Food and Beverage
Make Homemade Pizza the Centerpiece of Holiday Parties
Last Updated on November 10, 2025 by Daily News Staff
Make Homemade Pizza the Centerpiece of Holiday Parties
(Family Features) During a season of turkey dinners and festive cocktails, those rich holiday staples may start feeling heavy. When it’s time to reset with a lighter, delicious homemade dinner, try a seasonally appropriate pizza as a simple solution for returning to routine. In fact, regardless of season, pizza remains one of the most popular food choices in the country. According to Current’s “Pizza Wars” survey, which explored preferences and habits among 6,500 respondents in America’s most populous metropolitan areas, the average respondent ordered nearly five pizzas per month. With New York-style rating as the top preference and pepperoni as the favorite topping, the survey found Americans would have to be paid an average of more than $14 million to give up pizza for life. Additionally, 45% of respondents identified undercooked pizza dough as the worst “pizza crime.” To help avoid that fate, experienced pizzaioli and everyday home cooks alike are turning more often to electric pizza ovens, which deliver restaurant-quality pies without gas or open flames. Energy efficient with capabilities for both indoor and outdoor use, they’re a versatile solution for apartment dwellers and those crafting homemade pizzas any time of year. Building on a mission to reimagine cooking with electric technology that’s smarter, cleaner and more sustainable, the Current Model P Smart Oven Pizza reaches 850 F, perfect for Neapolitan-style pizzas ready in just 2 minutes, such as this Truffle Mushroom Pizza that’s an ideal fit for complementing all those heavy holiday meals with a lighter weeknight bite. Its design combined with a cordierite 12-inch cooking stone ensures uniform heat for authentic, crispy crusts with multiple cooking modes, giving you the versatility to cook any way you like. Controlling through a smartphone app offers digital temperature monitoring along with chef-curated recipes or a “pizza build calculator,” which takes the guesswork out of pizza-making – you can personalize a 12-inch pizza with your chosen amount of sauce, cheese, toppings and even dough thickness, and the app will compute a customized time and temperature for perfect cooking. A thoughtful gift for foodies and gadget fanatics alike, you can bring the joy of pizza to the holiday season with these topping ideas and celebration inspiration:- Bring comfort to winter with toppings like sausage, roasted squash, mushrooms, caramelized onions and smoked gouda.
- Take advantage of leftovers from holiday gatherings with a pizza that includes brie, cranberry drizzle, roasted turkey and spiced butternut squash.
- For a sweet treat, top with hazelnut spread and marshmallows – perfect for capping off holiday parties.
- To get loved ones involved, host a pizza party swap where friends and family create pies with favorite seasonal toppings.
- Host a DIY pizza bar allowing guests to personalize their own pizza creations, a delicious way to wind down the festivities.
Truffle Mushroom Pizza
Recipe courtesy of Chef Trimmell Hawkins, Current Cream Sauce:- Oil or butter, for sauteeing
- 1/4 cup onions, small diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 cup mushrooms (such as baby portobello, button or shiitake), minced
- 1 tablespoon picked thyme
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 4 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons truffle oil
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- 1 pizza dough
- grated or fresh mozzarella cheese
- mushrooms
- spinach (optional)
- cooked sausage (optional)
- To make cream sauce: In saucepan over medium heat, add oil or butter. Saute onions until translucent then add garlic and mushrooms. Cook until mushrooms release moisture and begin to caramelize.
- Stir in picked thyme and cook 1 minute to release oils.
- Add heavy cream and bring to gentle simmer. Let it reduce slightly, 5-7 minutes.
- In small bowl, mix cornstarch and water to make slurry. Slowly whisk into simmering cream sauce until it reaches desired consistency.
- Remove from heat and stir in truffle oil. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
- To prepare pizza: Preheat Current Model P Smart Pizza Oven to 850 F. While oven heats up, roll dough out to 8-12 inches and add desired amount of cream sauce.
- Top with mozzarella, mushrooms, spinach and sausage, as desired. Once oven is hot, cook pizza 2 minutes until bubbly.
The fate of Lucky Supermarkets in SoCalLink: https://stmdailynews.com/the-fate-of-lucky-supermarkets-in-socal/
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Food and Beverage
Win Your Watch Party with a Fan Favorite Dip
Game day hosts can elevate their celebrations with a 7-Layer Game Day Dip. This easy recipe combines refried beans, mashed avocados, seasoned sour cream, cheese, tomatoes, scallions, and olives for a delicious spread. Perfect with tortilla chips, it’s an ideal snack for enjoying during the big game. For more recipes, visit Culinary.net.
(Family Features) From the pregame party to kickoff and the final whistle, game day hosts know savory snacks are the key to victory. Celebrate the big game this season with a simple yet tasty spin on a football staple with this 7-Layer Game Day Dip. Featuring layers of refried beans, mashed avocados and seasoned sour cream topped with cheese, tomatoes, scallions and black olives, you can tackle a winning spread in next to no time.
Visit Culinary.net to find more strategies for serving victorious game day recipes.
7-Layer Game Day Dip
Recipe adapted from Love & Lemons
Prep time: 20 minutes
Servings: 12
- 1 can (16 ounces) refried beans
- 3/4 cup salsa
- 2 avocados
- 1 green bell pepper, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 16 ounces sour cream
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 tomato, diced
- 1 bunch scallions, chopped (optional)
- 1 can (2 1/4 ounces) sliced black olives, drained (optional)
- tortilla chips, for serving
- In medium bowl, stir refried beans and 1/2 cup salsa. In separate medium bowl, mash avocados with remaining salsa. Add bell peppers and lime juice; stir to combine. In third medium bowl, stir sour cream and taco seasoning.
