I never got such a thrill in my life than when I visited New York City. Because of the experience, whenever I eat pizza, I think of it. After all, New York is famous for its pizza (and rightly so). I traveled there when I was 9 for a specific purpose. It was for the International Model and Talent Association’s annual convention. It was a competition with thousands of actors competing for awards and the attention of managers. It was also my first time away from my small hometown. We had raised the money to get there all the way from California. It was what I had wanted for a very long time.
The competitions were grueling and exciting, but what I remember most of all is the city. It was amazing. There were so many different people walking in different directions, all with different purposes. They were moving so fast too. There were men wanting to sell us jewelry and they kept insisting the necklace was only two dollars until you touch the necklace. Apparently, it is a magic necklace, when you touch it, it becomes twenty dollars.
What you hear all around you can often times overwhelm you. Never try to pick out a sound, because New York is supposed to be a jazz symphony. There’s all different beats going on all at the same time. You wouldn’t think the sounds would go together, but they do. As a child it is like stepping into the future for a few moments, because it feels like such a different world. That is why I got homesick for my first few days there.
That is the only time in my life that I have been that physically sick because of something psychological. Although, I didn’t understand it at the time, I felt something like enlightenment dawning over me. I was enlightened by everything around me. I never knew what was outside my front door until then. There is all these different places to be discovered. When I wasn’t sick anymore I felt rejuvenated and brightened.
New York was powerful and confident. You could feel it through the cold steel of the Subway, ore even in the way your feet hit the pavement. See, even your feet knew the power of the city. The towering grace of the skyscrapers can almost make you cry until a New Yorker walking on the street says, “WHAT’S THE MATTER WITH YA?”
Most memorable of all, is the taste of the food. New York is the only place I know of where you can get the best food in the city at the hot dog cart on the corner, or at the high class restaurant in Downtown. It’s all your own choice. My favorite places to eat were the corner pizza parlors. Greasy and cheesy….yum! There is nothing like it and not very much money was thrown out of your pockets for a large slice. The best part of their pizza is the smell when you are walking down the street. It’s the smell of cheese, meat, and bread all melting and baking together. I will never forget that smell.
At the end of my trip I walked away from the convention with four awards, which I was very proud of, and an offer from a manager when I get to Los Angeles. I appreciated the convention for what start it gave me in the business, but mostly it gave me a new experience. That was my turning point that gave me yearning for travel and a love for life. While this pizza doesn’t necessarily remind me of the taste of a New York pizza, it smells like it and it tastes so good. I ought to make another one right now.
To make a pizza with the confidence and variety of New York, follow this recipe:
New York City’s Meat Lover Pizza*
Ingredients: 1 package dry active yeast, 1 and ¼ cups all-purpose flour, 1 and ¼ cups whole-wheat flour, 3 tbs vegetable oil, ½ tbs sugar, ½ tbs Splenda, 1 tsp salt, 1 cup very warm water, 2 cups “Pizza Mix” shredded cheese, ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, 2 cloves garlic finely chopped, 1 lb bulk Italian Sausage, 1 green bell pepper chopped, 4 oz jar of mushrooms drained, 8 oz pizza sauce, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, and 1 cup sliced pepperoni.
1) In a large bowl stir ½ cup all-purpose flour, ½ cup whole-wheat flour, the sugar, the Splenda, and the yeast. Then stir in the oil and warm water. Beat with a mixer on medium speed for 3 minutes, scraping the bowl frequently. Stir in enough flour until dough is soft. Knead on a floured surface for 5 minutes (dough will be smooth and springy). Cover loosely with plastic wrap. Let stand for 30 minutes.
2) Heat oven to 425 degrees. Grease two 12 inch pizza pans with vegetable oil. Divide dough in half. Pate each half into each pizza pan. Bake partially for seven minutes (crust will just begin to brown).
3) In a large skillet, cook the Italian sausage, green bell pepper, Italian seasoning, and garlic on medium heat for about 8 minutes, stirring every once and awhile. The sausage should be brown. Then drain.
4) Spread pizza sauce on the crusts. Top with the cheese, the Parmesan cheese, the mushrooms, the beef mixture, and then the pepperoni.
5) Bake pizzas at 425 degrees for about 10 minutes, cheese will be melted.
6) Enjoy New York Style….lean back, roll it up, and eat it with your hands.
*Base of recipe was from the Betty Crocker and then I molded it from there.
