyme all work well with tomatoes. At this point, you could use it as an uncooked style and spread it on your pizza. Many people prefer this method because it cooks with the pizza. If you prefer to cook your sauce on the stove, do not put the herbs in until later.

For a cooked version, you want to choose your pot carefully. Tomatoes are known for their acidity and will react with certain types of cookware such as iron or aluminum. Cooking can also thicken a thin sauce, but you must remember it will also change the flavor of it. Extra virgin olive oil works well in cooked verity.

Before you dump those tomatoes in, cook up some onions and garlic for your pizza sauce recipe. The onions will sweeten as they brown lightly, and the garlic adds flavor and depth. Saut them in butter or olive oil. When they are ready, add the tomatoes, and stir them together.

Season your sauce with salt and pepper and let it cook at a low simmer. You may need more later, so taste it before using it. Some cooks prefer adding just a little bit of sugar or honey to the sauce to help cut the acidity of the tomatoes. Not every palate agrees with this, so taste it first and see what you think. Sugar is a natural acid neutralizer. This is a nice way to get a delicious sauce if you like it a bit sweeter.

If you did not add herbs before this, add them now. Other herbs you can use besides those previously mentioned include cayenne, fennel, and parsley. Dig into your cupboard and see what sounds good. You can also use balsamic vinegar, wine, or beef stock to get a more robust flavor.

With homemade pizza recipes you never have to restrict your pizza toppings because you can make mix and match pizzas with all different toppings on which somehow go together wonderfully. We have some great ideas for pizza toppings at our site for you to use in your homemade pizza recipes.

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Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Unusual Pizza Facts

Pizza is one of America’s favorite foods. Whether you buy it in a restaurant or make your own, these delicious rounds full of cheese and other toppings are eaten all over the country every single day. Have you ever wondered about pizza? Here are a few interesting facts you may not know.

In the United States alone, did you know that people eat 350 slices of every second? It is true! This means that 100 acres of pizza are eaten in the US every day. This divides out to be 23 pounds of pie for each person in a year, or approximately 46 slices each. That is a lot of pizza!

One of the most popular toppings is pepperoni. Some other popular toppings include onion, green pepper, extra cheese, sausage, and mushrooms. Gourmet toppings are getting more popular every day. Today, you can find pies with tuna, duck, shrimp, venison, eggplant, oysters, sprouts, dandelions, and even crayfish. Almost any topping you have ever imagined has been tried on it, even mashed potatoes, bacon and eggs, and peanut butter and jelly.

In other countries, people prefer different toppings. For example, the most popular toppings in India are tofu, mutton, or pickled ginger. The most popular pizza topping in Russia is a combination of tuna, salmon, mackerel, sardines, and onions, whereas in Japan, they prefer mayonnaise, bacon and potato or squid.

Did you know that October is National Pizza Month? Approximately 94% of the population of the United States eats it on a regular basis. This equals around 3 billion pies that are ordered from restaurants in a year. Of course, there is no way to know how many are made at home, so the number enjoyed every year is astronomical! In fact, more pizza is eaten during Super Bowl week than any other time of the year.

There are plenty of pizza recipes you can use to make your own, or you can wing it. The best thing about making your own is you get to make up the menu, not some restaurant. You can put anything you want on yours, even if no one else agrees.

There are more grocery stores all the time who are selling pizza dough that you can use to make your own at home. As more people begin making their own pizzas, it will become easier and easier to find fresh dough to take home. Of course, you could also use readymade crusts if you want, but baking a fresh one makes your favorite fantastic.

If you have time, you can make everything from scratch. Dough can easily be made by hand or in a bread machine set to Dough Only. You can make homemade sauce from fresh garden tomatoes and herbs or you can combine various canned tomato products like puree, sauce, diced tomatoes and so on to make your own special sauce. Do not let those restaurants fool you; making pizza is fun and easy. It makes an excellent choice when you want your kids to get excited about cooking in the kitchen.

Many people would list Italian pizza as one of their favorite dishes and it is clear to see why a crispy pizza crust topped with a delicious pizza sauce and a selection of carefully chosen toppings hit the spot! As well at Italian pizza recipes at our site, you can find many others too.

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Monday, October 4, 2010

Ordering Your Pizza Online

Ordering pizza online has never been easier. Do not bother with the phone. Just get online, choose your favorite search engine, and look up the website for your favorite pizzeria. Lots of pizzeria restaurants now accept online ordering every day. Just think… a hot, fresh pizza is as close as your computer and its keyboard.

There are websites available for Domino’s, Pizza Hut, and Papa John’s as well as many others. The websites are set up to let you order your meal online. The menu is listed right there, so you can easily make your choices without having to fumble around. Before you order, you will need to register with the site. Next time, all you will need to do is log in and you are ready to begin.

The website will need you to enter your address and phone number so they can confirm your order and make the delivery. Many restaurants will have extra features available when you place your order. Some let you calculate the calories in your dinner depending on each topping you add. Others give you access to coupons to save money or track the progress of your order.

At the Domino’s site, for example, you even find out who is making your meal, what time they are put in the oven and who will be delivering it to your door. Some people may say that online ordering takes all the personal aspects out of getting a pizza, but in fact, many customers are enjoying these options. Calling on the phone does not let you know who made your dinner!

All types of pizza can be ordered online, just like if you were ordering off the menu inside the restaurant. Providing people a way to order online has raised the profits for more than one pizzeria restaurant. You can find many companies now listed amongst the top online retailers all because they let customers order from their computer.

Online ordering is efficient and easy. You do not need to worry about someone misunderstanding you on the phone and writing down your order wrong. You can also adjust your order before you finalize it if you realize you did not want to spend that much. No embarrassment; just a quick click.

The pizza restaurants like the online ordering because they don’t need to have their staff spend time answering the phone and writing down orders. It helps them run more efficiently. The employees can spend most of their time filling the orders rather than taking them. This helps everyone get his or her meal faster.

Now that many people go everywhere with their iPhone or similar mobile device, online ordering can be done from anywhere. Just sign online, go to the website, and place your order. Before you know it, you will be enjoying a fresh hot meal. Since pizza is such a universal dish, it is simple for anyone to describe what they want without a problem. All you do is click your choices online and have your credit card ready. With this simple method of ordering, more people are enjoying more of it all the time.

How does traditional Sicilian pizza dough sound, or delicious deep dish pizza dough? Probably good enough to make your mouth water! Everyone has their own favorite pizza crust and if you fancy trying out some new pizza crust recipes, we have many different ones to tantalize your taste buds at our site.

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