Almost as soon as the Johnson boys were old enough to have firm convictions and express strong opinions (I think all three of them were still under 5 at the time), they let us know that the inevitable two weeks of turkey leftovers, turkey soup, and turkey goulash associated with Thanksgiving had become an unbearable burden for them. Could we do something less poultry-oriented this year? (All my sons were born with a preference for red meat, just like their dad.)
So, some 15 years ago or so, we started a new tradition in our family: Thanksgiving pizza.
It's not that effeminate matzo-crust delivery stuff with nothing of any substance on it. This is serious made-from-scratch deep-dish gourmet pizza with a full pound of cheese and a pound or more of meat in one large-size classic 2-inch-deep Chicago-style pizza pan.
The sauce and crust must be made from scratch. The cheese must be grated by hand from solid blocks of three different varieties of sharp Italian cheese purchased at the deli—not that cheapo, bagged, pre-grated Costco "mozzarella."
Making the pizza is a minimum four-hour project. Cooking a stuffed 18-pound turkey would frankly be quicker. But nowhere near as good.
I'd post my recipe for the gourmet pizza, but it's a closely-guarded family secret. In an era where few people really appreciate the value and richness of tradition, we fiercely guard our family customs.
We hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving.
7:00 PM Update:
 This is an actual photo of the Johnsons' 2005 Thanksgiving pizza (after cooking and carving, but prior to consumption). It was fine. |
28 comments:
Haha. That's the best thing I've heard all day. Happy Thanksgiving Phil
--The Rusted One
They really are different in California, aren't they?
we have traditional Christmas eve pizza, so I guess you aren't that wierd.
Have a great Thanksgiving!
We always have pizza the day after Thanksgiving. Somehow I don't think ours tastes quite as good as yours though.
I love it! :) My wife and kids would love it also I think.
Hey Phil,speaking of holidays, I'm curious about you doing a blog on Christmas being on Sunday this year. It seems that several people are already planning on not coming to church that day. In fact, I've heard one person say that it is legalistic to have people come out on Sunday when it is Christmas day. What say you?
The last few years we lived in Phoenix, my Mom made green chile burros for our Thanksgiving feast.
Another turkey is pardoned by pizza-proxy...
I'd rather have leftover Pizza than Turkey any day.
johnny, you're kidding, right? "Legalistic" to attend church?? What better day to worship the Savior than on the day we celebrate His birth, right? Merry CHRISTmas!
The PETA turkey-lovers would be proud of you, Phil. Happy Thanksgiving to all you fired up American Pyro readers from a friend in Canada, where we celebrated Thanksgiving 6 weeks ago.
I'm ready for a traditional Thanksgiving, last year we went to Wimberly Texas and stayed in a beautiful cabin overlooking the valley but ate Thanksgiving Dinner at Kracker Barrel!!! It was AWEFUL!!!!
Hope Everyone has a great Thanksgiving and remember who deserves ALL the THANKS,,,,,our Lord Jesus Christ!!
Dr. Mike said:
"I'll be praying for your arteries. "
Mike,
An interesting side note to your comment... Phil actually cuts the pizza into the shapes of ventricles and atria so it can bypass the arteries completely and lodge immediately in the appropriate heart chamber.
That looks wonderful!
Have you ever deep-fried that bird? Now that's good eating!
An official thanks for the link Phil!
I've heard one person say that it is legalistic to have people come out on Sunday when it is Christmas day.
A good example of Legalism: The bible says it is a shame for a man to have "long" hair. The legalist says, it is a sin for a man to have hair that touches his collar.
In the example the broad and relative term "long" is infused with more precision than warranted by the original text (usually to bolster some personal bias). The resulting overly precise "rule" is then held up as equal in authority to the broad, relative teaching of scripture. Failure to adhere to the new "law" is considered one and the same as failing to adhere to what scripture is really teaching.
If the church makes its members attend for fear that failing to do so will brand them as sinners - *that* would be a form of legalism.
Simply having a service on the Christmas Sunday however isn't legalism per se.
I personally see nothing wrong with having a regular service, though I would hesitate to insist that sunday school teachers and whatnot attend - I would cancel all sunday school and just have a sermon in the sanctuary for anyone who wanted to come.
Phil,
My wife wants to know if she can come over for Thanksgiving. She hates turkey. I suppose it would be hard to get a plane ticket from Kennewick to Burbank on Thanksgiving day so maybe next year.
She was emotionally shaken when she read that you were not offering up your family recipe.
Everyone have a great Thanksgiving.
JROD
Last year we went out for chinese with friends. Saved the hours of mess that ly lovely wife would have to clean up.
Also, What is with the not going out on a Sunday since it is Christmas?
we celebrate the Lord's Day, the Christian Sabbath, whether it is a Papist holy day...Mass of Christ or not!
Phil,
Next time you are in Wisconsin, I will take you to Lake Geneva (1 1/2 hours from Chicago) and we will have the best Chicago-style pizza this side of the Midwest! Have a slice for me today--I went with the traditional turkey.
Sounds Good
I'll bet if Darlene got to vote, she would want a sub (with hot peppers) from Clark's Corner Store.
That leaves one more turkey for me to deep fry.
Phil,
Thank you very much for your love of the truth of Reformed Calvinism that is so great, you were led to be a pastor, create the Spurgeon Archive, and maintain this Pyromaniac blog among other things. I can truly say these efforts of yours was a primary catalyst to my definitive conversion to the Way over the past two years of my life, when I previously thought I had been for much longer.
Please keep expounding the Truth as God would have you for as long and as loud as you have breath. I'm sure there are many others around this world that have been blessed through you as much and more than I have.
Happy Thanksgiving Phil to you and your family. My eyes have been opened and I now truly know exactly for how much I have to be thankful.
Chris
Chris:
Thank you.
My turkey dinner has settled...and I'm now craving pizza. Thanks, Phil.
I had my traditional day-after-Thanksgiving-meal: lasagna from the Spaghetti Warehouse in Dayton, Ohio. Delish!
I didn't even read the blog entry. I just had a deja vu over the pizza. Oh, for those days of bible college dates to the pizza eateries around Chicago's near north side. I have been looking for a good recipe for one of these pizzas for a loooong time. Care to share, Phil? That would make my New Year very special!!!
Phil, you inspired me.
-Jacob
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