Fire Up Your Grill - It's Pizza Time

If you've enjoyed the smokey, slightly charred taste of a woodfired pizza while dining out, then it's time to light a fire and get grilling at home.

"For a home cook, grilled pizzas are the closest you can get to the charred crispiness of pies from a wood-fired oven." - Mary Vuong, Houston Chronicle

At our house, we use a grill some of you may or not have heard of, and that's the Old Smokey. Maybe it's because we always have to be a bit different and we like a bargain, but the Old Smokey hasn't done us wrong.

We purchased the 18-inch model, or should I say I purchased the Old Smokey for my "Old Man." (It was his 40th Birthday - and well the thing only costs about that, too. The brand is a backyard staple in Texas and the Southwest.

Looking like a retro tin can from the 1950's the Old Smokey is a two-piece unit with a deep bottom that flares out to the middle and short legs for stability and a low-profile . . . or as the company's description says, "so you can sit down and enjoy the process!" The grill comes in three sizes, and we've found that the 18-inch size is perfect for 2 to 6 people and we've grilled pizzas, ribs, chicken, brats and more. Or should I say, my husband has while I stay out of the way.

Since the company also makes smokers, one of the neat features of the Old Smokey is that you can keep the hot coals lower from the grill rack which makes for a smokier finish and more even heating - something key to a grilled pizza. Plus, we use all natural lump charcoal and an electric starter for the best flavor. In addition, the Old Smokey is made out of aluminized steel which resists rust and corrosion.

Two key tips for grilled pizza success: 1) oil the dough liberally and 2) keep toppings to a minimum for the crispiest result. For something different, try topping your woodfired pizza with some pesto, a little bits of fresh mozzarella (towards the end) and then topping your crispy crust with fresh herbs, tomatoes and greens like the arugula pictured above.

Another gadget you can shop for is a grilling stone manufactured specifically to withstand the direct fire/heat of your grill. Grill'nStone lets you grill and bake foods as if you're using a brick-lined oven - distributing heat evenly. You can grill poultry and meats on the ribbed-surface side and it's flat-surface for pancakes, pizzas and breads.

- GE, 4/29/08



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