Frozen pizzas

Paul M. Cook said...

Quoted message said:

OK this is not about cooking. After a mere 30 years hiatus without
frozen pizzas I was tempted to try some tonight, California Pizza
Kitchens were on sale for 5 bucks for a thin crust whatever. I got a
chicken and garlic and a Sicilian. Heated up the C&G then sat down with
a bottle of Mondavi Chardonnay.

OK, not entirely bad. Tasty, crust was flavorful and residual moisture
was good, a good garlic flavor - not bad. Perhaps I have been too hard
on these latter day frozen pizzas. When I was a kid we ate them out of
sheer desperation. They were terrible. So dry as I recall that it took
a quart of water to get one of those [censored] down.

So of all the millions of these things available, which is worth it? I
am willing to experiment. I also got a couple of Di Giorno thin crust
pizzas. 2 for 10 bucks. They seem to actually have real ingredients on
them

Paul

Paul,

As per merryb's recommendation, Trader Joe's Pizza Margherita is a VERY
tasty frozen pizza. Made in Italy, according to the mention on the box.
It's a thin crust pizza.

You could add some extra toppings to it before, during or after baking I
suppose.

I paid $4/ea. iirc. 12" pizzas.

Enjoy,

Andy

Andy <q> wrote in news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

You could add some extra toppings to it before, during or after baking

I

Quoted message said:

suppose.

I paid $4/ea. iirc. 12" pizzas.

Enjoy,

Andy

If you are going to add stuff to frozen...why not make one from scratch?
And if you like thin crust using a tortillia for the crust and the BBq
Grill is allowed. You do need a stone or a pie pan though so it can be
removed from the hot grill. If you pre cook stuff like the sausage or
bacon you can pump them out fairly quickly after the grill gets to the
700F range.

--

The house of the burning beet-Alan

It'll be a sunny day in August, when the Moon will shine that night-
Elbonian Folklore

hahabogus said...

Quoted message said:

If you are going to add stuff to frozen...why not make one from scratch?

Just 'cause you can make a scratch pizza for breakfast doesn't mean I should
too <VBG>

The topic WAS frozen pizza, ya BUM!!!

Andy

"Paul M. Cook" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

So of all the millions of these things available, which is worth it? I am
willing to experiment. I also got a couple of Di Giorno thin crust
pizzas. 2 for 10 bucks. They seem to actually have real ingredients on
them

Di Giorno thin crust is my favorite. The seasoning is good, to me. I like
the whole wheat best. Unlike
pasta, pizza is something I can stand in whole wheat. That said, I only
buy them when they are on sale.

Andy said:

Paul M. Cook said...

Quoted message said:

So of all the millions of these things available, which is worth it?
I am willing to experiment. I also got a couple of Di Giorno thin
crust pizzas. 2 for 10 bucks. They seem to actually have real
ingredients on them

Paul

Paul,

As per merryb's recommendation, Trader Joe's Pizza Margherita is a
VERY tasty frozen pizza. Made in Italy, according to the mention on
the box. It's a thin crust pizza.

(sigh) Not everyone has a TJ's within a 200-300 mile radius.

In article said:

As per merryb's recommendation, Trader Joe's Pizza Margherita is a VERY
tasty frozen pizza. Made in Italy, according to the mention on the box.
It's a thin crust pizza.

You could add some extra toppings to it before, during or after baking I
suppose.

I paid $4/ea. iirc. 12" pizzas.

Enjoy,

Andy

I see this recommendation a lot, but the broccoli on top stops me every
time. No one mentions the broccoli, but the two Trader Joe's near me
stock a pizza margherita with broccoli florets on top. Not your typical
ingredient.

Is there a different one without broccoli to which you all are
referring, or do you all like the broccoli there without comment?

marcella

In article <b%Bsi.27275$Ya1.3138@trnddc06>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

OK this is not about cooking. After a mere 30 years hiatus without frozen
pizzas I was tempted to try some tonight, California Pizza Kitchens were on
sale for 5 bucks for a thin crust whatever. I got a chicken and garlic and
a Sicilian. Heated up the C&G then sat down with a bottle of Mondavi
Chardonnay.

OK, not entirely bad. Tasty, crust was flavorful and residual moisture was
good, a good garlic flavor - not bad. Perhaps I have been too hard on these
latter day frozen pizzas. When I was a kid we ate them out of sheer
desperation. They were terrible. So dry as I recall that it took a quart
of water to get one of those [censored] down.

So of all the millions of these things available, which is worth it? I am
willing to experiment. I also got a couple of Di Giorno thin crust pizzas.
2 for 10 bucks. They seem to actually have real ingredients on them

I agree that frozen pizza have improved greatly over the past few years.
They still don't rival a good fresh made one, of course, but the better
ones can be quite tasty and they are certainly convenient. I find that
California Pizza Kitchen is one of the best brands. I also like Amy's a
lot. For more traditional styles, DiGiorno is OK but tends to be a bit
too salty. I like Red Baron's deep dish supreme pizza. Cooking on a
preheated pizza stone makes for a crisper crust.

