Oh, the Toppings....

What is pizza without the toppings. While some people opt for the plain cheeze pizza, crazy combinations are half the fun for most pizza eaters. Pepperoni is by far America's favorite topping, (36% of all pizza orders). Approximately 251,770,000 pounds of pepperoni are consumed on pizzas annually. One of the more popular renditions of pizza is barbecue pizza, whic puts a spin on an old favorite. Gourmet toppings are gaining ground in some areas of the country such as chicken, oysters, crayfish, dandelions, sprouts, eggplant, Cajun shrimp, artichoke hearts and tuna. More recent trends include game meats such as venison, duck and Canadian bacon. US pizza makers have turned breakfast into a pizza-eating opportunity by adapting peanut butter & jelly, and, bacon & egg toppings to their pizzas. No matter what kind of pizza you prefer, there is always going to be one flavor that tickles your fancy.

How Long Should a Delivery Pizza Take?

Alright, so this posting is entirely based on a negative experienve of mine relating to delivery pizza. I, like many others, ordered two pizzas from My pizza was delicious, but if I would have known I would have had to wait as long as I did I would have made the walk myself.

Summer Dessert Pizza

This is another example of a dessert pizza. It is based on a light, sweet dough and is topped with a variety of fresh fruits, which are found at their peek during the summer. This pizza is a healthy and great addition to any get together or cook out for the summer months ahead.

Brownie Pizza Recipe

We all are well aware of the common types of pizza that people eat for meals, however, there are becoming more recipes for dessert pizza pies as well. There are some made with fruit and other toppings, chocolates and candies and anything you can ever imagine. Here is a recipe for a Brownie Pizza!

Ingredients:
1 package fudge brownie mix
6 ounces candy coated milk chocolate pieces
1 cup white chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Grease a 12" pizza pan. Prepare Brownie Mix according to instructions and add 1/2 cup of candy pieces. Bake at 350 for 15 - 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted is almost clean when removed. Immediately after removing from oven, press the remaining candies on top of the brownie. Melt the chips in the microwave on medium ( @ 50% power) for about 30 seconds. Stir and spoon into a plastic sandwich bag. Cut corner of bag and drizzle over the pizza. Slice into wedges and serve when completely cooled

Wow, Americans Really Love Pizza

In the United States pizza is a 30 billion dollar industry. A poll taken by the New York Times showed that 93% of Americans eat pizza atleast once a month. About 17% of all American restaurants are also pizzerias, where many people get take out or delivery pizza. Another popular aspect of the industry is obviously frozen pizza, with countless brands and styles flooding the shelves. Pizza has been integrated into the American culture, with most pizza being consumed on Super Bowl Sunday than any other "holiday". Pizza will definatly go into the history books as one of the most common foods in the United States, and of course as one of the most delicious.

Pizza Fit for the Obama's

During Obama's presidencial campaign he made a stop in a St. Louis pizza parlor called Pi. Obama personally called the restaurant telling him it was the best pizza he has ever eaten, and now he is reporting that wedensday the owners of Pi will be deliving a special order directly to the White House for the Obama family. Chris Sommers, owner of Pi, decided he will pick up the tab for the pizzas based on the large fluctuation in business he has. Who wouldn't want to eat Obama's favorite pizza anyway. One of the menu items at the shop is also Brocolli O'Bama pie.

The Ultimate Pizza Party

One of the most common ways to celebrate an event is a good ol' fashion pizza party. Whether it is to celebrate a victory, end of a year, or just a get together, pizza is a great food that basically everyone enjoys. The classic pizza party consists of delivery pizza, paper plates and napkins, and plenty of soda. While it may not be the most healthy and luxurious combination it is certainly a fun way to enjoy a joyous occasion

Children's Songs About Pizza

Pizza Shop
Down around the corner in the pizza shop
There were lots of pieces of pizza with pepperoni on top
Along came (child's name) all alone
He (or She) bought one that had (# of pepperonis) pepperoni
And took it home
Note: Do this with a pizza drawing (or feltboard) removing a piece of pizza with the specified number of pepperonis with each verse.

Pizza and Pop
Pizza and Pop, Pizza and Pop
When I get started I just can't stop
The smell is delicious, The taste extra yummy,
I love it the most when it gets to my tummy……yummy

From Fast Food to Health Food: Pizza Gets a Makeover

Food chemists at the University of Maryland researched the ingredients and cooking strategies of the humble pizza in order to develop a healthier food. Ramping up the baking temperature from 200C to 290C caused antioxidants to jump by as much as 82%. And baking for 14 minutes instead of seven caused a further 60% rise. By creating a healthier pizza, it can may reduce heart disease and cancer in many Americans. This popular food, if altered to be healthier, can eventually have a larger impact on public health. Other ways to improve pizza would be using whole wheat flour, fresh tomatoe sauces, and limiting the amount of cheese on the pizza.

