My dad once told me that when he was younger, Sophia was his favourite pin-up.  Is it any wonder?

There are probably more photos of Sophia Loren with food knocking around the internet than any other actress.  This is partly of course because she loves to cook, and has written a couple of cookbooks…

Those two are pretty pricey to buy, but this one is more affordable, and a new edition was released just last year.

The other reason there are so many photos of her with food, is just because she looks so utterly fabulous preparing, eating or just looking at, food…

As you might expect, many photos as above and below, feature pizza…  I love the way she’s bunging on the pizza sauce with her fingers…

But also of course, spaghetti…

But lots of other foodstuff too including sausages…

and cheese…

Her pizza recipe follows.  This recipe was given to Johna Blinn for her “Great Performances in the Kitchen” book.  I overcooked it a bit as I was chatting to guests and a bit merry, but it was still lovely.

Sophia Loren’s Pizza Alla Napoletana

Serves 4

For the dough:

2 cups all-purpose flour [** please see my note below**]

1 teaspoon yeast

1 package active dry yeast dissolved in 1 and 1/4 cups lukewarm water

1 teaspoon olive oil

For the garniture:

Tomato sauce or canned marinara sauce or peeled chopped tomatoes

Mozzarella cheese, sliced

Small tin fillet anchovies or sweet sliced Italian sausage, salami or thin strips proscuitto ham

Dried sweet basil

Freshly grated parmesan cheese

Freshly ground pepper

2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil

Place flour and salt on board.  Add dissolved yeast.  Knead thoroughly, add oil, continue kneading until smooth.  Place in lightly greased bowl, cover.  Set in warm place about 3 hours, or until dough doubles in bulk.  Flatten, roll out dough into a 10 inch thick disk, about 1/4 inch thick.  Spread surface with your choice of garniture.  Heat olive oil in large cast-iron skillet.  When oil is sizzling, add pizza, cook over medium flame about 10 minutes until golden and topping is bubbly.  Serve immediately.

** I used quite a lot more flour in order to make a pliable dough so you might need to have extra handy.  I found this pizza dough quite wet, but that’s maybe as I was using 00 flour rather than just good old plain flour.

For mine I used proscuitto ham and I baked it in the oven rather than doing it in a frying pan.  Yum.

There is another pizza recipe in Sophia’s Recipes & Memories book.  The proportions of flour / salt / yeast /water are very different to the above, so once I’ve used up the many packets of dough left over from the Burns Night pizza spectacular, I’ll try that recipe too…

Anyhow, Sophia card was pulled from the pack for recipe of the month for March so I’ll have fun deciding what to make for that!

I love the fact that it is Jayne Mansfield this month and Sophia the next.  This means that I get a chance to post Heather’s favourite photograph…

And here, for your listening pleasure is a link to, and the lyrics for, “Bangers and Mash” performed by Sophia and Peter Sellers.  Perhaps I should do Sophia’s minestrone next, with bangers and mash to follow…

Him:
I met ‘er down in Napoli and didn’t she look great
And so I brought ‘er back to Blighty just to show me mates
And though we’re married ‘appily, I’ll tell ya furthermore
I ‘aven’t ‘ad a decent meal since Nineteen-Forty-Four!

Her:
Eat your minestrone, Joe!
Him:
That’s all you ever say!
Her:
Eat your macaroni, Joe!
Him:
Ev’ry blinkin’ day!
Her:
No wonder you’re so boney, Joe
And skinny as a rake!
Him:
Well then, give us a bash at the bangers and mash me muvver used to make!

Him:
Bangers and mash
Her:
Minestrone
Him:
Bangers and mash
Her:
Macaroni
Him:
Give us a bash at the bangers and mash me muvver used to make!

Her:
Eat your tagliatelli, Joe!
Him:
That’s all I’ve ‘eard for years!
Her:
Eat your vermicelli, Joe!
Him:
It’s comin’ out me ears!
Her:
You’ve got to fill your belly, Joe!
Joe, for heaven’s sake!
Him:
Well then, give us a bash at the bangers and mash me muvver used to make!
Her:
Well, alright!

Him:
Bangers and mash
Her:
Tagliatelli
Him:
Bangers and mash
Her:
Vermicelli
Him:
Ah, give us a bash at the bangers and mash me muvver used to make!

(Spoken. All voices by Sellers):
American reporter:
Nineteen-Forty-Three, Allied Forces land in Italy!
1st soldier:
There’s a smashin’-lookin’ bird over there, Bert. I think she’s showin’ out there.
2nd soldier:
Well, why don’t you chat ‘er up then?
1st soldier:
Right! Bongourno Signorina now. ‘Ere, are you married?
Italian Girl:
(Unintellible reply)
1st soldier:
There y’are. Can’t ‘ave a fairer answer than that, can ya!

Her:
I met him back in Italy, so dashing and good-looking
He wined me and he dined me ev’ry night
He said I smiled so prettily and how he loved my cooking
But since he’s married me, it seems he’s lost his appetite

Him (Italian accent):
Eat your tagliatelli, Joe!
Her (Cockney accent):
That’s all you ever say! Ooohhhhh!
Him:
Eat your vermicelli, Joe!
Her:
Ev’ry bloomin’ day!
Him:
You’ve a-got to fill your belly, Joe!
Joe, for heaven’s sake!
Her:
Well then, give us a bash at the bangers and mash your muvver used to make!

Him:
Bangers and mash
Her:
Minestrone
Him:
Bangers and mash
Her:
Macaroni
Him:
Give me a bash with the bangers and mash!
Her:
(Laughing)
Him:
Like the same one what your mother was!
Her:
(Laughing)
Him:
What you laughing at now?
Her:
(Laughing)
Him:
(Indistinct)
. . . . . Please!