Ten years of pizza!

Tony and I recently noted that it's been ten years since Sam was born, ten years since I was nursing him multiple times a day/night, ten years since I would read anything I could get my hands on WHILE nursing him multiple times a day/night, and ten years since my aunt gave me a stack of food/cooking magazines to read for just that purpose. One in particular caught Tony's eye: an issue of "Intermezzo" Magazine that boasted a recipe for traditional Italian pizza! Tony's Italian ancestry was calling and he answered the call! (Here are Tony and Baby Sammy in April 2009.)

We already owned a pizza stone and peel thanks to Tony's grad school boss who gave them to us as a wedding gift. And guess what? The recipe was a hit on the first try and Tony has made it dozens of times since. It's been a fun weekend meal (with great leftovers) and a wonderful way for us to show family and good friends how much we care about them.

Our toppings are pretty tame...ranging from prosciutto and anchovies to mushrooms and kalamata olives. The kids like all of them, but "just cheese" remains a favorite. (See young Sam in the background??)

The recipe also has a little folklore attached to it because the original publication had an error (they failed to tell readers when to add the sugar), so I shot "Intermezzo" a quick email to let them know, and was sure to include a photo or two. Wouldn't you know it that Tony and Baby Sammy appeared in the very next issue's Letters to the Editor. We framed that sweet picture and my note and it's hung in both our NC and OH kitchens ever since.

One unintended result of Tony's tasty past-time is that our kids do NOT like regular, old American pizza. We tend to order delivery pizza only once or twice a year (tops!), and they belly-ache as soon as they find out. I should add that this is partly due to every single birthday they attend serving pizza, so they are pizza-ed out in general, but nonetheless, Tony's pizza would be their pick any day.

Brie even drew a picture of Tony's pizza making when she was four.

Of course, we introduced Sebastian to our family tradition when he was very small!

He has always LOVED to cook and bake, so pizza is always a thrill for him!

Time to help Dad!

Yum!

Last year, Sam included a pizza when designing his Cultural Heritage doll!

More pizza!!

Thanks for all the amazing meals, Dad!

Your pizza always gets two thumbs up!

Here's to ten years of delicious homemade pizza. Lucky us!!