- To assemble, spread refried bean mixture in bottom of baking dish. Spread avocado mixture evenly on top then spread sour cream mixture. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese then top with diced tomatoes.
- Top dish with scallions and black olives, if desired. Serve with tortilla chips.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
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Food and Beverage
Straw Hat Pizza: The Rise, Fall, and Nostalgic Legacy of a California Pizza Icon
Straw Hat Pizza was once a California pizza powerhouse. Explore the rise, decline, and nostalgic legacy of this beloved family pizza chain.
Long before pizza delivery apps, stuffed-crust gimmicks, and national chains on every corner, there was Straw Hat Pizza — a family-friendly, California-born pizza chain that helped define what “going out for pizza” meant for generations.
For many Californians, Straw Hat Pizza wasn’t just dinner. It was birthday parties, Little League celebrations, arcade games, salad bars, and the hum of a busy dining room packed with families. While the brand is far smaller today, its place in American food history is secure.
Humble Beginnings: A California Pizza Story
Straw Hat Pizza was founded in 1959 by Charlie Olson and Bill Henderlong. The first location opened in San Leandro, California, during a period when pizza was still becoming a mainstream American favorite.
The name came from the straw hats worn by pizza makers at early California pizzerias — a visual shortcut that told customers exactly what kind of place they were entering. Casual. Friendly. Pizza-focused.
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The Golden Years: 1960s Through the Early 1980s
Through the 1960s and 1970s, Straw Hat Pizza expanded rapidly across California and Nevada. By 1980, the chain reportedly operated more than 200 locations, becoming a staple in suburban shopping centers and family neighborhoods.
- Large dining rooms built for families and groups
- Arcade games and coin-operated attractions
- Salad bars — a defining feature of the era
- Party rooms for birthdays and team celebrations
The pizza leaned toward what we now call California-style: thin, layered crusts, generous toppings, and a menu designed for sharing. It was food meant to be eaten at a table, not rushed out the door.
Corporate Consolidation and Decline
In 1969, Straw Hat Pizza was sold to Saga Corporation, which later became part of Marriott Corporation. As restaurant consolidation accelerated in the 1980s, Straw Hat became caught in a wave of mergers and acquisitions.
By the late 1980s, many Straw Hat locations were sold to or converted by Pizza Hut. Franchise owners fought back, eventually retaining rights to the Straw Hat name and continuing operations independently — but the brand’s footprint was permanently reduced.
How Straw Hat Pizza Survived
Unlike many mid-century restaurant chains, Straw Hat Pizza never fully disappeared. Independent franchise owners reorganized, preserving the brand, recipes, and name. Today, a limited number of Straw Hat Pizza locations continue operating — primarily in California.
It is no longer a national competitor, but rather a regional legacy brand, sustained by nostalgia and loyal local customers.
Why Straw Hat Pizza Still Matters
Straw Hat Pizza represents an era when pizza parlors were community spaces — places to linger, celebrate, and connect. Its story mirrors the rise of suburban America and the transformation of pizza from novelty to cultural staple.
For many, the memory of Straw Hat Pizza is inseparable from childhood — the smell of baked dough, the sound of arcade machines, and the excitement of a shared pie arriving at the table.
The Nostalgia Revival
Vintage menus, matchbooks, and advertisements from Straw Hat Pizza frequently surface online, part of a broader resurgence of interest in retro restaurants. These artifacts remind us that regional chains once played a major role in shaping American food culture.
Straw Hat Pizza may no longer dominate California strip malls, but its legacy lives on — in memories, collectibles, and the handful of locations still serving slices under that iconic name.
Related Coverage on STM Daily News
External References & Further Reading
STM Daily News continues to explore the food history that shaped our communities — from vanished chains to local favorites that still define how we eat and gather.
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Food and Beverage
A Convenient Homecooked Solution Without the Slow Cooker
For a quick and easy version of the comfort food classic, consider this Quick Homecooked Chili that’s made in a skillet and ready in half an hour. Just brown ground beef with a chopped onion, stir in beans, tomato sauce, cubed sweet potato and a few simple seasonings and you’re well on your way to a winter warmup.
Homecooked Chili
(Family Features) Walking in the door to the smell of homemade chili is sure to warm you up from the inside-out, but if you forgot to set up the slow cooker before heading out the door in the morning, don’t fret – a hearty bowl of beans, beef and stewed goodness can still await.
For a quick and easy version of the comfort food classic, consider this Quick Homecooked Chili that’s made in a skillet and ready in half an hour. Just brown ground beef with a chopped onion, stir in beans, tomato sauce, cubed sweet potato and a few simple seasonings and you’re well on your way to a winter warmup.
Find more easy ways to feed your family by visiting Culinary.net.
Quick Homecooked Chili
Recipe adapted from Allrecipes
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Servings: 6
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
- 1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans
- 1 can (14 1/2 ounces) stewed tomatoes
- 1 can (10 ounces) diced tomatoes with green chilies
- 1 sweet potato, cubed
- water (optional)
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 pinch garlic powder
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- sour cream (optional)
- sliced avocado (optional)
- In large saucepan over medium heat, cook ground beef and onion until meat is browned and onion is tender, 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in tomato sauce, kidney beans, stewed tomatoes with juices, diced tomatoes with green chilies and cubed sweet potato. Add water to reach desired consistency.
- Season with chili powder and garlic powder. Add salt and pepper, to taste.
- Bring to boil then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 15 minutes.
- Serve with sour cream and sliced avocado, if desired.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
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