How to Make George W. Bush's Cheeseburger Pizza

The Daily Beast ^ | 10.23.16 | AILSA VON DOBENECK

[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.

[edh]

“Shoemaker, stick with thy last!”

You got it chief. I’ll do that! I’ll be sure to drop the facetious language when discussing the various breakfasts, lunches, and dinners of champions in the future!!!

I never pretended to know anything about that trash. What I do know is that I’ve seen it, find it sickening looking, can’t fathom why people pay an arm and a leg for it, and prefer bread and water (or shoes for that matter) to that garbage. To each their own I guess.

[odds]

He had a chef and he was French... No french fries.. we want Freedom Fries ... repeat!

[firebrand]

Good catch. We used to waste a lot of pencil lead fixing this.

[firebrand]

A restaurant in the West 50s in NYC used to have a cheeseburger club sandwich.

[Daffynition]

In defense of *Bush recipes* I've made these and they are GREAT!

Laura Bush’s Cowboy Cookies

Chewy, monster-sized oatmeal cookies stuffed with nuts and chocolate chips, enhanced with a hint of cinnamon.



3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups butter (at room temperature)
1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
1-1/2 cups packed light-brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
2 cups sweetened flake coconut [I omit coconut b/c of a family member w/ allergy to coconut]
2 cups chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 F. Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in bowl. In 8-quart bowl, beat butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy, 1 minute. Gradually beat in sugars; beat to combine, 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each. Beat in vanilla extract. Stir in flour mixture until just combined. Add chocolate chips, oats, coconut and pecans. For each cookie, drop 1/4 cup dough onto ungreased baking sheets, spacing 3 inches apart. Bake for 17 to 19 minutes, until edges are lightly browned; rotate sheets halfway through. Remove cookies from rack to cool. Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

NOTE: For 6 dozen (72) smaller cookies, use 2 tablespoons dough for each. Bake at 350 F for 15 to 18 minutes.

Servings: approx. 36

[Daffynition]

http://www.pizzamaking.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=3ea5ae6389315a0468bdc4ccfe59de35&/topic,6322.msg54238.html#msg54238

[SauronOfMordor]

My wife occasionally makes “pizza burgers”. Make a regular burger, top it with mozzarella cheese, let it melt on the burger. Put it on the bun and put some tomato sauce on top.

I think it’s great.

[BeadCounter]

We should have had a larger troop presence, the persecution of Christians started under Bush in Iraq. Research on the news showed it started as early as 2004.

[Clutch Martin]

Well... I can only assume that GWB doesn’t care for the hamburger bun...

[atc23]

YUCK

[atc23]

Where you from that assholes put ketchup and mustard on pizza?

[MayflowerMadam]

I used to love Dominos Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza. Don’t know if they make it any more.

[Joe Boucher]

So very tired of these perpetual political families.
The Kennedy’s, Clinton’s, Bush’s, etc should all just go away and leave us all alone.
Eat poo and die, a
L of you.

[COBOL2Java]

Most important part of any Bush recipe is, whenever someone criticizes it, do not defend it. Wouldn’t be prudent.

[Carriage Hill]

Lose the pickles.
Add onions and mushrooms.
I’d eat it.

[jch10]

Sorry, but I am no longer interested in what the Bushs have to offer.

[Dr. Sivana]

Apizza equivalent of Caherine Zeta-Jones

[reformedliberal]

Lost me at: add additional toppings and bake 3” more. Way to burn the already baked pizza crust. Also, Cheddar is way too greasy for pizza, IMO.

Why not just make a pizza with one set of ingredients, even the cheeseburger items, and forget the Cheddar? And maybe put the pickles/mustard on the side, like the red pepper is offered in restaurants? Also, perhaps pizza sauce AND ketchup are redundant....If you like ketchup on a pizza, use it for the sauce or add some to regular sauce.

Like “Cheeseburger Tacos”, more appropriately named “Cheeseburger Boats”, this is a bastardization I will avoid.
Might as well make cheeseburgers OR pizza. We like both, just not mixed together.

[moovova]

Ah ha!

Finally found those WMDs.

[Prov1322]

Of course a real Philly Cheese Steak is made with Cheese Whiz!

With all due respect my FRiend...NEVER

The CheezWhiz abomination is a creation of Pat's. Up until the early 70's the ONLY way you would have a cheese steak made in every neighborhood was either with "American" or Provolone. Of course, Provolone was the way to go!

CheezWhiz started appearing at neighborhood steak shops when they started selling CheezFries...the concept dripped over to the grill and was likely bolstered when MNF started showing Pat's slapping Whiz on their steaks.

If you ever get to a neighborhood steak shop in Philly (meaning not Pat's nor Geno's...although Geno's is slightly better...) order a Pizza Steak or at least order a Cheese Steak with Provolone.

End the CheezWhiz madness! OK, rant over...