After traveling from Italy and gaining it’s popularity in the early 19th century, pizza is perhaps one of the most common prepared foods around today. Contrary to many opinions, it is indeed healthy, carrying the ingredients people often eat, but don’t assemble.

Equal to some sandwiches like Grilled Cheese, with bread, tomato, cheese and sometimes meat, in it’s basic form, pizza contains the crust, sauce, and cheese.

The simplest recipe for a pizza crust is flour, water, and yeast. All-purpose, whole wheat, and bread flour work well. The same things used in Italian bread. A pinch of sugar also helps in activating the yeast. Other ingredients such as salt, cornmeal, and oil are optional.

Kneaded together and left to rise in a warm place, it is then flattened out and a layer of tomato sauce added, leaving a small outer ring of crust exposed for a crispy border. Some stores also carry them without an edge, and those with thicker ones for deep-dish pizzas.

The sauce, composed of diced and puréed tomatoes may also have many components with it’s spices, and occasionally minced vegetables, each type with different combinations.

Tomatoes, a close relative to potatoes and both members of the nightshade family, are toxic to dogs, cats, and many other animals. So while they might beg for a taste, it should not be given.

Toppings may simply include a certain amount of cheese, extra cheese of many flavors, garlic, onions, pulled chicken, olives, or any other meat and vegetables.