Onward and Upward

I don’t remember who suggested using cheddar in pizza cheese, but it works. I added two ounces of cheddar to six ounces of mozzarella/provolone mix, and it came out very well. I was afraid there would be an odd conflict between the cheddar and the tomato sauce, but it worked out fine. The cheese laid down nicely, and it was chewy and had a little more flavor than usual. I couldn’t even see the cheddar in the finished product. The orange color disappeared into the mozzarella.

A place near me uses Muenster cheese, but it’s not nearly as good. Mike says his kids insist on cheddar.

I should have started mass-producing frozen pizza components long ago. It’s the only way to avoid wasting cheap Costco and Gordon Food Service ingredients.

I weighed out a bunch of two-ounce portions of sauce base, depositing each on a square of foil. I’m going to freeze them and vacuum-seal them. It’s a lot of aggravation, but I can get almost 50 portions from a $5.25 can. Let’s say they cost 12¢ each, which is an inflated figure. The cheese runs about $1.25. The flour is about 20¢. The olive oil is about 20¢. Add it up, and you get $1.77 for a better 12″ pizza than anything available in a restaurant. The cost of the yeast, sugar, salt, and seasonings is negligible.

The danged vacuum bags aren’t free, but they would have to cost a ton to make this anything other than a steal. You can always use foil.

I suppose women who have raised families will be amused to see someone so excited about home economics, but you know how men are. We order, we pay, and we tip generously. We go through the checkout line without coupons. We have no idea what’s on sale. Carping about pennies…that’s downright effeminate. Plus it’s work.

This is why cab drivers and waiters can’t stand women. It’s why a cab driver will drive past five women and pick up a man. But I guess it costs men a lot of money.

I think I may cut back on the white vinegar in the sauce. Next time:

2 ounces (weight) Stanislaus Super Dolce sauce
4 teaspoons cheap olive oil
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon dry oregano
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon white vinegar
water

I still think I’m on the right track when I say pizza sauce is more like salad dressing than pasta sauce.

Life is sweet. It’s good to succeed at something as important as pizza.