That’s Amore
“In Napoli where love is king
When boy meets girl here’s what they say
When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie
That’s amore
When the world seems to shine like you’ve had too much wine
That’s amore
Bells will ring ting-a-ling-a-ling
And you’ll sing “Vita Bella”…”
Dean Martin
This may not be a holiday song, but to me a true family classic, and isn’t that what holidays are all about? Remembering special traditions and most importantly, special people, who add meaning to my life each and every day is what inspires me to want to savor each moment and put a little creativity into my wardrobe, meal planning and also into my gift giving.
This is one of my favorite dresses. It is Laundry by Shelli Segal from http://www.thredup.com. I love the cheerfulness of the bright red color and it’s so easy to dress up or down. I’ve worn it with sandals in the summer, a tweed blazer in the fall, and my new favorite way to wear it ( now that it is so cold) is with a blanket scarf from http://www.target.com.
My hat is from Target and I recently found the boots at http://www.burlingtonstyle.com.
Now back to the song… and that pizza pie! You must have a pizza lover in your life, right? What’s a better way to show them you care than to take the time to put together these fabulous and also extremely useful ( and stylish) items for them to create their own pizza ?
If the pizza lover you know is a child you can even prepare this gift and spend a few hours teaching him or her how to make their own pizza!
I was inspired by this gift basket found at http://www.gourmetgiftbaskets.com to try to put together my own pizza lover’s gift, so I could design and cater it to the needs of the person or family I would present it to.
I do think it is a fabulous basket and a bargain at under $100.00 for so many great quality items.
If you want to make your own, start with a reasonably priced basket set such as this one from http://www.worldmarket.com.
Look for special kitchen towels to match the style of the recipient for lining the basket such as this one from http://www.crateandbarrel.com.
You can have a personalized mixing bowl made at http://porch.com/gigglesgalore/personalized-mixing-bowls-gift-idea-bakers/
Find a special pizza cutter for just about any personality type-
I know my son would love the Darth Vader Light Saber version from thinkgeek.com.
Add a pizza peel , which can also be personalized at lillianvernon.com and current.com.
Include a bottle of your favorite extra virgin olive oil.
And of course , pizza spices, which can be easily found at your grocery store or you can order specialty versions.
There are lots to choose from online and also some organic versions on etsy.
Add your own homemade pizza sauce and dry dough mix . They are really easy to make and you will feel so good being able to present these homemade products!
Homemade Pizza Sauce
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 medium yellow onion, diced
2 tablespoons minced garlic
3 cans chopped tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme
1. In a large saucepan or skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; sauté until onion is translucent, 5-7 minutes. Add chopped tomatoes; summer over low heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Season sauce with salt, pepper and sugar, if desired. Continue cooking. Stirring occasionally, until sauce is thickened, about 45 minutes.
3. Spoon off any clear liquid and discard; stir in thyme and cook about 10 minutes longer. Let sauce cool.
4. Using a funnel, pour cooled sauce into a decorative jar;refrigerate until ready to place in the basket.
Dry Dough Mix for No-Knead Deep Dish Pizza
Mix together in small bag or small container:
2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup semolina flour
2 teaspoons yeast
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
Write down on an index card the following instructions:
Add 1 1/4 cup warm water and 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the mix. Combine all ingredients until they form a slightly sticky soft dough. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes, then place in greased pizza pan and let it rest for 20 minutes. Pat it and stretch it to cover the bottom of the pan. Preheat oven to 425 degrees, add sauce and desired toppings. Bake for 15 minutes.
Enjoy ! Wait… the song says something about wine, right ?
Here are some great choices that are perfect for pairing with homemade Italian pizza :
There you have it. Fashion, Food, Wine. I couldn’t have said it better than the one and only Dean Martin. “That’s Amore.”
Thank you so much, for taking the time to read my little blog today. I hope you found it worthwhile and hope it made you smile.
Whatever you do, put your imagination and heart into it, and you will never go wrong. You will create your own special moments, memories, and traditions.
May this season bring you only the most delightful moments.
