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

September 13, 2008

Mamma Mia Grill Your Pizza


Don't be afraid. Plan ahead, be prepared, have a backup plan, and most importantly, do not, under any circumstances, panic! Heed these words and you will succeed. Well, at least in grilling a pizza!

I was skeptical at first. I mean, soft raw dough on a piping hot grill grate? I was so sure it would fall right through I had Round Table on speed dial. But after reading Heidi's Pizza Post, I decided to go for it. I'm so glad I did because it was so much fun and it really worked! I used Deb's recipe for the dough as a guideline, I doubled it and replaced half of the flour with whole wheat. It was my first attempt at homemade pizza dough and it was so simple I will never use store-bought again! I rolled it out a little thicker than I normally would to promote stability, and formed 2 oval crusts. I prepared the sauce and all of the toppings ahead of time, knowing that when the grill was up to heat it would be a race to the finish.


We grilled some italian sausage and portabello mushrooms along with our "indoor pizza staples," onion, red and green peppers, and pepperoni. Once your grill is up to heat, take a calming breath, and go for it!

August 24, 2008

What's A Pizza?


On June 4th 1953, grocer Vic Cassano and his mother-in-law opened the first Cassano's Pizza in Kettering, Ohio. When Vic, a grocer, was trying to find investors for his new restaurant, he called on old friend and local businessman Jack Keyes. He came over to Jack's house, made him a pizza and said," You put up a thousand and I'll put up a thousand and we'll go into the pizza business." Jack's response was, "What's a pizza?"
After trying this strange new dish, Jack turned Vic down. Little did he know that soon Vick Cassano would open the first Cassano's Pizza King. Today there are over 33 locations in the Dayton, Ohio area along with a thriving frozen dough franchise.

I guess it's no use to mourn what could've been. You see Jack is Grandpa Jack, my husband's grandfather. If only he could have forseen that these thin slices of sauce, cheese, meat and vegetable would be the golden ticket to the prosperity of his family for generations to come!

So every Sunday, when I recreate Cassano's pizza at home, I think about what could have been. I won't be the wife to the heir of pizza empire after all but at least I have a wonderful grandpa by the name of Jack Keyes, the greatest non-pizza mogul grandpa a girl could ever ask for.
And this great recipe for pizza sauce.

Cassano's Style Pizza Sauce
1 6oz can of tomato paste
1 8oz can of tomato sauce
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp chopped fresh oregano
1 tbsp chopped fresh basil
1 tsp red pepper flakes

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Allow to sit at least 30 minutes before using.