Pizza Crust

This one was requested by Jill after having it with us this weekend. I usually make it with 1/2 wheat flour and enjoy the nutty flavor, but didn't have any good stuff this last time. For best results use with my marinara Also, we like to put spinach on our pizza. If you put a thin layer of fresh baby spinach on right after the sauce and cover it with cheese, no one can tell it's there but you still get the benefits! Roasted red peppers are also tasty. This crust is perfect for a nice thin crispy crust.

Pizza Crust

2 c warmish water

1 1/3 c flour

4 tsp sugar

4 tsp Yeast (I use saf-instant)

Mix together and let sit until yeast is bubbly

Sift together:

3 1/2 c flour

1 1/3 tsp salt

Mix with wet stuff until dough is soft and pliable, but not sticky.

Roll out thin. Makes 2 large thin crust pizzas.

Cook pizzas on lowest shelf in oven, at 400-425 until underside is golden and crispy.

I coat my pans with Pam, and then sprinkle them with a little cornmeal to add flavor and crunch.

Food glorious food! --Marinara

I'm excited about this recipe sharing thing. Let's see how well this works.

This is my favorite sauce for Pizza, but it's also great on pastas like Tortellini. I don't have a picture of the sauce itself, but I'll get one next time I make it.

Garlic Basil Marinara

4 cloves Garlic, chopped

saute in

2 T Olive Oil

add:

4 cans diced Tomatoes (I use petite diced).

Cook down for at least an hour, depending on how thick you want it.

Just before you take it off the heat add:

about 2 T Fresh Basil crushed and minced

Salt and Pepper and Oregano (fresh or dried) to taste.

Blend in blender until smooth.

Makes about 1 qt sauce. I freeze it in smaller quantities. and use it as needed.

Ricks boys

Hi, here are my boys. (Sorry about the annoying rosy tint to the picture--my camera is dying a slow and pink death.)

salutations

Gwendolyn, Casper, and Linus

We thought it might be worthwhile to ask everyone to post a recent picture of their families (particularly the children), so that the cousins can be reminded of their friends and given a sense of who to expect at the reunion. This would be really useful for my bunch, anyway, who have been talking about the games they played with their cousins last year (without being able to remember exactly who they were).

victuals

Laura brought up the question of whether we could plan more meals together during the reunion. Like her, I thought that our dinners last year were a highlight. I enjoyed sharing recipes and styles of eating; I guess I'm a believer in the ritual of sharing food. I suppose that we will be occupied on Friday, but see no reason that we couldn't arrange formal meals (certainly lunch and dinner) on Saturday and Sunday (how late will you be staying in Boise, Laura?) -- as long as most of us can congregate at the rental house.

What does everyone else think? Should I try to make a schedule? Andrea, you mentioned being willing to help with a meal on Saturday -- would you prefer to continue our collaboration, or would you rather take the lead at a later time? Again, I think that we will try to keep things informal and quick -- but those are often the kinds of recipes that are most in demand in our house.

LCB

Most of you know that the Samuelson Ladies (by name and by blood) have been doing a Long- Distance Craft Bonanza. We have decided to do an exchange at this years reunion. Maybe we could incorporate this exchange into the auction.
For those who haven't made/bought their items yet could make/buy an extra one for sale at the auction.

reunion logistics

When I called Dad last night, he and Mom wanted to discuss some of their thoughts about the reunion. I want to nominate our collaborative blog, Ginormous Turnip (tm Jeff), as a discussion space. I think that the easiest way to share our ideas and preferences about the weekend will be to make individual posts for specific questions and topics, then each of us can respond to those issues in the comments, or raise new issues by writing new posts.

Mom and Dad realize that with everything involved in Steve and Shawna’s wedding, and with the difficulties attendant upon each of our families living out of suitcases for the weekend, we are going to have to be more flexible than at last year’s reunion. Keeping our plans minimal and our expectations limber will help to ensure that we all enjoy our time together. Anyway, we’ll be best able to preserve time for talk and play if we keep things informal.

That said, Dad feels really strongly that we keep some continuity from last year’s reunion. What is important to you to see in this year's reunion?