Yours truly,
Jennifer
Xoxo
Fashion splashed with RED & gourmet pizza two things I will always need💄💋👠🍕
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Absolutely!!! Hoped you would like it !! Thank you so much!!! Xoxo
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Looking all too good baby in that dress, as well as the pizza looking all too yummy , love it all 😍❤️❤️❤️
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Thank you so much, baby ❤️for always being so sweet and I’m glad you loved it ! 😍😍😍
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You know I always do ❤️
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Always appreciated ❤️
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Wow I love this cute little guide I have to take notes . I have a yes to pizza all day Thank you for sharing with us Darling.
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Thank you so much! I really appreciate that !!
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You have touched some of my favourite topics here!! The song is so cozy and familiar to me: I sang it while I cuddled my baby dancing around my living room to make her laugh lol. Pizza is my absolute favourite food. I know, I’m Italian. And you look like a sweet Christmas fairy if that makes sense! The dress, the scarf, the hat, the boots, you’re just too cute! Much love and congrats on your blog! Baci, Valeria – Coco et La vie en rose FASHION & BEAUTY
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Thank you so much for your incredibly kind words ! They mean so much to me as you are a true inspiration!!!!
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Such a healthy dose of fashion and food! I love it! The scarf is to die for!!
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Thank you so much!! I absolutely appreciate that !!
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That red dress is gorgeous on you! I love the way you draped the scarf over it. And who doesn’t love pizza!?
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My sister Jenny. Here goes another paragraph worth of thoughts. Let me start by saying, thank you for making want to turn on my record player, get several glasses of wine, and eat amazing pizza, lol. I’m legit so hungry right now. Now onto the fashion. Your dress is is so fab Jenny. I love how you paired it with that awesome scarf and those killer boots. One day I need to through your hat collection. I’m so obsessed with whatever headwear you own, lol. Now that pizza gift basket is a genius. I’m obsessed with the cutters you featured above. That vader saber is everything. I would literally go to culinary school and learn how to make the perfect pizza to open up a star wars pizza shop and own hundreds of those cutters, haha. The pizza recipes above are devine. I can’t wait to come over for dinner, cause I know if I were to make it, it would not be half as good as yours. Lastly, you know me so well. I LOVE WINE. Wine is like my fave thing to wind down with at the end of the day. I just got 3 new bottles of reds the other day. I’ll bring Jo with me because she is my drinking partner, haha. Overall, this is another amazing post my sister. I’m so happy I took half an hour to myself to stop by here and read this. It’s always so great to see your beautiful and infectious smile. Can’t wait to come back and leave another essay about your next post :).
Love you,
Dom
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You have completely made my week , my dear brother, with your kindness and extremely thoughtful way you have expressed yourself !!! I knew you would love that cutter !! Imagine if you were making a pizza while you had on your Star Wars attire ( you must have some) and using that cutter ! You would have so much fun with your nephew, William;) , dear. It means so much to me that you took the time to read this and really means so much to me that you like it !!!! I admire your style and the elegant, artful way you express yourself, always, and you truly inspire me !!!
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Your blog post are always so cute. That pizza looks so good to make and simple at the same time. That’s how I try to makes my cooking.. simple. lol!I love your outfit too and that pretty scarf.
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Thank you so much!!! You are always so kind and so much appreciated!!
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Jennifer, this is such a well thought out and written post. I love pizza and I used to make pizzas all the time including dough from scratch. I always had a hard time with the pizza sauce. I may try your recipe! Also in terms of your outfit I really like your boots and hat….and of course that scarf which looks like an Italian restaurant table cover. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
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It’s Patrick 😉
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Thank you so much, Patrick!! It means so much to me that you took the time to read my blog and I’m so glad you liked it!! I wa thinking the exact same thing about the tablecloth!!! Xoxo ❤️❤️❤️❤️
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That you SO much !!!!! It means so much to me that you took the time to read my blog and I am so glad , Patrick, that you liked it !! Yes !! I almost wrote that in the post , about the tablecloth! Xoxo You are truly the best !
