Pizza Week

The Menu:

Sunday - Everything Pizza - sourdough crust, Joanne's perfect marinara, mozzarella, bell peppers, onions, jalapenos, button mushrooms, black olives, and pepperoni on half.

Monday - Greek Pizza - sourdough crust, Joanne's perfect marinara, mozzarella, bell pepper, jalapenos, kalamata olives, onions, feta, and pepperoni on half.

Tuesday - Mexican Pizza - sourdough crust, black beans, mozzarella, onions, bell peppers, jalapenos, onions, and black olives.

Wednesday - Pizza Bagels - 3 seed bagels, marinara, mozzarella, manchego, and pepperoni on half.

Thursday - Cheese/Pepperoni Pizza from the food window at the Rose Garden.

Friday - Pineapple and Jalapeno Pizza - Hotlips pizza dough, Joanne's perfect marinara, mozzarella, pineapple, jalapenos, and pepperoni on half.

Saturday - Pesto and Leftovers Pizza - Hotlips pizza dough, Basil Pesto Outside the Box, mozzarella, manchego, bell peppers, kalamata olives, onions, chanterelle mushrooms

I can't remember when exactly Todd and I started celebrating Pizza Week.  I do remember that it started out as a means to test Todd's insatiable appetite for pizza.  Over the years I have found that if (a) we eat out more than twice during Pizza Week or (b) I make similar pies more than 3 nights in a week, his appetite for pizza does finally give up.  

I proved the latter true this year, actually.  By Wednesday night, Todd was asking if we could quit Pizza Week.  He was sick of all the super cheesy pizzas I was making.  Personally, I was sick of it by then too, but only because the sourdough crust was a dud.  The crust rose and rolled out beautifully, but the sour flavor seemed to overpower the pizza and I couldn't taste much else.  But I digress...  Todd was sick of pizza week.  I was too, but I'm a traditionalist and once we start Pizza Week, we don't stop Pizza Week.  I had to get us back on track.  So, on Thursday before we went to the Trailblazers game, I told him I wasn't making pizza for dinner.  I was making rutabaga salad instead.  He thought I was joking.  Well, by the time he finished the [delicious] rutabaga salad, he asked if we could go back to Pizza Week.  Which we did - even getting a greasy slice from the food vendor at the Rose Garden.

So Pizza Week trudged on.  Thank goodness, too, because Saturday's pizza was too much happiness in one pie.  The Hotlips dough ($3! at any Hotlips) was chewy and airy and so so easy.  I spread on the basil pesto we picked up from the farmers market and then proceeded to clean out the fridge for toppings.  Wow.  And I have to say, two years running, this is the best way to make pizza.  Last year's shining pie was comprised of sweet onions, mushrooms, and smoked gouda on marinara.  Maybe I'm channeling my inner stoner or something, but my mad-scientist-munchie pizzas always seem to be the favorite.  

I guess it goes to show you that can't champion a copy cat.  Papa Johns will always make a better pineapple and jalapeno pie than I will.  And Rovente's will make a better greek.  And Al Forno will make a better calzone.  And Sizzle Pie will make better pizza at 3am.  And Lovely's Fifty Fifty will make a better everything - except the one I made up ;-)

Joanne's Perfect Marinara

I've made this so many times and always alter it to fit whatever's in my cupboards...  It's always perfect.  So perfect that I spoon-feed half of it to myself.

1 tbsp olive oil

1 lg shallot or 1 sm onion

1 16oz can chopped tomatoes - puree half the can or replace with a tbsp of tomato paste

2 tbsp chopped fresh basil or 2 tsp dried

6 tbsp red wine (whatever you like to drink or cooking wine)

1 tsp sugar

salt and pepper to taste

Saute the shallot in the oil for 5 minutes to soften.  Add all the other ingredients and simmer for 20 minutes.

New Year, New Pie

To celebrate on New Year's Eve, I made a pot pie.  We stayed at home, ate pie, and forewent the usual shots of tequila.   No regrets... except that I missed dancing all night to Jeffrey Jerusalem, but it's fine, it just wasn't going to happen.  Anyway, making pie makes me feel good - in control - which is a nice, if different, way to start the year for me.  I like how I can plan ahead for pie: I make the dough the day before so I can roll it out as soon as all the other ingredients are ready.  I like how getting all those other ingredients just right make the whole thing taste that much better: the broth must by rued up with a little flour and the frozen veggies must be poured in to thaw and cook for a bit - but not too long or they get soggy.  I also like how  correct assembly gives the whole thing a nice texture and flavor: the cheese must go in first, to blend with the buttery crust as well as add richness to the sauce.  All of these things have their proper place and time.  A good balance creates a good pie.  


In contrast, my life in 2012 was characterized by a lack of balance.  I was struggling to live without structure, to find creativity in spontaneity and lack of discipline.  It made me feel alive and gritty.  But it wasn't working, even early on.  In April, I found myself crying during a bi-weekly check in with my boss.  I was dealing with a lot of family stress and feeling like my life was out of control at the time.  She told me that she sensed I needed a good balance in my life to feel "OK" and sent me home from work that day to find it.  Since then, I've struggled to keep balance while continuing to resist structure.  But still I often find myself a little short, spread thin, and depressed.  