--
Peter Aitken

Paul M. Cook said:

OK, not entirely bad.

Wow. That's a ringing endorsement. But, I understand your
frustration. The quality of pizza, in any form, is truly abysmal,
anymore, even from brick/mortar pizza joints.

Quoted message said:

So of all the millions of these things available, which is worth it? I am
willing to experiment. I also got a couple of Di Giorno thin crust pizzas.
2 for 10 bucks. They seem to actually have real ingredients on them

I love pizza. Unfortunately, I haven't had a truly good one in years.
That being said and this being about frozen pizza, I recommend
Freschetta Frozen Pizza. These are from the Schwans company, the one
of delivery truck fame, but are sold in supermarkets. The only one
I'll buy is the Naturally Rising Special Deluxe (ssg, pprni, bllppr,
olv, etc). This particular version, while having an overly large
crust edge which leaves at least one fourth of the pie as empty bread,
is still very moist, actually has flavor, and is a full meal for one
hungry person. Still not a great pizza, but better than most and is
pretty cheap at the usual sale price of $4-5. Definitely better than
Di Giorno, TJ's, and CK.

nb ...eating cold pizza as I type 😉

jmcquown said:

Andy said:

Paul M. Cook said...

Quoted message said:

So of all the millions of these things available, which is worth it?
I am willing to experiment. I also got a couple of Di Giorno thin
crust pizzas. 2 for 10 bucks. They seem to actually have real
ingredients on them

Paul

Paul,

As per merryb's recommendation, Trader Joe's Pizza Margherita is a
VERY tasty frozen pizza. Made in Italy, according to the mention on
the box. It's a thin crust pizza.

(sigh) Not everyone has a TJ's within a 200-300 mile radius.

Yeah, I feel very, very, very deprived! I've never been to a TJs (major
whine!). In fact, I never heard of TJs until I started reading RFC.

Sky

--
Ultra Ultimate Kitchen Rule - Use the Timer!
Ultimate Kitchen Rule -- Cook's Choice

Marcella Peek said...

Quoted message said:

In article said:

As per merryb's recommendation, Trader Joe's Pizza Margherita is a VERY
tasty frozen pizza. Made in Italy, according to the mention on the box.
It's a thin crust pizza.

You could add some extra toppings to it before, during or after baking I
suppose.

I paid $4/ea. iirc. 12" pizzas.

Enjoy,

Andy

I see this recommendation a lot, but the broccoli on top stops me every
time. No one mentions the broccoli, but the two Trader Joe's near me
stock a pizza margherita with broccoli florets on top. Not your typical
ingredient.

Is there a different one without broccoli to which you all are
referring, or do you all like the broccoli there without comment?

marcella

marcella,

The TJ's pizza margherita is the traditional tomato/cheese/basil (red-
white-green) pizza. No extra toppings.

Maybe TJ does a toppings frozen pizza but that wouldn't be margherita would
it?!!

All the best,

Andy

Quoted message said:

too salty. I like Red Baron's deep dish supreme pizza. Cooking on a
preheated pizza stone makes for a crisper crust.

Red Baron's Supreme are really good; I can handle a thin-crust
DiGiorno if it has the more traditional toppings, but I bought one
with chicken on it and it was disgusting.

But my frozen-pizza taste buds are trashy - I really like Totinos
(10/$10 when on sale) when I'm in a mood to just pick something up. I
generously slather a round cookie sheet with olive oil and brush it
around the crust on the topside, before baking. One of those guilty
pleasures - and I don't ask anyone else to like them.

N.

jmcquown said...

Quoted message said:

Andy said:

Paul M. Cook said...

Quoted message said:

So of all the millions of these things available, which is worth it?
I am willing to experiment. I also got a couple of Di Giorno thin
crust pizzas. 2 for 10 bucks. They seem to actually have real
ingredients on them

Paul

Paul,

As per merryb's recommendation, Trader Joe's Pizza Margherita is a
VERY tasty frozen pizza. Made in Italy, according to the mention on
the box. It's a thin crust pizza.

(sigh) Not everyone has a TJ's within a 200-300 mile radius.

Jill,

Ok, but, in the spirit of the subject, TJs margherita pizza WAS a valid
entry, was it not?

<smootch> <pinch>

Andy

notbob said...

Quoted message said:

nb ...eating cold pizza as I type 😉

You should at least defrost it first, ya BUM!!! <G>

Andy

jmcquown said:

Andy said:

Paul M. Cook said...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

So of all the millions of these things available, which is worth it?
I am willing to experiment. I also got a couple of Di Giorno thin
crust pizzas. 2 for 10 bucks. They seem to actually have real
ingredients on them

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Paul

Quoted message said:

Paul,

Quoted message said:

As per merryb's recommendation, Trader Joe's Pizza Margherita is a
VERY tasty frozen pizza. Made in Italy, according to the mention on
the box. It's a thin crust pizza.