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Pizza is practically a staple in my house!! I started par baking my dough in a really hot oven with a bit of olive oil & Italian seasoning and it makes for a really crisp, crusty bottom after the pizza is topped and the cheese is all melted. Ugh, now I’m hungry!!
Xo Stella
http://www.theheartsdlite.com
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Thank you so much Stella !!! That means so much to me, that you took the time to read my post and I’m really glad you liked it !!
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This is such a pretty outfit and I’m a huge pizza lover myself!!!
Definitely trying out this recipe!
Thanks for sharing!!
PS: Love THREDUP too!!!
XO
Aimara
http://www.waysofstyle.com
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Thank you so much!! I really appreciate that !! Xoxo
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You look amazing in this red dress! I love how you paired it with this plaid scarf to spice things up and stay warm and cozy. I really want to try some of this pizza now! Maybe I’ll make some of my own hehe. Thanks for sharing xx
Jenn | https://jennsemble.com
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Thank you so much , for taking the time to read this post! Means so much and I’m glad you liked it ! Go ahead , make some pizza 🍕! Xoxo
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Jenn, this article is one of the best I have read for a while . I just love how you explain everything here. Love all the pics. Italian pizza OMG. I absolutely love it. Your style is incredible. How about those Italian Vinos OMG .
Thank you for sharing
http://www.erickfashion.com
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Thank YOU so much , Eric! Means so much that you took the time to check out my blog and I’m really glad you liked the post! How about those Italian Vinos , pretty fabulous , right? Xo
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Love the plaid scarf & how you styled it! And I have never made pizza from scratch! I need to try tie recipe! Love your wine recommendations to pair with it! Fabulous! ~ Kristin Canale
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Thank you so much !!! I really appreciate that !!!
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I love the red dress on you babe, so holiday perfect!
And that pizza looks amazing going to have to try out the recipe hehe.
I totally know what you mean! Some songs just bring you back to a place in time
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Thank you so much!! I absolutely appreciate that !
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Love the red dress and pop of the plaid! I’m such a pizza lover too, wine is such a good combo!
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Thank you so much!
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How good is that basket and the fact that its catered to making pizzas is a bonus!! That pizza looks sooooo good btw – now I’m craving a good pizza!
Helen xx
https://ch1k.com/discover-bangkok-in-2-days
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Thank you so much!!
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This is an AWESOME post Jennifer! I love eating pizzas but I’m never fond of doing them myself.. However, I would really love it if somebody (hinting my hubs) can be soo kind to prepare a pizza for me according to your recipe because it simply looks nothing short of YUMMY! And… I’m so attracted to your pizza that I almost forgot to comment that your outfit is great too 😀
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Thank you so much! I really appreciate that !!
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First off the red dress and the plaid scarf are so festive and perfect for the holidays! I absolutely love this gift basket idea of making pizza! I totally am going to steal this idea and give it to a friend who loves cooking! Thank you for the amazing recipes! Xoxo, Christine
http://dailykongfidence.com/
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Thank you so much!! I’m really glad you liked it ! I truly appreciate your time and kind words !
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Lovely post Jennifer. Pizza recipe look delicious and red dress is so festive and looks gorgeous on you.
Also love how you suggested wine pairings. Very detail oriented
xoxo
Anju
http://codedressed.com/
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Thank you so much!!
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I love making pizza from scratch too! I used to have a pizza stone and everything LOL. What a great gift idea!
XO
http://www.lehoarder.com
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Thank you so much!!
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this post is making me crave for some fresh homemade pizza and some red wine! OMG! I should do that now! Thanks for the tip
http://www.thenewgirl.me
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Thank you so much!!
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Thank you for sharing the recipe. I am so excited to actually make this on Christmas. And your outfit is so perfect for the holiday as well. Shalini
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Thank you so much!!
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Good food and great fashion is perfectly and seamlessly paired by you!
I haven’t tried making pizza from scratch but I just might try cos u made it look really simple!
Much love from Singapore,
Everest
http://Www.everestsays.com
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Thank you so much!!!
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So Nice.
