Posted on 10/23/2016 9:10:07 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Yes, that's right. The president perhaps most famous food-wise for his not so expansive palate dug cheeseburger pizza.
There is one food companion so loyal; it is there with us late at night and still there in the morning. It is pizza and we love it so much that across the country Americans consume an average of 350 slices per second. From Hawaiian to meat lovers, there are plenty of topping options, but President Bush said why stop there? Behold a child’s dream and a Neapolitan nightmare: the cheeseburger pizza. It comes complete with mustard, ketchup, and pickles. Cristeta Comerford, a White House chef since 2005, told reporters about the questionable combo during his tenure. “For dinner, the President loves what we call home-made ‘cheeseburger pizzas’ because every ingredient of a cheeseburger is on top of a margherita pizza.” This bizarrely constructed hodge podge of a pie has made huge inroads. Most Pizza chains now have one on the menu and many of them are the most calorific selection. The Bacon BBQ Cheeseburger pizza from Pizza Hut weighs in at 650 calories a slice. In the same breath, Comerford also noted the Presidents dedication to working out. A slice a day does not keep the doctor away.
he Bush family started with the Clinton’s White House Chef, Walter Scheib. The chef was known for sophisticated and rather complex cuisine. After some stylistic disagreements, he was replaced. “If you had a grilled cheese, a peanut butter and honey, and a BLT,” Scheib told reporters, “pretty much you’ll cover the culinary universe as far as [President Bush] is concerned.” There was also the issue of the scallops. The First Lady was not a fan and the more they appeared on the table, the less she enjoyed them. What she did enjoy was fresh American produce, with beets being a favorite. She also loved fresh pea soup with mint. The family was no fuss to feed, happy with comfort staples and repeat favorites. Unsurprisingly, the Bush family also was (and still are) great fans of Tex-Mex; the spicier the better. Huevos Rancheros were a particular weekend favorite which made the table most Sundays after church. Their first state dinner was appropriately given for Vicente Fox, President of Mexico. Crab and chorizo, followed by a pepita crusted bison gave both families familiar flavors they enjoyed. For snacking, it was tex-mex chex, a twist on the classic that the family created at the Texas Governor’s mansion. With hot sauce, cumin, and Worcestershire sauce, handfuls of it are quick to disappear.
I had planned on doing Tex-Mex but this dish was too bizarre to ignore. I have included the White House pizza dough recipe and simple instructions for the assembly thereafter. I have enjoyed more pizza than the average bear, but I think I would give this one up for President Garfield’s squirrel soup or Fillmore’s pickled eggs. You have to try everything once. If you are in DC October 29th: Please join “Soulfood Scholar” Adrian Miller and I on the morning of October 29th as we share recipes and explore the legacy of African American White House chefs at the Smithsonian Food History Weekend. A complete guide to the presentations and events can be found here. George Bush’s Cheeseburger Pizza Dough recipe from: White House Chef by Walter Scheib and Andrew Friedman
Pizza Dough
½ cup plus 2 Tbsp warm water
½ cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp active dry yeast (not quick-rising)
¼ tsp honey
1 ½ cups bread flour
3 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
Cornmeal to dust the pizza stone
Toppings
4 Tbsp. crushed tomatoes
3 ounces mozzarella
5 basil leaves, torn
3 strips bacon, cooked till crispy then crumbled
½ lb. ground beef, browned
1 large pickle, sliced
Sprinkle of catchup and mustard
1 ½ ounce shredded cheddar, optional
Put a pizza stone on the center rack in the oven. (If you don’t have a pizza stone, use an inverted 12 inch cast iron pan that’s been greased with olive oil). Preheat oven to 450F
Put 2 Tbsp. of the water, the flour, yeast, and honey in a stainless steel bowl. Stir together, cover with plastic wrap, and let stand in a warm place until doubled in size (20 minutes).
Add the bread flour, oil, salt and remaining ½ cup water, stir together, cover, and let it double again (20 minutes.)
Knead the dough a bit to get any air out. Roll out the pizza dough on a heavily floured surface until ½ inch thick. Let sit for 15 mins. before baking.
Top the dough with crushed tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil.
Bake for 12 mins. Add bacon, beef, pickles, and additional cheddar (if desired). Return to oven for additional 3 mins.
Dress with ketchup and mustard. Serve.
Nice. In a guac bowl, I guess.
How is it not pizza? You can literally put anything you’d like on pizza and call it pizza. Just like you can put pepperoni or salami or tomato sauce on a burger and call it a burger.
[ Swiss???? Ok john Kerry. ]
I only buy swiss cheese made in the USA!
