Week 3(?) - Pizza stones


I've had this great idea about using the pizza stones for mini-pizzas to serve as an appetizer before dinner parties, which I have clearly been lax in executing - the actual week count is now 42, plus or minus. However, I enlisted the right help - Kristina, who was able to source a version of the recipe used at Nopa for their wonderful flatbread appetizer. We had the last two episodes of Top Chef for inspiration, and a good bottle of wine.


I also have another new toy - a fancy food processor with many many blades, bowls, a spatula, and an instructional video. I've been a little nervous about using the food processor, as I've never had a real one, and would really have enjoyed the instructional video. That is, had it not been on VHS tape. I thought about holding it up to the light frame by frame to watch, but decided to wing it.

Fortunately, Kristina knew what to do with the blades, and she even helped me shred cheese!


We decided to complement the pizzas with a fennel and orange salad. Kristina was kind enough to do some grocery shopping for us, but had trouble at Whole Foods with a couple of key items. For example, fennel. Strangely, they had oranges despite the horrible weather in California, but no fennel. So I said I'd stop by the store on the way.

This idea was slightly complicated by a birthday party, at which I wanted to stop for a drink before dinner. I spotted a Safeway right across from the bar, and so left after a drink to see if they had any fennel. My more resourceful friends just asked the waiter for a serving of fennel and when I returned (with fennel, which at Safeway is called "anise" but at least they had some), they had a plate of pre-sliced fennel waiting for me. They also had been able to find a baggie to put it in, which is really a Boy Scout level of preparedness. See above for a photo of the baggie and also the very good fennel and orange salad.

As an aside, one of the friends at the happy hour, who I will call "C", told me something about blogging that I didn't know. Apparently - you are supposed to disguise the names of people in your blogs and it's the thing to have your own "blog name". My friend who I will call "B" uses only first initials in her blog. I am afraid to limit myself to 26 friends, so I will have to work on what I will do for nicknames, and try to avoid slander and embarrassment for my friends.

So, back to dinner. The main course was next - pizza. I warmed up the pizza stones and then had to roll out the dough for the pizza. Strangely, I have all sorts of fancy gadgets in my kitchen but have no rolling pin. So, we improvised. See photo.

I tried throwing the pizza dough in the air for effect but it didn't work. The pictures did come out, and I have sadly deleted them.

The pizza/flatbreads were composed of whole wheat pizza dough, caramelized onions and gouda.

We then topped them with arugula tossed in olive oil and look how beautiful they were! We ate and rooted for Ilan...