Some of my fondest and earliest memories are of pizza. I grew up in Kansas City, and although that town wasn't known for its pizza, my parent's home was. Kansas City has lots of culinary offers, but pizza isn't one of them, so my parents took it upon themselves to perfect what I now know as my basic pizza recipe.
It wasn't deep dish, but it did have a crust that was a solid two inches thick, piled high with copious amounts of cheese, meats and seasonal vegetables. This was always the go-to meal when any of us needed comforting. It's the one time I'm not afraid to say I ate my feelings happily and heartily. That thing was baked with love, joy and tradition.
At a young age I was given cheese browning duty. My only mission for the next 20-30 minutes was to sit in front of the oven and watch for the cheese to turn that beautiful shade of brown and holler before it got any darker. It was a badge of honor and I'm sure it kept me out from underfoot.
When I left home for the first time, I took very few possessions, but one important thing I did take was a large deep dish pizza pan with a removable bottom, and the family pizza recipe. It's a recipe that to this day my folks don't give out. I know it by heart, and although I make pizza at home differently now, there are very little foods that provide such deep comfort and nostalgia as pizza.
Did your family have any pizza traditions? Share your warm, cheesy memories in the comments below.
Related: Smart Tip: Make Your Own Frozen Pizzas
(Image: Flickr member Dawn Ashley licensed for use by Creative Commons)
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Growing up in the tri-state area, delicious pizzerias and Italian restaurants abounded - so takeout pizza for dinner was a fun weekend dinner about once a month.
When I was a bit older, in high school, and my parents went on vacation, my older sister would come to stay with me and we would have "pizza picnics" on a Friday night. We would order a thin-crust cheese pizza, I would go out to pick it up, and when I got back, she had our "picnic" arranged - diet cokes, plates, and napkins set up on the family room floor. We would watch a movie or Law and Order marathon together. 15 years later, we still enjoy sisterly bonding over some slices!
My dad used to make homemade pizza from scratch, and pizza night with my mom was always fun because it was a treat to get to make our own little pizzas on Boboli and eat in front of the TV, a once-a-week treat to watch Friends.
I have a few favorite pizza variations, my most frequently used is the pan pizza recipe from America's Test Kitchen--it's almost a deep dish pizza, but not quite so heavy, and I cook it in my cast iron pan, which makes for an amazing crust. In the summer I like to grill pizza, which is always fun and I think I finally found a thin-crust dough I like. I plan to try that recipe again this fall using my cast iron pan upside down as a pizza stone (mine broke several years ago, too cheap to replace it, and the cast iron works excellently).
We didn't get pizza at home, ever--unless Mom ruined dinner. It was a rare event (my Mom is a good cook), but every now and then, total kitchen disaster would strike. Then she'd sigh, and yell for my father to "call Smitty's." It was his job to order and retrieve the pizza (no delivery). So until I moved to NYC, pizza was sort of a sad dinner. Now, it means movie night with my little one.
I guess it goes without saying that you won't be sharing that recipe... :)
does eating frozen pizza with cottage cheese and salad count!? ALWAYS cottage cheese. six kids, Totinos pizza... so gross now, but then it was HEAVEN! with cottage cheese!
Jiffy pizza dough mix, shredded yellow cheddar, cheap pepperoni, and canned "pizza sauce." A pizza best left in the past. :-)
I grew up in California with a Korean born mother, who got a taste for pizza when she was pregnant with me (I like to say my love for pizza started in the womb). The only pizza she liked was from Round Table, so that is what the pizza of my childhood tastes like. These days I make pizza at home and I even made it for Christmas Eve at my mom's, and she approved! It was like the best Christmas gift!
My family would always go to my godparents' on Monday nights during football season. All their friends were there, a game was on and there was always homemade pizza in the oven. Pepperoni, sausage and mushroom, still my go-to pizza topping combo. My godfather would let all the kids help to make the pizzas and then we'd go out and watch the game while the adults hung out.
Smittys? You don't happen to mean Smith's Tavern in Voorheesville, New York, do you?
We never made pizza at home. Pizza for us meant Pizza Hut as that was the closest one to us. I do have fond memories of going to Papa Ginos, though.
Also we ate lots of Ellio's as it was cheap and what we could afford. I haven't had that in years and I feel I would be disappointed if it ate it again.