We love pizza! Especially, Reed. I think that he would eat it for just about every meal, if he could. Unfortunately, pizza can be expensive, so here is what I try to do to cut down on costs.
I try to make homemade pizza once a week for our family. It is so much cheaper, and we really enjoy the homemade taste! Homemade dough is so easy to make and requires very little work. Sometimes I will buy a packet of dough mix from Kroger or Walmart for 67 cents or less. Both are easy to make and not very spendy.
Reed and I prefer jarred spaghetti sauce on our pizza that is a little sweet, so I try to keep some on hand. Since the jars usually hold much more sauce than is needed for a pizza, I try to freeze the rest in 3/4 cup increments. The sauce will last in the freezer for two to three months, so just remember to mark your freezer bags with the date. You can also freeze the sauce in an ice cube tray and then take the cubes and combine them all in one bag. Ice cube trays work great for freezing all kinds of liquids (It's great for baby food).
Packages of meats and cheeses always have more than I need, so I freeze these, as well. I tend to buy shredded cheese the most, which works well for freezing. Most brands of cheese cost the same per ounce, whether you by it shredded or in blocks. It's all a matter of preference.
When you are defrosting the meats (ham, pepperoni, sausage, or whatever other meat you like), do so in the microwave on a plate between two paper towels. This way, lots of the oils and extra fat gets left on the paper towels making a less greasy pizza. You can also do this with meats that are not frozen, and still get the same result.
When I make pizza this way, there isn't usually much left over. But if there is, it tastes just as great the next day! One way to reheat your pizza without the crust being soggy is to reheat it in a frying pan with a lid over the top. This will ensure a crispy crust and melted cheeses on top.
If you don't have time to make homemade pizza, or don't have the ingredients on hand, there are lots of pizza places that are now offering great pizzas for $10 or less. And use coupons! Pizza places always have coupons and specials going on. Just don't forget to ask and keep the coupons in the car or purse. And if you do tend to eat it at home, just pick it up instead of getting it delivered. This way you don't have to pay for the delivery.
One more thing- Saturday, November 12th is national pizza day! I know what we will be having for dinner!
