Choosing the Right Toppings for Your Homemade Pizza

Toppings are a very important part of making any kind of pizza from scratch. Not only are they used to enhance the taste and appearance of the pizza, toppings also contribute towards the overall health of the pizza. When you go to a pizza restaurant or cook at home, there is always a choice between regular and healthy toppings. But when you cook at home, you have to be choosy about what toppings you use.

Cheese is the toppings most commonly used in homemade pizza. While cheese provides a lot of nutritional value to your meal, too much of it can make it bland and can actually contribute towards cancer. It is therefore wise to choose the appropriate amount of cheese based on how much you plan to eat.

Pizza with pepperoni and basil.

You should keep in mind that all cheese has to be low fat. It is therefore wiser not to go overboard and add too much cheese. Toppings like vegetables, chicken, and fish make for healthier toppings than cheese. A healthy topping will make you feel fuller for a longer period of time. A side salad with crisp greens is also a good option.

If you cannot afford to buy high-quality cheeses from the supermarket, then use prepared toppings. The advantage of using prepared toppings is that you do not have to take time to mess around with chopping and cooking. You can simply combine vegetables, cooked meat, and whatever other ingredients you have lying around. It saves you a lot of time.

When you cook at home, you can use whatever you like. The important thing is that you limit yourself from eating foods that are high in fat. Do not try to imitate what you see at an expensive pizza joint. Instead, choose a crust made of whole-wheat flour and eat vegetables and meat that are healthy.

You can have as many toppings on your pizza as you wish. There is nothing wrong with adding vegetables and meat. However, you should refrain from adding cheese unless it is on a pizza that contains no crust. Homemade pizza is a healthy alternative to restaurant pizzas so the two are definitely a good combination.

One thing you should remember is that homemade toppings tend to be on the sweet side. This is why you should only choose toppings that are wholesome. You can easily achieve this by using fresh vegetables and fruits. You can also use non-fat or low-fat cheese. For the best results, add different kinds of toppings and see which combinations produce the best tasting results.

Person with dough.

You may find it a challenging at first to obtain the right toppings for homemade pizza. However, you will soon discover that different toppings produce varying flavors. Cheese is a key ingredient in any pizza and should be chosen carefully. Also, be sure to add vegetables such as onions, bell pepper, and mushrooms at appropriate portions. By following these simple tips, you will surely end up with a mouth-watering and healthy homemade pizza.

Toppings are not mandatory, but they make the pizza taste better. However, if you feel the need to have lots of toppings, then go for it. However, you do not need to add too many. Just make sure that the toppings complement the food that you are having. The best way to determine what toppings you should use is taste.

Some people choose to use garlic, chives, and olives because these are present in every kitchen. The problem with using these types of toppings is that they might stick to the walls of the oven. To solve this problem, consider using spinach instead of olives. If you have doubts about how much spinach you should put in the pizza, test it first before adding it to the recipe. You can experiment by putting just a pinch of spinach to a small portion of your homemade pizza and test its taste.

Cheese toppings are essential when making homemade pizza. You can choose from soft mozzarella, Gouda, or even Colby. As much as possible, choose an easy-to-eat topping and mix it well with the tomato sauce. It is vital that the cheese blend with the ingredients of your pizza since the taste will be enhanced when it is already blended with the sauce.

Pizza toppings are crucial because they add character and uniqueness to homemade pizza. In addition, you want to keep the taste unique. You do not want to eat something that is very ordinary because you love uniqueness. Thus, choosing the right toppings is essential for your success.

Refinishing Furniture in A Nutshell

It’s a somewhat common occurrence that our readers will have an old piece of furniture that they’re looking to have refinished. It may be a family heirloom, or perhaps an antique. Perhaps it’s just a well built piece of furniture that can use a new look. Maybe it’s even been damaged over the course of the years and it needs a bit of touch up.

No matter the scenario, if you’ve never refinished a piece of furniture before you might need some guidance as to how to get started. In this article we’re going to quickly provide you everything that you need to know to determine your course of action, gather your supplies, and get started with your project.

Step 1: Analyze the extent of the project

Not every piece of furniture that needs attention is going to need a full strip down and refinishing. You might be able to just apply a new coat of stain and be on your way. This will save you quite a bit of time and frustration, so if you can go this route and still get your desired outcome it’s highly recommended. This is most likely suitable for your situation if:

  • The piece that you want to refinish does not have a layer of clear coat.
  • The color you want to refinish it with is similar to the existing color.
  • There are no major stains that need to be removed prior to refinishing.

If all of these conditions are true, then you can just go ahead and apply a fresh coat of stain on the furniture and call it a day. It is recommended that you wipe down the piece thoroughly and ensure that the surfaces are clean and dry prior to applying the stain. You can optionally add a layer of clear coat when you’re finished to protect the piece further.

If your piece of furniture does not meet these criteria, then a more extensive staining procedure will be required.

Step 2: Remove the existing clear coat and stain

If your piece of furniture will require a more extensive refinishing, you’ll want to start by removing the existing finish. This is best done with paint stripper. Some people try to remove the finish by sanding which can work to some extent, but it will likely result in more labor and less desirable results.

Apply the paint stripper as instructed by the manufacturer and remove with a scraper once it’s finished working it’s magic. Make sure to properly dispose of any waste generated by the removal of the original finish.

Step 3: Assess the raw piece and fix any damage

By now you should have a raw piece of furniture. The best way to really see what needs to be addressed is to coat the piece with mineral spirits. This will show you what the furniture will look like with a new coat of stain.

Any deep scratches or gouges are best addressed now. You can try leaving a bead of water on the defect and see if the wood absorbs it and regains it’s original form. If not, you’ll want to fill the defect with wood putty and allow it to dry.

Next you’ll want to sand the entire piece so that it is nice and smooth before proceeding with the finish. Start with a medium grit sandpaper (say 200) until you’ve evened out the surface, then bump up to a fine grit to smooth the surface out nicely.

Step 4: Apply the new finish

With your furniture surface fully prepared you can go ahead and apply your stain. It’s best to use a cloth or a sponge as opposed to a paint brush, as you’ll be less likely to get streaking from the bristles. Often you’ll need at least two coats to get the fullness of your desired stain. Allow coats to dry in between applications so you can see how the color has taken.

When you’ve finished applying stain it’s up to you as to whether or not you want to apply clear coat. Generally it’s recommended as it will protect your furniture and preserve all of your hard work.

Once all said and done it is recommended to let the finish fully dry before putting it back into use. This will help the finish set properly and reduce the aromas from the materials used. Consult the manufacturer’s directions for appropriate drying times and conditions.