Pizza Party: Pizza Margherita

Is everyone getting ready for the big game?  Super Bowl Sunday Baby!  What’s your meal plan?  This week I have quite a few pizza recipes if you want to host a pizza party game day blast.  These are all easy to make and quite flexible if you have your own specific preferences.  Everyday this week a new recipe.

Let’s start with Dave Barry’s Super Bowl party tips, just in case you didn’t see them in USA Weekend.

Everything you need for a perfect Super Bowl bash:

BEER.  You should have a lot of beer, in case the game is hideously boring.  Call up your guests and ask what kind they prefer.  If they say “light” beer, you should tell them they are no longer invited, because you are NOT going to have light beer if you want me to show up.

CHIPS.  This is the SUPER BOWL, baby. It demands dangerous potato chips, chips so full of harmful substances that they sometimes spontaneously burst into flames.  Also, there is no need to get all Martha Stewart-y and put chips into bowls.  Each guest should have a bag so people don’t have to reach for the bowl, which can lead to exertion.

NO VEGETABLES.  Scientists believe vegetables are the result of something called “photosynthesis.”  We do not know enough about this yet to risk ruining your Super Bowl party.

A TV SET.  Not totally necessary, if you have enough beer.

Enjoy the following very basic but super good Margherita pizza. This will be a favorite.

Part one of our Pizza Party extravaganza!  Get excited. This one HAS to be my favorite although I’ve got so many more to go. Could they possibly get any better?!

By Chef John Coletta Quartino  of Ristorante & Wine Bar in Chicago

Make 1 8 – 10 inch round pizza

• 4 oz flour
• 10 oz pizza dough
• 4 – 6 oz pizza sauce
• 2 TBS torn basil, no stems
• 6 oz mozzarella cut into thin slices
• 2 TBS extra virgin olive oil
• 6 fresh basil leaves

Dust a clean surface with flour.  Put pressure on dough with 8 fingers, no thumbs beginning at center of ball toward exterior. Enlarge the dough by making it spin on hand (this of course did not work for me).

Spread pizza sauce on stretched dough, making sure to leave 1 inch margin along border for crust.

Top with hand torn basil.  Distribute mozzarella evenly on interior of pizza, leaving a 1/2 inch border.  Drizzle with olive oil.  Put in a preheated 500 F oven for 8 – 10 minutes.  Remove and put whole basil leaves on top. Serve immediately.

Fresh and vibrant. I love tomato based pizzas and this one is so simple with three flavors: tomato sauce, fresh basil, and fresh Buffalo mozzarella.  It doesn’t get any better.

*Make sure to keep the pizza crust thin.  Let it rest after spreading in the pan, it will shrink, then form it again before spreading with sauce.

If you have a favorite pizza recipe, this is the week to share it.  The last day of the pizza posts, I’ll put your recipe suggestions for all to see.