With us cleaning and rearranging our house this morning for #Thanksgiving its time to decide what to have for dinner. Then I found out November 12th was National Pizza with the Works Except Anchovies’ Day I was thinking we could have #Pizza for dinner today.
Although I can’t see Charlie or David eating a Pizza With The Works even if I left off Anchovies because neither Charlie nor David like Green Pepper or Onions. Which I don’t mind at times and I used to eat this style of Pizza with my parents. Would you like to join me for dinner this evening and we will have Pizza with the Works Except Anchovies Day unless you want #Anchoives.
National Pizza with the Works Except Anchovies Day falls on November 12th which is is also known as National Pizza With Everything (Except Anchovies) Day. Did you know Pizza is the most eaten and best liked food item in the U.S.
Each American eats about 46 Pizza slices a year. In the past I would have said Charlie eats twice that I would think. As for David he might eat 46 slices of Pizza but I don’t think I do. How about you. Do you eat 46 slices of Pizza a year? If so what type of Pizza do you eat and why?
For those that didn’t know Anchovy is a small Fish that usually comes in a can. Pizza fans feel Anchoives doe not go well with a classic Pizza, since its flavor tends to overpower the more delicate nuances of the ingredients used as toppings. Bring out the Chef in you and top your personal Pizza with your favorites, minus the Anchovy, of course.
Although there is no factual origin of this Cod-less Pizza day and people continue to wonder about its origin, it does not mean this day cannot still be celebrated. In fact, if we go into the details of Pizza making its way to America, we can find that the first restaurant Pizza was made in New York City’s Little Italy in 1905.
The question is where does the idea of putting Fish (Anchovies) on the Pizza come from? Well, if we go back in time and see what the Ancient Romans did, we would see that they used to put Fermented Fish on their Flat Breads.
The Greeks had a Pie which they called a “Pita”, which could have led to the word entering the Roman (later Italian) vocabulary. The recipe stayed around the early days of Pizza, and Mozzarella was used as the Cheese of choice. As Pizza became more popular, and people added their own preferences, different ingredients were experimented with, and this is where Anchovies crept in as a topping.
Pizza has been described as the favorite meal of Americans, especially since World War II. Since then, there have been different recipes and varieties of Pizza, with a wide array of toppings. There always has been a group of people who have ridiculed the beloved Pizza with Anchovies as topping choice – so much so that only 3 in every 1,000 people would admit to selecting Anchovy as a topping of choice. So National Pizza with the Works Except Anchovies Day celebrates the mainstream taste regarding Pizza.
How to celebrate National Pizza with the Works Except Anchovies Day
- Create and make Pizzas, or have a Pizza-making competition for family and friends to share the creativity of each. And turn a blind eye to the one who might slip in that topping-that-shall-not-be-mentioned. Create public awareness by sharing photos of the fun on Social Media.
- Create Pizzas and share them with your local Senior Centre, group home or some NPO. You could involve friends and family, your colleagues, or members of the community and make National Pizza with the Works Except Anchovies Day delicious for people who would not normally get the chance to eat Pizza.
- Clay Pizza Ovens are all the rage in the natural building fraternity, so impress those around you and design and make your own. That way, you have a talking and social point, and learn a new skill. You could use the Pizza Oven for years to come, making Pizza in the authentic way.
Facts About Pizza and Anchovies
- In the times of ancient Greeks and Egyptians, Pizza was a Flatbread seasoned with Cheese, Oil, and Herbs.
- Did you know there are over a million people working in the Pizza industry in the U.S., which generates $37 billion every year.
- In 2001, a six-inch Pizza was delivered to the International Space Station, where Yuri Usachov was the recipient.
- 0.003% of Americans select Anchovies as a topping of their choice on a Piizza.
- Did you know Anchovies shine in the water because of their silvery scales and are easier to catch at night?
Why Do People Celebrate National Pizza with the Works Except Anchovies Day?
There are so few true blue Anchovy lovers that it may be a good idea to get them to celebrate National Pizza with the Works Except Anchovies Day with you without Anchovies. Then do a turn-around and let them make you a Pizza with their favorite topping on it and give it a chance. You may love it and be hailed as a bridge builder across the topping divide in the Pizza world.
Pizza is definitely America’s favorite meal and roughly 100 acres of Pizza a day or about 350 slices per second, are consumed. Even a funny day that makes fun of a topping, in this case Anchovies, is part of what we celebrate daily.
National Pizza with the Works Except Anchovies Day is about concentrating on the ‘works’ which point towards appreciating the toppings. Instead of an average Pizza, National Pizza with the Works Except Anchovies Day celebrates the effort of selecting gorgeous, mouth-watering toppings and really savoring them.
Recipe for The Works Pizza
1 tube Pillsbury pizza crust
1-2 tbsp. olive oil
1 can Progresso pizza sauce or use your own
Sprinkle of grated cheese
Pinch of oregano
Mozzarella, grated
1/4 c. pepperoni
1/4 c. mushrooms
1/4 c. green and red peppers
1/4 c. olives
1/4 c. onions
Alka-Seltzer tabletsGrease oblong pan with olive oil and spread out dough right out of tube. Stretch to fit pan. Lightly brown in 350 degree oven. Then add sauce. Be careful not to make too soupy. Add grated cheese, oregano, and works. Top with desired amount of Mozzarella cheese. Rebake until cooked, 10 to 15 minutes. Serve piping hot
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