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Thank you so much!
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You’re Welcome Ma’am.
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That’s an amazing outfit and perfect pizza recipe! Makes me hungry even looking at the fruitful pictures and reading:)
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That scarf looks so cosy and warm. Thanks for sharing the recipe! Gonna save it for my Christmas cooking =)
Xx,Jessie
http://4evajessie.com/calzedonia-ss2017-fashion-show-verona/
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Great post I love pizza so these would make great gifts ideas for me too then who doesn’t love pizza thanks for sharing this recipe with us
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Thank you so much!!!
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Oh my god girl this gift guide is too perfect. Love how that dress looks on you 🙂
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Thank you so much!
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My husband and I are obsessed with pizza! This was such a great post. I love the gift guide. Will definitely be buying a few items!
xo,
Spreadfashionblog.com
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Thank you so much!!
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Love this stylish blanket scarf and a cute hat on you!
http://stylesprinter.com/
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Mmmm pizza will always be one of my faves and this basket looks like such a must-have for any pizza lover! This outfit is so gorgeous too- you really suit red and that plaid blanket scarf is perfect for the holidays
Rachel xx
http://www.thedailyluxe.net
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Thank you so much! I really appreciate that !!!
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Love the hat in you and the Pizza looks delish as well!
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Thank you so much!!
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Am loving that blanket scarf on you- they are so cozy for winter! And now you have me wanting pizza for lunch!
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Thank you so much!!
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Every week I look forward to reading your posts, I am always curious about the recipes you will share. I love the idea of the Pizza Basket, I would love to get one myself :). Thank you for always sharing such amazing ideas. And I really love how you styled this look, it is so cozy and chic. Red looks so stunning on you.
xxx
Sarah
http://sarahatiq.com/
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Thank you so much!!! You totally made my day !! Actually, I think you made my month xoxoxo
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Ok, the pizza looks absolutely amazing! And thanks for sharing pairing wines as well. I know nothing about wine and usually just buy what I like. Wie pairing to food is actually quite interesting.
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Thank you so much! I really appreciate that !
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Wow the pizza looks great and I love your recommendations about pairing wine. I am a big wine drinker, so I really enjoyed your post 🙂
xo, Maryam
http://www.glamandposh.com
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Thank you so much!!
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Great post! I love your plaid scarf and dress! All so festive! That pizza also looks amazing! I am going to try it Friday night! YUM!
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Thank you so much!
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This was great idea for a post! Im huuge pizza lover and I would be happy to get any of it 😀
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Thank you so much!
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Hey Sweetie:) Love your Post, so many Nice Stuffs:)
That Pizza Looks so Delicious:) Yummmm:)
And love your Look and your scarf is very Pretty:)
Wish you Merry Christmas:)
Love Open Kloset By Karina
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Thank you so much! Merry Christmas!
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Omg as a HUGE pizza lover, this post was perfect for me! Love how you covered every imaginable aspect on this idea, and I’m especially loving all of those pizza cutters. Ranging from elegant to just plain fun choices, this is one of the most fun and creative gift idea posts I’ve seen yet! Thanks so much for creating this, definitely sending it to the hubby lol!!
xo Soo | http://www.BrownEyedToast.com
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Thank you so much! You are the sweetest and very much appreciated! Happy Holidays xoxoxo
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That is such a nice post! Nice scarf you have on there! And the basket full of goodies is such a great idea for any pizza lover!
Happy Holidays to you and your family!
Bisous, Josie
http://www.petiteandbold.com
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Thank you so much!!!! Same to you !!
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Why do you always look so gorgeous! That pizza looks divine thanks so much for sharing the recipe!
http://ministryforstyle.com/
x Mandy
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Thank you so much! I really appreciate that !!!!
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Merry Christmas Ma’am.
All to Best Wishes for You & Yours
May God Fulfill Your Every Desire In 2017.
Always Stay Happy.
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Thank you so much and lots of love to you always !
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Always U’re Welcome Ma’am.
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Best wishes for the New Year!
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Thank you so much!!! Same to you 💕
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