Happy 3.14159265358979323846… (Pi) Day

It’s pi day, so here’s my pie. What? It’s a pizza pie. I had good intentions of making a sweet pie, but well, it didn’t happen. Then I realized I had a pizza post to put up and it seemed like an obvious second choice. Pi, π, apple pie, pizza pie, it’s all good.

I feel like pi and I have a lot in common, like the fact that we’re both irrational numbers. Ok so I’m not a number, but I think I’ve got the irrational part down. Wikipedia will also tell you that “Throughout the history of mathematics, much effort has been made to determine π more accurately and understand its nature; fascination with the number has even carried over into culture at large.” Throughout my history, much effort has also been made to determine me more accurately and understand my nature; fascination with me has even carried over into culture at large as well, (and by culture at large, I mean people who read my blog…). Is that too much of a stretch? Well then would you like to know who else I have something in common with? Stephanie of Dispensing Happiness. We both like pizza and she’s chosen it as the theme for this month’s Blog Party. I knew I had to participate as it’s something I try to make at least once a month, always with a variety of toppings. This month I made it with sausage and bacon, both homemade and with homemade dough. Go big or go home.

To accompany your pie, I suggest sipping on a Boozy Kumquat on Quat-rocks. It’ll help make things like me, pi and Quat-rocks seem more rational, or maybe not, but it’ll taste good. It’s potent though, so don’t say I didn’t warn you. The Boozy Kumquat is 1 part chilled rum, (I happen to enjoy Havana Club) to 1 part Kumquat Simple Syrup. Quat-rocks are frozen kumquats and are a million times better than ice cubes because instead of watering down your drink, they add to the flavour. Enjoy.

Sausage and Bacon Pizza π

1 quantity of your favourite pizza dough, (once again, I recommend Joe’s of Culinary in the Desert)
2 sausages, (we made some in butchery class so I used that)
2 slices thick bacon, (Dad gave me some that he had made, it’s so much better than the watery thin stuff you buy in packages at the grocery store)
½ red pepper, thinly sliced
½ onion, thinly sliced
Tomato Sauce
Smoked Gouda, grated

I started by rendering the bacon and sausage, draining off some of the fat and then sautéing the onion and red pepper in the remaining fat. Then I made my pizza as usual, but topped it with grated smoke gouda, one of my favourite cheeses. I baked it at 425F until the crust was golden brown on the bottom.

Kumquat Simple Syrup

2 parts sugar
1 part water
A big handful of mashed kumquats.

Bring the water to a boil.
Dissolve the sugar into the boiling water.
Once the sugar is dissolved completely, add the kumquats and remove the pan from the heat.
Allow to cool completely and bottle.

To make a Boozy Kumquat, pour a shot of chilled rum and a shot of simple syrup into a glass half full of frozen kumquats, (or ice cubes) stir and enjoy.

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Pizza + Kumquat