It dawned on me the other day of certain foods I missed from my childhood. Both my mother and grandmother were great cooks. We always had a hot meal for dinner and breakfast and lunch made with love. Sometimes it was leftovers, sometimes my mother made a special meal just for us. When we were in school my mother packed great lunches. Usually leftovers from the night before. Or a fresh made salad with tuna or egg. Either way I always traveled to school with a greasy brown paper bag. Never had a lunch box like some of the kids. But whatever was packed in that brown paper bag was always the envy of the lunch room.

Both my mother and grandmother made a great pizza. Homemade dough, fresh tomato sauce, and plenty of mozzarella cheese. But on occasion, I remember my mother taking a shortcut. She made pizza out of English Muffins and day-old Italian bread, depending on what was in the house. These were nothing like the real thing, but they were darn good.

While I was shopping at the supermarket last week memories of that french bread pizza came to mind. I swung around to the bakery section. I picked up a loaf of seeded semolina bread. It was supplied by an excellent local bakery called Anthony’s. I picked up a jar of pizza sauce, some pepperoni and a package of mozzarella. Everything I needed to make that french bread pizza. It has been so long since I had it but it’s a recipe you never forget. Here is how I do it.

• 1 loaf of French or Italian bread, divided
• A jar of your favorite pizza sauce
• a block of mozzarella or a bag of shredded mozzarella
• Pepperoni or any other topping you prefer
• olive oil
• Pecorino Romano grated cheese

Depending on the size of the loaf of bread, cut it in half or thirds. Split the bread on one side leaving the other end in tack. Open the bread like a book and place on a piece of aluminum foil sprayed with cooking oil.

Spread a couple of tablespoons of pizza sauce on each side of the bread. Cover as much of the bread as possible. Next cover the top with the mozzarella. Add your topping of choice, and sprinkle on the Romano cheese and a drizzle of olive oil.

Place the pizza on top of the foil in a pre-heated 400 degree oven. Cook the pizza for about 8-9 minutes. Wait until the cheese is bubbly and the edges of the bread are slightly browned.Remove from the oven and let rest 5 minutes. Cut the pizza down the middle and then across. You should have four slices of pizza.