Ready for an unpopular opinion? You shouldn’t order food delivery in a snowstorm. Or a sleet storm. Or a hail storm. Or a hurricane. Or in any extreme, slick or otherwise dangerous weather.
We get it: the temptation is real. You certainly don’t want to leave your house—why not just order delivery? You can stay in your pj’s while you wait for comfort food to arrive at your doorstep. All of us have done it, and the convenience is often worth the cost.
Love takeout? These copycat recipes are uncannily good.
It’s A Safety Thing, Mostly
Here’s the thing, though: if you don’t want to venture out into the weather, or if you don’t feel safe on the roads, why should you ask someone else to take the risk for you? Many delivery drivers (though certainly not all of them) are young drivers, without tons of experience. Or they may drive older cars (meaning: probably not luxe SUVs with four-wheel drive). Even if your delivery driver is experienced with inclement conditions, he’s still sharing a road with other drivers in the slippery, wet or low-visibility weather. Meaning, he’s basically risking his life (or at least his bumpers) to bring you some pizza.
Staying in? Try these easy pizza recipes.
But Quality Matters, Too
Still not convinced? Here’s the other thing: your food is going to take forever to get to your house. It’ll almost certainly be cold when it arrives. So cold pizza + stressed-out delivery guy = not worth it.
Rather than order pizza, why not turn on the oven (and make the house extra cozy) to bake a frozen pizza? We did a taste test of major brands to find the most delicious frozen pizza.
Re-create Your Pizza Joint Favorites at Home
I had my first stuffed pizza when I attended college near Chicago. I was amazed to see pizza well over an inch thick, with topping on the inside! When I served this version to my family, there are no leftovers. —Nancy Gilmour of Sumner, Iowa
Get Our Recipe: Spinach-Stuffed Pizza
Leftover meat sauce makes a hearty calzone that tastes like it’s made from scratch. Top the calzones with a sprinkling of Parmesan. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Get Our Recipe: Quick Calzones
Our family never quite liked the taste of canned pizza sauce, so one time I tried mixing some barbecue sauce into spaghetti sauce to add some sweetness. I’ve made my pizzas with this special and easy sauce ever since, and my family loves it! —Tonya Schieler, Carmel, Indiana
Get Our Recipe: Quick Hawaiian Pizza
People go wild over this golden, garlicky loaf whenever I serve it. There’s intense flavor in every bite. —Carol Shields, Summerville, Pennsylvania
Get Our Recipe: Pull-Apart Garlic Bread
My family love this pizza crust, and this is our go-to recipe. It's healthier and less expensive than delivery and taste so much better. —Theresa Rohde, Scottville, Michigan
Get Our Recipe: Thin Crust Pizza Dough
Present these delicious breadsticks alongside an Italian favorite like lasagna or spaghetti. They're an attractive and edible addition to the table setting! —Carol Wolfer, Lebanon, Oregon
Get Our Recipe: Best-Ever Breadsticks
Contributor Gigi Miller, from Stoughton, Wisconsin, provided a fabulous recipe for sweet and saucy chicken thighs that she serves with rice. We took it a step further, and used the chicken and sauce to make this restaurant-inspired Thai pizza. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Get Our Recipe: Spicy Thai Chicken Pizza
Since I live near Chicago, I've managed to sample more than my share of deep-dish pizzas. This recipe lets you re-create the best of my town—right in your town! —Lynn Hamilton, Naperville, Illinois
Get Our Recipe: Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza
My grandma made the tastiest snacks for us when we stayed the night at her farm. Her wonderful pizza, hot from the oven, was covered with cheese and had fragrant herbs in the crust. Now this pizza is frequently a meal for my husband and me and our family. —Michele Madden, Washington Court House, Ohio
Get Our Recipe: Sausage Pizza
Offer this eye-appealing appetizer at your next party and get ready to hand out the recipe. I deep-fry breaded mushrooms before adding them to a bed of spaghetti sauce. —Barbara McCalley, Allison Park, Pennsylvania
Get Our Recipe: Fried Mushrooms Marinara
String cheese is the secret to success for this popular stuffed-crust pizza. Prebaking the crust crust before you add the toppings assures that the cheese inside will melt completely.—Terri Gonzalez, Roswell, New Mexico
Get Our Recipe: Cheese Crust Pizza
We love the breadsticks at our local pizza joint. Now I can get that same gooey-from-the-oven treat, but I never have to leave the house. —Heather Bates, Athens, Maine
Get Our Recipe: Herbed Cheese Sticks
A wonderful crust layered with herbed tomato sauce and toppings encourages my family of six to dig right in to this low-fat main course. —Denise Warner, Red Lodge, Montana
Get Our Recipe: Whole Wheat Veggie Pizza
When a friend shared this salad recipe, it had a fancy French name. Our children can never remember it, so they say, "Mom, please make 'that good salad.'" Now our friends and neighbors request it for potluck dinners. It really is one of the best salad recipes. —Betty Lamb, Orem, Utah
Get Our Recipe: That Good Salad
When my kids were really small, they were reluctant to eat their veggies and I had to get creative. I figured that because pesto is already green, it would be the perfect place for some spinach. The pizza was a big hit. —Janet Burbach, North Platte, Nebraska
Get Our Recipe: Spinach-Pesto White Pizza
You won't believe something this easy could taste so fantastic! Crunchy outside, gooey cheese inside, these mozzarella sticks are a treat all ages will love. Kids could help wrap them, too. —Shirley Warren, Thiensville, Wisconsin
Get Our Recipe: Wonton Mozzarella Sticks
The post This Is Why You Shouldn’t Order a Pizza in a Snowstorm appeared first on Taste of Home.
Kelsey Rae Dimberg
