National Pizza Party Day

Each year on the third Friday in May, millions of pizza lovers across the nation join in extolling the qualities of pizza on National Pizza Party Day.  Celebrate by inviting friends and family to share a night of fun at your favorite pizzeria.  Another way to celebrate is with a homemade pizza with fresh toppings or by having one delivered.

• In ancient Greece, Greeks enjoyed bread covered with oils, herbs, and cheese.
• In Byzantine Greek, the word was spelled “πίτα”, pita, meaning pie. 
• A sheet of dough topped with cheese and honey, then flavored with bay leaves was developed by the Romans.
• The modern pizza had its beginning in Italy as the Neapolitan flatbread.
• The original pizza used only mozzarella cheese, mainly the highest quality buffalo mozzarella variant which was produced in the surroundings of Naples.
• It was estimated that the annual production of pizza cheese in the United States in 1997 was 2 billion pounds.
• The first United States pizza establishment opened in 1905 was in New York’s Little Italy.
• Pizza has become one of America’s favorite meals.

Making a pizza from scratch is a low-budget family favorite that tastes so good. You can make a pizza with hardly any fuss and it allows everyone to pitch in to mix and match toppings that suit each family member’s tastes. Serves 8. Makes 2 pizzas

Ingredients: 

1 pkg (1/4 oz) active dry yeast

1 cup warm water (110 to 115 degrees)

2 tablespoons vegetable oil 

1 teaspoon salt 

1 teaspoon sugar 

2 3/4-3 1/4 cups flour 

Sauce:

1 15 oz can tomato sauce 

1/2 cup onion, chopped 

3/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning 

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 

1/4 teaspoon salt 

1/8 teaspoon pepper 

My Toppings:

1/2 lb bulk Italian sausage, cooked and drained 

1 4 oz can of mushroom stems and pieces, drained 

1 medium green pepper, sliced

1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded 

Directions:

Preheat the oven 375F.

In a mixing bowl dissolve the yeast in water, then add the oil, salt, sugar and 2 cups of water. Beat with a hand mixer on medium speed for 3 minutes. Stir in the remaining flour to form a soft dough ball. Transfer to a floured surface and kneed until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes.

Place in a greased bowl, turn once to grease the top. Cover and let rest in a warm place for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, combine sauce ingredients, set aside. Divide the dough in half and on a floured surface roll each portion into a 13” circle. Transfer to greased 12” pizza pans; build up edges slightly. Bake for 15 minutes or lightly browned. Spread sauce over hot crusts, sprinkle with sausage, mushrooms, green peppers and cheese. Bake for 20 minutes or until cheese melts. Yum Yum!