Jessica Badalana

This episode featured Amber Eisler, King Arthur's baking school director. You can learn more about the baking school as well as Amber's on-demand sourdough for beginners class at kingarthurbaking.com slash baking dash school. They're also linked in the show notes.

And I'm Jessica Badalana, Staff Editor at King Arthur Baking. Today we are talking about a topic that is very near and dear to our hearts, pizza. Pizza. You know, you and I have been talking a lot about pizza in recent weeks.

And I'm Jessica Badalana, Staff Editor at King Arthur Baking. Today we are talking about a topic that is very near and dear to our hearts, pizza. Pizza. You know, you and I have been talking a lot about pizza in recent weeks.

And you know, all of this conversation about pizza is in service of a project that we've been working on, which is a new pizza cookbook, which will be coming out spring of 2026. But all this conversation about pizza has definitely sent me down a sort of nostalgic road. And, you know, one of the first pizzas that I really remember eating was cheese pizza from Pizza Hut.

And you know, all of this conversation about pizza is in service of a project that we've been working on, which is a new pizza cookbook, which will be coming out spring of 2026. But all this conversation about pizza has definitely sent me down a sort of nostalgic road. And, you know, one of the first pizzas that I really remember eating was cheese pizza from Pizza Hut.

And I grew up in rural Vermont and going to Pizza Hut, it required a trip across state lines because the only Pizza Hut was across the river in New Hampshire. And it was a big deal. Like it felt sort of fancy there. You know, they had the faux Tiffany lanterns, the dark red leather banquets, and those giant 20 ounce red plastic tumblers. I mean, we didn't dress up for it, but we could have.

And I grew up in rural Vermont and going to Pizza Hut, it required a trip across state lines because the only Pizza Hut was across the river in New Hampshire. And it was a big deal. Like it felt sort of fancy there. You know, they had the faux Tiffany lanterns, the dark red leather banquets, and those giant 20 ounce red plastic tumblers. I mean, we didn't dress up for it, but we could have.

The reason that we went is because my brother and I, and later my sister, who's five years younger than me, participated in the Book It program. Do you know Book It? Yeah.

The reason that we went is because my brother and I, and later my sister, who's five years younger than me, participated in the Book It program. Do you know Book It? Yeah.

Well, if you're not familiar with Book It, this was a literacy program. It started about 40 years ago, and you would get a punch card. And for every book you'd read, you'd get a punch on your punch card. And once your punch card was filled, you could turn it in for free six-inch personal pan pizza.

Well, if you're not familiar with Book It, this was a literacy program. It started about 40 years ago, and you would get a punch card. And for every book you'd read, you'd get a punch on your punch card. And once your punch card was filled, you could turn it in for free six-inch personal pan pizza.

And I mean, for a nerd like me, who spent most of her time in the library, I love to read. I had few friends. I loved pizza. I mean, it was basically the book it was designed for rural nerds like me. And I filled out those punch cards like nobody's business.

And I mean, for a nerd like me, who spent most of her time in the library, I love to read. I had few friends. I loved pizza. I mean, it was basically the book it was designed for rural nerds like me. And I filled out those punch cards like nobody's business.

I read all the books. Did you not read the books?

I read all the books. Did you not read the books?

I do. I do. And I remember the pizza also just so well. The sauce is really sweet. It's good. There was a lot of cheese, generously applied cheese. I'd have that tumbler of root beer. Life was good.

I do. I do. And I remember the pizza also just so well. The sauce is really sweet. It's good. There was a lot of cheese, generously applied cheese. I'd have that tumbler of root beer. Life was good.

And, you know, whether or not it's a Pizza Hut memory, I think like a lot of our listeners can probably relate to those early like starry eyed pizza memories, whether it was at the brightly lit pizza parlor in the suburbs, you know, the ones that always sponsor like the little league teams, or for kids that grew up in the city, like...

And, you know, whether or not it's a Pizza Hut memory, I think like a lot of our listeners can probably relate to those early like starry eyed pizza memories, whether it was at the brightly lit pizza parlor in the suburbs, you know, the ones that always sponsor like the little league teams, or for kids that grew up in the city, like...

a slice at an iconic New York City slice shop, which I didn't have until I was in college, you know, but is where I imagine New York toddlers take like their first bite of solid food is at these like anywhere.