I want 2013 to be better than that.  I want to figure out how to be creative and in control.  I know that, just like my pie, it takes balance to make a good life.  But like a recipe, that can consist of so many (forgettable) steps and actions.  So, as I was making my pot pie on New Year's Eve, this all sort of came together for me and I made a resolution for the new year.  I am going to be realistic and try to remember one thing above all - one thing that will blanket all my other goals.  I resolve to live with discipline.  In every decision, I resolve to choose the disciplined path rather than the easy and soonest rewarded.  

For example, I would really like to save more money.  But last year I couldn't save.  When I wanted to buy something on a whim, I just did.  I had no self control.  I believe that if I only remember to be disciplined, saying it, like a mantra, I will at least be driven to evaluate the purchase (Why do I want this?  Do I need it?  Can I afford it?).  If I have to stop and actually think through the consequences of my actions, I hope that this intentional deliberation will lead me to make choices that better support my goals.  Like not buying things I don't need - so I can save more. 

In turn, practicing discipline will give me confidence and momentum.  Resisting the urge to buy something I don't need feels like a victory.  I've succeeded in controlling myself from succumbing to pointless consumerism.  On the other hand, giving in and buying something I don't need feels like failure.  Actually, it feels good for a while, but then, when I realize I don't need it and I wasted money, it feels like a failure.  Fortunately, I have the option to be victorious - I can choose to save and to be in control of myself and my life.  That makes me feel good and gives me a reason to keep on keeping on.

So simple!  OK, maybe it's a bit harder in practice, but like I said above "Be disciplined" is much easier to remember than: eat healthy, don't spend money friviously, exercise, write everyday, take Vitamin D, finish projects, don't start too many projects, keep the house clean, stay focused at work, don't drink too much, and quit bitchin' about everything.  Which are all things I need to do to stay balanced.

Anyway, all of this started with pie and even though I want to live with discipline, I think you have to indulge a little too.  Discipline is everyday living if you don't act like an animal every once in a while.  So how about this kind of discipline:  make a perfectly balanced vegetarian pot pie and then eat 3 slices with a few glasses of champagne.  Happy New Year.

New Year New Pie

1 double pie crust (I live by this recipe)
2 tbsp butter
1 onion, chopped
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/3 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp celery seed
1 3/4 cup veggie broth
2/3 cup milk
4 cups frozen/fresh steamed veggies (such as carrots, broccoli, peas, and green beans)
1/2 cup Manchego sheep's milk cheese, grated

- Preheat oven to 425.  
- Melt butter and saute onion and garlic powder for 5-10 mins, until onion is soft.  
- Sprinkle flour over onions, stirring to incorporate.  Stir in spices.  
- Stirring constantly, gradually add veggie broth and milk
- Simmer over medium low until thickened.
- Remove the pan from heat and stir in vegetables.  Let cool slightly.
- Meanwhile, roll out the bottom crust and place in a buttered pie pan.  Roll out the top crust to have at the ready.

- Assemble pie - sprinkle cheese in the bottom of the prepared pie crust.  Add veggie mix and top with remaining pie crust.  Crimp edges and cut 3 slits in the top of the pie.  
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden and bubbly.  Depending on your oven, you may want to turn the heat down to 375 for the last 10 minutes.  Let sit for 15 minutes before serving.

NOTE:  I adapted this recipe from here.  That recipe may be especially interesting to meat eaters, since mine is vegetarian.  My changes make my pie a bit easier to make and my meat-eating husband has been eating the leftovers for several days (which is unheard of in these parts).  So, all veggie some of the time can't be too bad.  

You Got to Hold On...

When I was younger, I couldn't imagine life past 30.  I either didn't think I'd live that long due to my wild hi-jinks (I was optimistic about how interesting my 20's would be) or one of many possible apocalyptic predictions would come to pass:  there was Y2K for one, and then the end of the Mayan Calendar, Edgar Cayce prophecies, vague Egyptian hieroglyphics, and Mormon Patriarchal blessings... And I was a practical child - given all the opportunities for the end of life as I knew it, I just didn't really need to plan too far ahead...  

However, and fortunately, I was wrong.  The world didn't end!  So now I guess I have to do something.  So I'm starting [another] blog because the world didn't end.  And because I need to write and I'm completely tired of the [un]reality of Facebook.  And because I really miss my family and friends (Hi!). 

I envision this blog as a place to explore all types of creativity (since I can't choose only one).  But if I'm in a bad mood, I may just get another tattoo and ignore this thing.  Really, though, I hope to draw a map of my imaginary world here and by making that public, I will find passage to other imaginary worlds (maybe yours).  So if that sounds the least bit interesting- Welcome, enjoy, drink some coffee and draw on the walls.