Celebrating 50 Years at Pizza Hut

On May 31st, 1958 two college kids opened a restaurant called Pizza Hut in Wichita, Kansas. The brand built its name and continued to grow in midwest area. By 1967 the Pizza Pete dolls arrived in the restaurants, which were hot collectable items. By 1971 Pizza Hut becomes the number one pizza restaurant chain in the world in both sales and number of restaurants. In 1989 Pizza Hut had the honor of being the first pizza delivered to the White House on the order of Barbara Bush. By 1990 delivery sales reached over 1 billion dollars. Pizza Hut is a household name and internationally known chain for providing quality product.

The Six Commandments of Pizza

1. The Oven: Places that tout "brick" ovens need an extra layer of investigation. Don't fall for a brick facade (they could be faux, or just be a few slapped on to encase the outside). For an oven to reach 800 degrees -- the magical number -- and stay there, it needs to be lined along the top and floor with bricks (and/or stones).
2. The Fuel Source: Coal-fired and wood-fired ovens seem to produce the best charred-to-perfection texture and smoky flavor. Conventional gas ovens linger at 600 degrees (not hot enough).
3. The Crust: A superior crust is neither cracker-thin nor bread-thick. It should be puffy, chewy, pliant, and like a great football defense—able to bend but never break.
4. The Sauce: Uncooked canned tomatoes, specifically from California or Italy, are what you want. After being strained, they just need a touch of salt. Maybe some oregano. Some people throw in sugar, but if the tomatoes are truly fresh, they don't need that nonsense.
5. The Mozzarella: Fresh cow's milk mozzarella will have a clean, milky taste. And how do you know it's fresh? It's white. Aged mozzarella, on the flip side, found at most American pizza joints, is a sort of "pizza yellow."
6. The Toppings: Always fresh. Always worth the extra calories. If all the mushroom slices or sausage pieces look exactly the same, that's a bad sign. Fresh foods don't look cookie-cutter perfect, and in toppings, fresh makes all the difference.

Mexican Pizza: Rachael Ray Style

INGREDIENTS
12 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded (3 cups)
4 ounces monterey jack cheese, shredded (1 cup)
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
12 small flour tortillas
3/4 cup finely chopped onion
Two 15.5-ounce cans red kidney beans, rinsed
Salt and pepper
One 8-ounce jar taco sauce
One 4.5-ounce can chopped green chiles
One 3 1/2-ounce package cooked chorizo sausage, thinly sliced

Preheat the oven to 375°. In a medium bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups cheddar with the monterey jack and set aside.2. Brush a rimmed baking sheet with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Arrange 6 tortillas on the sheet so that the surface is covered, overlapping as needed. Sprinkle the remaining 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese evenly over the tortillas, leaving a 1/2-inch border on all sides; cover with the remaining 6 tortillas, overlapping as needed. Prick the top layer with a fork and bake until the tortillas begin to brown, about 10 minutes.3. In a large skillet, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until golden-brown, about 10 minutes. Add the beans and 1/4 cup water and mash until the beans are soft and the liquid is absorbed, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.4. Spread the bean mixture over the tortillas, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Top with the taco sauce, chiles, chorizo and reserved cheese mixture. Bake until the cheese is melted, 25 to 30 minutes.

Top 10 Best Pizza Places in Chicago

Chicago is internationally known for having Deep Dish Pizza. These handmade gourmet pizzas are legendary for having a buttery crust, ripe and tangy tomatoes, perfectly melted mozzarella, and occasionally the perfectly seasoned sausage. The Chicago Tribune printed up a top 10 list of restaurants in Chicago that serve up the best slices around.

1. Bricks Chicago
2. Edwardo's Natural Pizza
3. Lou Malnatis's Pizza- River North
4. Pizza D.O.C.
5. Pizzeria Due
6. Pizzeria Uno
7. The Art of Pizza
8. The Original Gino's East of Chicago
9. Trattoria Pizzeria Roma
10.Trattoria Roma

These are some places you should be sure to keep in mind if you ever want a true taste of Chicago.

Oprah's Loves Her Pizza... Enough to do a Segment of Her Show about Pizza

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPQAGnpZ5Cs

This clip is from Oprah's Show, which explores pizza toppings from around the world and they explore one of Chicago's best pizza joints. It's interesting to watch because its quite a departure from the normal topics of the show, and also you get to see how widespread pizza actually is around the world.