I know You’re supposed to use provolone or mozzarella, but I like the sharp tang of a aged Swiss! If you don’t like swiss or mozzarella provolone works well too as does sharp white cheddar too!
:)
That does sound good.
A zillion years ago in another life and at a far younger age, I worked in a pizza joint that also served pizza burgers. Pretty good actually. It was a french bread bun with pizza sauce on both sides and grated mozzarella on one side and grated cheddar on the other. That was melted in the oven. A burger was cooked and placed between the buns and there you go a pizza burger!
[ How is it not pizza? You can literally put anything you’d like on pizza and call it pizza. Just like you can put pepperoni or salami or tomato sauce on a burger and call it a burger. ]
Ever make a “poor man’s pizza sammich”?
one slice of bread, thin layer of ketchup, one hot dog sliced up thinly and scattered on it and a piece of American cheese single melted over it in a microwave for 30 seconds....
yum yum...
“I have to wonder if some of the liberal elites hatred of GWB stemmed from him liking “peasant things”....”
It is. His family is scum and I’m sure he put on the folksy act for votes, but he certainly liked dabbling in pheasant kinds of things like baseball, barbecue, beer, cheap cocaine, and shotguns. Elitists hate that. It’s beneath them for reasons they cannot explain.
My job has me associating with all sorts of people. Some act amazed that I’m a steak and potatoes guy. I always sense contempt. Some try and talk down to me, but I do my best to smack them into place. I’d sooner starve than blow a ton of money at a frigging fancy elite restaurant where people act all in love with fish semen and snails. I’ll take a Miller Lite, a burger, and profanity laced screaming at a TV when a good (non NFL) game is on. I’d rather drive home in my filthy Honda Element than some new in-style car (except for high end German cars ... I LOVE BMWs :-). ... I’d just prefer mine a bit more gritty looking with a hint of rust :-) )
That’s not to say that I don’t appreciate some of the finer things in life ... I just prefer my lifestyle stay grounded in reality as best I can :-). That involves keeping real people in my life and making a joke out of elitist snobs any chance I get. For whatever reason, fake people literally grate on my nerves and I don’t have that circuit that keeps my mouth shut when I see an elitist writing checks with their mouth that their body can’t cash.
I often think elitists are socialists since socialism is an outstanding form of wealth preservation. Seriously, there are no wealth taxes in a socialist state. They stay rich and only get richer. Nobody else can get into their bubble since they’re taxed to death and can’t accumulate a drop of wealth. Moreover, they don’t want any of the filthy peasants to invade their safe spaces.
Did Dubya make that while he was falling down drunk?
I don’t think an Ethiopian would eat that mess.
Ketchup and mustard on a pizza? That’s disgusting.
That gots to be an east coast thing....yuck.
Yes, I have and they are great. Used to call them hot dog sandwiches.
Dude, half the time it's made with Cheese Whizz IN PHILLY!
So you can't get all cono-sewer about it. Although, truthfully, the other half of the time it's made with provolone sauce... which is... excellent.
Besides, this is a pizza, so everything is allowed (except some things).
[ I often think elitists are socialists since socialism is an outstanding form of wealth preservation. Seriously, there are no wealth taxes in a socialist state. They stay rich and only get richer. Nobody else can get into their bubble since they’re taxed to death and can’t accumulate a drop of wealth. Moreover, they don’t want any of the filthy peasants to invade their safe spaces. ]
You NAILED IT RIGHT THERE! Socialism is the successful marketing campaign for NEO-FEUDALISM.
On a side note I have a sister that likes to pretend she is part of the “Country Club Crowd” , and what i find funny is that she is constantly leveraging debt for her country club lifestyle, as for me, I am never buy anything unless i already have money for it. She is in a constant state of debt and financial insecurity.
If things were to tank, I would be in an infinitely better position than her, even in a brass and lead economy, heh heh....
Actually, the arrogantly elite liberals hated him for being a “peasant” all along. Now you can imagine the hatred they hold for Trump.
Obama ruined Iraq. Not GWB.
True, but calling such abortions, pizza, is akin to making chicken picatta with tofu, hot fudge sauce, bananas, lemon juice, capers, and some rotgut red plonk.
O-M-G ! :-(
Or, you can paint a turd “gold” and call it gold, but it isn’t GOLD at all.
O-M-G....what a bastardization! :-(
WORDS HAVE MEANINGS AND SO DO THE NAMES OF DISHES!
Do you mean fish "EGGS", perhaps?
Caviar in a French restaurant? HUNH?
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