Lorena Russi and JR Bruno make pizza from scratch on the finale of Cooking with Comedians

Lorena Russi and JR Bruno make pizza from scratch on the finale of Cooking with Comedians

For the season finale of Cooking with Comedians by Newdie Mag we decided to have a pizza party and you’re invited! This weeks recipe is for four pizzas so you can entertain friends and brag about how the pizza is homemade (or taste it and call Domino’s instead?)

The modern pizza as we know it originated in Naples, Italy, in the late 18th to early 19th century.

The development of pizza coincided with the affordability and accessibility of tomatoes. Tomatoes were brought to Europe in the 16th century but were initially thought to be poisonous. By the late 18th century, Neapolitans began to incorporate tomatoes into their flatbreads, which became popular among the working classes as a cheap and flavorful meal.

The iconic pizza Margherita, often viewed as the first true pizza, was supposedly created in 1889 by Neapolitan pizzaiolo Raffaele Esposito. He crafted it in honor of Queen Margherita of Savoy, who was visiting Naples. The pizza featured fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and basil, representing the colors of the Italian flag (red, white, and green).

Pizza gained international popularity after World War II, especially in the United States, where returning soldiers craved the flavors they had encountered in Italy. Italian immigrants in America amplified its popularity, leading to the establishment of numerous pizzerias and the creation of new pizza styles, such as New York-style and Chicago deep-dish.

Today, pizza is a global phenomenon, with innumerable variations and toppings, adapting to local tastes and culinary traditions. Despite its many iterations, the essence of pizza remains a simple, yet delightful combination of bread, tomatoes, and cheese.



Now that you know all about pizza, joining Broadways JR Bruno in the Newdie Mag Kitchen this week is Lorena Russi who has been featured on Comedy Central, Refinery29, an Oscars commercial and TimeOut New York’s “LGBTQ POC Comedians We’re Obsessed With.

Now that it’s the end of Cooking with Comedians it’s a great time to binge watch! Start with Gastor Almonte making eggs benedict in episode one. And don’t worry, there will still be weekly videos from Newdie Mag.

Ingredients:

4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup “00” flour
1 tsp salt
T TB honey or sugar
1 package dried yeast (make sure to use instant yeast, watch the episode, you’ll understand)
3 TB olive oil
12 ounces warm water
Marinara Sauce (separate recipe, see below)
¼ to ½ lb. pepperoni
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:

1) Put flour and salt in a mixing bowl or a Kitchen-Aid bowl. Pour the water, olive oil and honey or sugar into a measuring cup. Add the yeast and mix. Let stand for 5 to 10 minutes to ensure that the yeast has activated.

2) Make a well in the center of the flour and pour in half of the water mixture. Begin to mix the dough with your hands (if using a Kitchen-Aid, use the hook attachment). Continue to add the water slowly, until the dough comes together into a ball. If using hands, turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 10 minutes. If using the Kitchen-Aid, set the speed
to medium-low and mix with the hook for five minutes.

3) Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl and leave in a warm place for about 30 minutes, covered lightly with a kitchen towel. Then knock the air out of the ball and divide into 4 pieces.

4) Roll the individual pieces on a cutting board (or, better, a marble surface) that is lightly floured with semolina or regular flour.

5) Top with marinara sauce, pepperoni, and mozzarella cheese.
Bake in a 390 degree oven for approximately 12 to 15 minutes. Best to use a pizza stone if available.

Marinara Sauce:

2 TB olive oil
1 large onion, finely diced
1 celery stalk, finely chopped
1 bulb garlic, cloves peeled, crushed and minced finely.
4 28 oz. cans tomatoes
4 TB olive oil or softened butter
Dash of salt
Dash of pepper
Pinch of red pepper
½ cup red wine (optional)
Fresh basil

  1. Saute onion and celery in a very large pot on low heat for about 5 minutes.
  2. Add garlic and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes
  3. Strain tomatoes and add to pot.
  4. Add olive oil or butter
  5. Add salt, pepper, red pepper and wine (if using).
  6. Cook, uncovered, for approximately 2 hours. Check and stir frequently.
    Once done, tear fresh basil leaves and add to sauce.

_________________________
Comedian: Lorena Russi
Instagram and Twitter: @lorenarussi
Website: https://lorenarussi.com

Host: JR Bruno
Instagram and Twitter: @jrbrunony
Website: https://www.jrbruno.com

Cinematographer/Editor: Jonny Tompkins
Website: http://jonnytyo.com

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