(sigh) Not everyone has a TJ's within a 200-300 mile radius.- Hide quoted text -

Well not everyone who has multiple TJs close by chooses to shop
there. They drive me out of my skull.

And on the rare occasions when I permit myself the luxury and calories
of pizza, I sure want it to be freshly prepared and cooked just for
me!

Susan B.

Sky said:

Yeah, I feel very, very, very deprived! I've never been to a TJs (major
whine!). In fact, I never heard of TJs until I started reading RFC.

Don't feel too deprived. They have some good things and some good
prices on average things (milk prods), but they aren't all that. A
lot of it is yuppie/healthnut hype hiding a few exceptional items. We
finally got a store in our town and I can only think of about half a
dozen things I buy there with any regularity. Their pre-made salads
are iffy, while some of the frozen foods approach inedible. Breads
are good, but produce is a max-pac rip. In short, it's a [censored] shoot
and alternative shopping option rather than a replacement for a good
supermarket.

nb

notbob said:

Sky said:

Yeah, I feel very, very, very deprived! I've never been to a TJs (major
whine!). In fact, I never heard of TJs until I started reading RFC.

Don't feel too deprived. They have some good things and some good
prices on average things (milk prods), but they aren't all that. A
lot of it is yuppie/healthnut hype hiding a few exceptional items. We
finally got a store in our town and I can only think of about half a
dozen things I buy there with any regularity. Their pre-made salads
are iffy, while some of the frozen foods approach inedible. Breads
are good, but produce is a max-pac rip. In short, it's a [censored] shoot
and alternative shopping option rather than a replacement for a good
supermarket.

nb

Thanks for the description, nb. Since I've never been to a TJs, I'm
rather curious to see for myself first-hand what all the hype is about
it. Considering your words, it sounds like a store I'd rarely shop but
might to buy a few select products, perhaps.

Sky

--
Ultra Ultimate Kitchen Rule - Use the Timer!
Ultimate Kitchen Rule -- Cook's Choice

notbob said:

Sky said:

Yeah, I feel very, very, very deprived! I've never been to a TJs (major
whine!). In fact, I never heard of TJs until I started reading RFC.

Don't feel too deprived. They have some good things and some good
prices on average things (milk prods), but they aren't all that. A
lot of it is yuppie/healthnut hype hiding a few exceptional items. We
finally got a store in our town and I can only think of about half a
dozen things I buy there with any regularity. Their pre-made salads
are iffy, while some of the frozen foods approach inedible. Breads
are good, but produce is a max-pac rip. In short, it's a [censored] shoot
and alternative shopping option rather than a replacement for a good
supermarket.

Yeah, as he said, "Don't feel too deprived." We have one about 2
miles away, and almost never go there. Now, not having a close
Penzey's is a different matter 🙂

Quoted message said:

nb

--Bryan

Bobo Bonobo® said:

notbob said:

Sky said:

Yeah, I feel very, very, very deprived! I've never been to a TJs (major
whine!). In fact, I never heard of TJs until I started reading RFC.

Don't feel too deprived. They have some good things and some good
prices on average things (milk prods), but they aren't all that. A
lot of it is yuppie/healthnut hype hiding a few exceptional items. We
finally got a store in our town and I can only think of about half a
dozen things I buy there with any regularity. Their pre-made salads
are iffy, while some of the frozen foods approach inedible. Breads
are good, but produce is a max-pac rip. In short, it's a [censored] shoot
and alternative shopping option rather than a replacement for a good
supermarket.

Yeah, as he said, "Don't feel too deprived." We have one about 2
miles away, and almost never go there. Now, not having a close
Penzey's is a different matter 🙂

Quoted message said:

nb

--Bryan

Oh man! This is pure torture <G>. I never heard of Penzey's either
until I started reading RFC. I just want to say I've been there, if
only once (with regard to TJs). I'm sure I'd love to shop frequently at
Penzey's 😉 In a way, it's a good thing there isn't one in my neck of
the woods - I'd be tempted to spend more $$ than I should!

Sky

--
Ultra Ultimate Kitchen Rule - Use the Timer!
Ultimate Kitchen Rule -- Cook's Choice

"cybercat" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Paul M. Cook" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

So of all the millions of these things available, which is worth it? I

am

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

willing to experiment. I also got a couple of Di Giorno thin crust
pizzas. 2 for 10 bucks. They seem to actually have real ingredients on
them

Di Giorno thin crust is my favorite. The seasoning is good, to me. I like
the whole wheat best. Unlike
pasta, pizza is something I can stand in whole wheat. That said, I only
buy them when they are on sale.

I got hungry later last night so I popped the Di Giorno into the oven.
Gotta admit it was satisfying. I tossed some parmesan cheese onto it while
it cooled but otherwise left it as is. The sauce was good, crust was crispy
on the outside and tender on the inside - and it actually tasted like bread.
The pepperoni was thick cut and actually had a nice flavor. For a mass
produced product it was OK.

Paul