Saturday, January 17, 2009

Fresh Pizza - Mangia!


I have decided to start this year off with my favourite thing to cook. Homemade Italian style pizza. I love making pizza and it is probably what I am most famous for amongst my family and friends. When we are out as a family and should we happen to indulge in some store bought or restaurant pizza inevitable it is always compared to mine.
In case your curious the photograph at the top of my blog was taken in Caserta, Italy. This little place ,I believe would equate to the local pizzeria's here in Canada. Somehow I wish pizzerias in Canada were all this inviting and charming. I have eaten pizza all over Italy, and I must say some of the best pizza I ever had is found there, including a little restaurant in Naples called Brandi's. It is the home of the Marguerita pizza. This is a lovely pizza consisting of a fresh homemade dough, fresh tomatoes, fresh mozzerella and fresh basil. Fresh ingredients are key to a great Italian pizza. Cooked perfectly in a woodburning oven. Marguerita pizza was named after Queen Marguerita who visited Naples in 1889. I know for many they may be disappointed with Italian pizza especially if you love our Canadian counterpart with its thick crust and numerous toppings. However, for me nothing compares to Italian pizza with it's fresh ingredients and its thin crust. I love to recreate these fabulous pies in my own kitchen.