California Pizza Kitchen

California Pizza Kitchen is a chain restaurant that began in, where else, but California. The restaurant presents the thin crust style of pizza with innovative toppings, but also offers a variety of other dishes. Some of the most popular pizzas are Pesto Chicken, Thai Chicken, Jamaican Jerk Chicken, California Club, and Pear and Gorgonzola. The chain eases every craving, with simple slices such as Italian Tomato & Basil. With restaurants across the country everyone has access to these delicious pizza pies. California Pizza Kitchen also sells frozen pizzas in most grocery stores, to these creative combinations can be consumed in your own home.

California Pizza Kitchen

Pizza Delivery Guy Ranked Fifth as Most Dangerous Job

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, which categorizes pizza delivery drivers and taxi drivers as "drivers-sales workers," ranked it the fifth most dangerous job category.
In 2004, Pizza Hut fired a delivery person who shot and killed a robber while on the job, citing its company policy against employees carrying weapons. Other national chains such as Domino's also prohibit carrying weapons, though many independent pizzerias allow delivery persons to carry weapons in a legal manner. Employer restrictions on carrying weapons is a controversial issue in the U.S., where most states in the U.S. allow most citizens to carry concealed weapons in many circumstances. It is interesting to think about how dangerous it actually is to knock any countless doors every night delivery pizza, never knowing whose gonna answer and such. Hopefully the delivery guy gets a good tip rather than a bullet in the thigh.

A Healthy, Homemade Pizza Recipe

Easy Gourmet Pizza Recipe

1 14-inch homemade pizza dough
1/2 can organic, all-natural pizza sauce, such as Muir Glen
4 oz. fontina cheese, shredded
4 oz. smoked mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/4 cup turkey pepperoni
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. dried basil

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Prepare pizza dough, prebaking for 8 minutes as suggested in the recipe. Spread pizza sauce on top, followed by half of the cheeses, turkey pepperoni, sliced mushrooms, the other half of the cheeses, and spices. Bake 15-20 minutes or until bubbly.

Nutrition Facts of an Average Slice of Cheese Pizza

Nutrition Facts :
Serving Size: 1 slice (3.6 oz)

Calories 272
Calories from Fat 88
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 9.8g
15%
Saturated Fat 4.4g
22%
Cholesterol 22mg
7%
Sodium 551mg
23%
Total Carbohydrate 33g
11%
Dietary Fiber 1.8g
7%


While this is your average slice of pizza, there can be healthier and less healthier slices of pizza depending upon the dough for the pizza, sauce, and amount/types of cheese used. Pizza is good in moderation, but people often forget what moderation is. The truth is if you are watching your weight be mindful of your decisions, and limit yourself and understand what exactly you are eating. You can control the oils and ingredients in your pizza if you make it yourself, which can trim off calories here and there. The important thing is not to swear off pizza completely just because you are following some sort of diet.

Factoid!

Americans eat approximately 100 acres of pizza each day, or 350 slices per second.

That's a lot of cheese.

Most Expensive Pizza

While for most Americans pizza is an inexpensive and convenient option to please the masses, chef Domenico Crolla decided to change things up a bit. He transformed this low budget meal into a culinary masterpiece, topping the 12 inch pizza with lavish ingredients such as lobster marinated in cognac, caviar soaked in champagne, Scottish smoked salmon, venison medallions, and other outlandish ingredients. Chef Crolla decided to auction this decadent pizza on Ebay to raise funds for Fred Hollows Foundation. One hungry bidder won the auction, and payed a staggering $4,200 American dollars for the prized pizza pie. While this style of pizza won't be found at your local Pizza Hut, it's now an option for the superwealthy to spend equivalent amounts of money for a used car on a pizza.

The Art That is Pizza

Pizza is one food that has been played with more than any other. From a simple cheese and tomato sauce to bombarded frenzy of toppings, there is no end to possibilities of toppings or styles to create this popular dish. Originating from Italy, it has been "Americanized" with such toppings such as buffalo chicken. Pizza has come in many styles also from different regions, such as the "New York Slice", "Chicago Deep Dish", or the "Greek Thin Crust". While they all compete to be the best, there can't be one specific titan of the regional battles since it is up to personal taste.

Not Only In America...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9lvzzH0STw

Pizza has become a global phenomenom.... even in Russia

Even Barack Obama Loves a Hearty Slice

http://www.best-of-web.com/pages/080402-105912.html

In this photo, President Obama is sniped indulging a slice on the campaign trail in 2008.
While it may not be the must flattering photo captured, it reflects a man who likes his meal.

Americanized Delicousness

Pizza is one food that has been played with more than any other. From a simple cheese and tomato sauce to bombarded frenzy of toppings, there is no end to possibilities of toppings or styles to create this popular dish. Originating from Italy, it has been "Americanized" with such toppings such as buffalo chicken. Pizza has come in many styles also from different regions, such as the "New York Slice", "Chicago Deep Dish", or the "Greek Thin Crust". While they all compete to be the best, there can't be one specific titan of the regional battles since it is up to personal taste.