As we all can attest to, the year of 2020 has been anything but traditional. Back in January I had grand plans for trips, events, gatherings, and activities we would do this year. I spent much of 2019 pregnant and with a newborn, so 2020 was MY YEAR!
Wellllll…I’m sure it comes as no surprise that many of those activities didn’t happen. Trips we had planned needed to be cancelled; loved one’s weddings were put on hold; holiday celebrations were different; and even our day to day with work, daycare, and family interactions completely changed.
But I’m a “the glass is half full” kinda person.
And while a lot didn’t get to happen, many things did happen. I re-connected with friends I didn’t talk to often enough through group video chats. Virtual family game nights were a regular occurrence with family that lived 9 hours away. We had time to sit outside and have drinks with our neighbors from our own respective lawns. I tried new recipes and baked a lot of cakes. Soooo many cakes. And we started a new weekly tradition. Pizza Friday.
Why I Love Homemade Pizza
As I often talk about, I love to cook. I find experimenting with recipes and trying new techniques and flavors really fun. I also like making my own food because then I know exactly what is in it and how it was prepared. You can read more about why I like cooking my own meals here.
So one of my favorite things to cook is homemade pizza. Pizza is truly so easy and versatile. My dad would argue that only crust + sauce + cheese + pepperoni = pizza, but I respectfully disagree. Sure all pizza needs a crust of some sort, but then the rest is up to you. The world is your oyster!
Plus it’s a fun activity we can do together as a family. My son loves making his own little pizza. I meannnn sometimes he just repeatedly rolls the dough out into a small disc, smashes it, and and then squeezes it into a snake. Whatevs! He’s in the kitchen and participating in the cooking. I would like to believe this will lead to him enjoy being in the kitchen and cooking as he gets older.
How To Do Pizza Fridays
Most Fridays (or Thursday nights) I start my day by quickly making my go-to pizza dough. You can check out the recipe below. This dough is super simple. You just need to plan ahead a tiny bit because it needs about 10 hours to rise.
Easy Pizza Dough:
Combine:
- 3 1/4 cups flour
- 1/4 (1 packet) active dry yeast
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature for 10-12 hours or overnight. Dough should have doubled in size.
Fast forward 10-12 hours and it’s time to make the pizza. You can use a sheet pan or a pizza stone. I’ve done both. A sheet pan is more convenient (and better for toddler pizzas) but a pizza stone leads to a crispier crust. If using a sheet pan I suggest lining it with parchment paper. If using a pizza stone I typically preheat my oven with the pizza stone inside, prepare my pizza on a pizza peel and toss the pizza onto the stone in the oven. I often also make my own pizza sauce in a Vitamix (because I like to sneak in spinach). You can find that recipe here.
Below are my pizza making necessities. These could make a great gift for anyone who might want to start a pizza making tradition of their own.
My Favorite Pizza Recipes
Here are some of my favorite pizza recipes that I’ve made manyyyyyy times and can attest to their deliciousness.
Pizza Margherita: Katie Lee
Sausage Pan Pizza: Molly Yeh
Al Pastor Taco Pizza: Molly Yeh
Squash and Ricotta Pizza: Molly Yeh
Thai Chicken Pizza: Spicy Southern Kitchen
Clearly I very much enjoy Molly Yeh and all her amazing pizza recipes (I actually enjoy most of her recipes). Other flavor combos I have tried for pizza Friday include but are not limited to: zucchini + fresh mozzarella, macaroni and cheese , bacon, lettuce and tomato (BLT); and meatballs and marinara.
If you are like my father and repulsed by the thought of kale on pizza you can definitely stick with the tried and true. For a classic pizza just make the crust above, add some marinara sauce, and sprinkle on some cheese. Turn it into a fun family activity and make small individual pizzas where everyone gets to pick out their own toppings.
Gratitude for New Traditions
As the weather starts to get colder sticking around the home is still the most popular activity. And while I am not exactly looking forward to being locked indoors with my husband and tiny tots for endless hours this winter I am appreciative of the time I am getting to try new things with my family. I always try to reframe my thinking and practice gratitude for the opportunities life presents to me. Sometimes traditions evolve, grow, and sometimes new traditions are born out of the most unexpected circumstances. For my family 2020 has brought about pizza Fridays, something we look forward to week after week. And it’s a tradition I hope to continue.
I realize this post may not appear to quiet fit in with my typical health and wellness content but I think practicing gratitude is very important for our mental and holistic health. As we enter into November, the month of gratitude, I wanted to share a new tradition that has brought health and happiness to my family. Plus who doesn’t love a good pizza recipe?
Leave a comment with any new traditions you started this year, or maybe you have a great pizza recipe. I’m always open to trying something new!
Happy November and Happy Pizza Friday!
-Monica
