Can I have the pizza with the most bread?

I can't make this stuff up. Tonight I was sitting at Pizza Hut with a few friends and some of their friends. I was sitting across from this blond girl that appeared to be terribly stupid. I say she appeared to be terribly stupid because while we were looking through the menu she saw the thing in the menu about a 15% gratuity added to tables of 8 or more. She goes, "wow that is so nice of them to give us a discount." Like I said I can't make this stuff up.

When we were ordering pizza this girl goes "Well what kind of pizza is that? I don't like the thick kind that's too greasy." There are very few people that actually like thin crust pizza. The very stupid people, like this girl, and the health conscious people who are into suffering for their heart's sake.

As you know I am a fan of bread. I can recall more than one instance that, when I was little and heard that people in prison got bread and water, I thought well that's not so bad; I would happily live off of bread and water. Give me a baguette and I will be one happy girl. When it comes to pizza Sicilian pizza has enough dough for my tastes. I don't mind slightly less dough, but really I think the bread is the best part; so I'd rather not eat my pizza on a cracker thin crust.

I suppose there are some people who are popular and pretty who have convinced themselves that greasy pan pizza does not taste that good, because it's messy or fattening. I can't say I have ever been in that crowd. I would rather have a red candy apple face than play it clean and drink a mocha latte with the cool crowd. If the food tastes good it's worth getting messy for. Now I understand that there are times when health really should come first, but enjoying a little treat of greasy pizza probably won't kill you.

As I was eating the pizza tonight I couldn't help but think of all of the fresh tomatoes sitting on our counter at home. One of my favorite treats made with fresh tomatoes is a homemade bruschetta. The Italian word literally means to roast over coals. I am not sure how that translates into the bruschetta I know and love. To make my bruschetta I buy a French baguette or make one if I have some extra time. I cut it in half the long way and put it under the broiler in the oven. If your grill is already going just place it on the grill for a few minutes. The goal is to slightly toast the bread while still leaving the middle soft.

Before you mess with the bread get the tomatoes ready. Cut the tomatoes into pieces on the smaller side(probably a medium to small dice). Mince some fresh garlic(a good brushetta leaves your breath horrid all day no matter how much you brush your teeth, but it is so worth it). Julienne, or cut smallish some basil. All of these things, minus the garlic, are growing happily in my mom's garden right now, so make sure if you buy them at the store that they look fresh and are even possibly local. You can add some peppers or onions or pretty much whatever else you want or like to this mixture. I like keeping it simple, but bruschetta is sort of like pizza; you really can't go wrong if it tastes good. Add some olive oil, salt, and pepper to the tomatoes, garlic, and basil. You can also add some balsamic vinegar, but I'm not a big fan of balsamic so I normally leave that flavor out.

Add some olive oil to the slightly toasted bread and pour/scoop the tomato mixture onto the bread. You can top it with a little bit of fresh Parmesan or mozzarella. I like to stick the bruschetta back under the broiler once everything is on it, but right now with the tomatoes and all of the ingredients at their freshest, you could just eat it with the tomato mixture cool and fresh. Try not to eat the whole thing and remember to buy a nice thick loaf French because the bread is such an important part.

If you are fond of thin crusted pizza, I apologize for making your choices sound foolish. It is not that I am completely against thin crust pizza; it is just that given the choice I would go for the bread every time. I'm a dough hoe what can I say.

Happy Eating!!!

Emily