Ever had one of those nights?
“What do you want for dinner?” you ask innocently. Then you’re pummeled with enough answers to keep you working as a short order cook until the kids graduate from college? Here’s a tip–and this is experience speaking –it’s time for a personal pizza night.
Start by saying, “Yes, your majesties,” and bowing politely, then shuffling backwards into the kitchen. (The alternative is to grab some bonbons and retreat to your bed with a novel, but if you’re in a good mood, proceed to the kitchen.) Open the fridge. What do you see? Leftover Mexican beef from Monday’s nachos? Grab it. Bacon from breakfast? Grab it, too. Mushrooms? A jar of jalapenos? Salami from the hors d’oeuvres on game night? Good. All good. Grab it. If you see any leftover spaghetti sauce or Alfredo, pull it out, too. Otherwise, you’ll need can of tomato sauce. And cheese. Any kind–lots of it. Voila. You have a regular toppings bar in your own kitchen! Who woulda’ thought?
Now, for the crust you have options. If you’re in a rush, a loaf of French bread, sub rolls, tortillas, or even toast will work. If you have no bread, you may have to resort to homemade crust (yum). Here’s my recipe:
1 c lukewarm water
2 t yeast
1 t salt
1 T sugar
1 T oil
2.5 c flour
Mix water and yeast and let sit for 2 minutes. Add all ingredients and knead for 10 minutes. Cover and let stand, still, at room temperature, for one hour. Knead and let sit again for 15 minutes. Divide into small, individual pizzas (heart shapes are fun) and bake 10 minutes at 350 on a pan dusted with corn meal.
With individual crusts (real, bread, or otherwise), and all your toppings, lay out a pizza buffet for the family. Call them in to make their pizzas. A good trick to keep the kids from fighting over whose is whose once they come out of the oven–and they will–is to arrange the toppings to draw initials on the pizza.
Please explain this to your family: sauce first, then cheese, then toppings. A small fistful of cheese can go on top. No throwing food. Mark pizza tops with initials. Go watch TV.
Let the pizzas cook for 10 minutes in your 350 degree oven, then cool and serve.
Viva le leftovers!