Homemade Pizza 101

I think one of the easiest and funnest comfort foods to make is homemade pizza.  So, what better way to launch into a holiday weekend than throw some dough around the kitchen?  I have made these pizzas lots of times.  We went basic this evening, but I have done them for kids sleepovers and had each child create their own shape and put on whatever toppings they want. This has got to be healthier than the delivery or Digiorno and we can customize however we choose.  During summer we can load them with garden produce, at less cost and with fewer food miles.

Homemade Pizza

I purchase frozen pizza dough balls made by a local company at the grocery store, for $1.  I should try to make my own, I'm sure it's simple, but for a buck on a busy work/school night, it is worth it to eliminate the clean up!

 Once you have thrown the dough around a bit and shaped it however thin or thick you want, slather it with a good tomato sauce, or use some of that wonderful pesto you froze at the end of last season.

 Sprinkle with cheese.  You can use whatever mix you like, but I like how mozzarella and provolone melt together and I grate fresh parm on top when it comes out of the oven.

 Then place toppings.  Tonight we went the Hawaiian route.  Canadian bacon and pineapple, something about that combination is so pleasing.

Sprinkle a little more cheese on top, just to seal the deal and put in a preheated 400 degree oven for 25-30 minutes or until cooked depending on your crust thickness.

And there you have it!  Easy prep, little mess and happy family!

I had an extra dough-ball that I defrosted tonight, hmmm I think I'll add the sweetness of cinnamon and sugar and make some breakfast thing tomorrow....

Finito!

It is all done!  I finished my Geese in the Park quilt pattern from Moda Bakeshop!  I have to say that this was one of my most challenging patterns yet, lots of cutting and piecing, but I love this modified flying geese pattern. 

I made it with my niece, Katie, in mind.  When I first began quilting last year I made her little sister Madeline a Birthday Cake quilt for her birthday.  Now it is Katie's turn as she is reaching the big six next month and I wanted her to have something special.  I thought that the fact that the fabrics are from the Central Park Collection was very timely as my brother and his family are being transferred from California to New Jersey this summer and will be living a very short ride from the real thing.  I backed it in a soft warm flannel so that she can snuggle up as she sees the colors change for the first time and watches her first heavy snow fall.


I must say it was ironic that our first really warm days was when I was quilting it and I can attest to the fact that it is quite toasty ! :)   Happy to report~ Finito!! What projects have you been finishing up lately?

The Gift of Flight

Have you ever had one of those conversations that came at you out of nowhere?  Over the weekend I did and it got me thinking, reminiscing really, about growing up and all of those things that shaped me as a person.  What I remember:

I remember family dinners around the kitchen table, every night.  

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Playing ball with my dad, brother, and the neighbor kids in the street.  

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Going to dance lessons with my mom, the adult class, every Tuesday night followed by Arby's.

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Long walks to the ice cream parlor, late on a summer night when it was too hot to sleep.

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Family vacations and holidays.

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Going to the pumpkin patch and playing hide and seek at the Christmas tree lot.

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Shopping with my mom (before the dreaded teen angst years), and loving every minute of it.

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Long hours spent with my mom drilling multiplication tables and thinking I'd never get it (I did).

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Hours volunteering with my mom and late nights slap happy laughing.

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Always hugs and I love you's.

These few things, among many, shaped who I would eventually be and reflect what is important to me. As the parent of two amazing, intelligent young children, my upbringing (as well as B's, who also comes from a strong sense of family), shape how important we view family.  We make sure that the kids know how very paramount family is, all family.  In our want to give them as carefree an experience as possible in what are sometimes, less than carefree times, we have created a life emulating those simpler things that we feel best bring us back to our childhoods. Times when free play, open space (I so remember the forts we would build on the vacant, tree shaded lots), running home to dinner in the evening, rosy cheeked and dirty, and most of all family, were pivotal to childhood.  The twenty-four hour news cycle, and volatile antics are merely distractions, and unfortunately sometimes profound ones, from those, most important life lessons that shaped my growing up years.  I hope that all of the efforts we go to, to teach our children about life, the importance of family and how to be open minded, and conscientious people will give them the foundation to make their own informed decisions and give them the wings to fly.  

What a beautiful gift I was given, flight.  Thanks mom & dad! 

This is my contribution to Jill's May challenge~ Childhood

It's not too late, there's a few days left to join in!!

Mom, It's Affecting Us Now!

I try to stay away from blatant politics on this blog, simply because I hate getting in lose, lose conversations.  These days people either have one opinion or another and never the twain shall meet.  I make sure to never very rarely get into the conversations with family members because I do not want the fight.  I will however, occasionally mention something when the passion brims over, and this is one of those times.

Our state is headed in a very scary direction.  New legislation is being passed down regularly that is terrifying.  As I talked about here, it is important for us to participate in the democratic process and teach our kids the same.  We have explained to them that they may not see any immediate effect in things like their schools, but the reason we are speaking out is our concern for what we feel the repercussions will be in the future.  We have also explained that there are others that feel just as passionately that what Scott Walker is doing is right.  They know our reasons for our beliefs, but we are also teaching them that other's have different beliefs, just as strong as ours, and that is ok. 

Yesterday when I picked up the kids at school, Sidney came running up and said "Mom, the changes are affecting us now!!!"  They had made an announcement at school that 3 TA's and the school nurse would be gone next year.  Sidney said that all of the girls were crying.  The kids have known these teachers since first grade and they have been important in their learning, or in helping their friends.  I am afraid that this is just the first round of news as the superintendent announced there were going to be  a lot of cuts, including 125 positions district wide. 

Appropriately, this may very well be the end of the world as we know it.

Weekend Wish

 

As the yellow flowers turn to fluff,

our spring takes one step closer to summer.

Life seems to continuously speed up, this year has flown.

So, before I caught up further in the whirlwind of this busy, soon to be balmy season,

I wanted to take a minute to thank you for reading. Your comments

mean the world to me and I so appreciate you!

My wish for you~

That your soul may soar like these feathery little seeds lifted by a soft breeze.

Happy Weekend, my friends.