WHEN THE GRILL WON'T GRILL

Two years ago, we bought a new grill.  I chose a mammoth super-sized grill with four burners and lots of accessories which went against my "simpler the better" motto for all appliances.  I couldn't help myself; I imagined using the rotisserie for roasted chicken in the fall and the large grilling surface for cooking steaks and burgers for crowds. Of course, our top of the line grill had been as temperamental as a race horse; the starter not starting, temperature regulator not regulating, I yearned for a classic Weber charcoal kettle.  The handy man came by last week and fixed it again, and I encouraged my daughter invited some friends over for dinner.  I marinated a flank steak that afternoon and went to turn on the grill-nothing! Well, it's always good to have a back up plan.  I ran to the Pizzeria around the corner and brought home two fresh pizza dough rounds.  I had a ball of mozzarella in the refrigerator and some tomato sauce-instant pizza party!   I put my oven (yes, it worked!) on 500 degrees and in a few minutes I had two yummy pizzas perfect for a group of hungry teens, all without the Grill!

Easy Gourmet Pizza

preheat oven to 500 degrees

one pizza dough (bought from Pizzeria)

one cup of good tomato sauce

6 oz. mozzarella  (see note)

fresh basil

olive oil

 If you don't have a pizza tray use a heavy cookie tray and lightly oil with the olive oil.  Take your pizza dough and stretch out with a rolling pin to 1/4" thick.  Place in pan and cover with a thin coat of tomato sauce.  Add sliced mozzarella and bake until golden brown about 12 minutes.  Tear a few fresh basil leaves and sprinkle over the pizza.

note:  some very fresh mozzarella is too watery; I find the best mozzarella has a lower water content and comes from the grocery store, the Bello Giorno brands works nicely.

OLD FASHIONED BIRTHDAY

I love an old fashioned children's birthday party.  A small group of children playing traditional games like pin the tail on the donkey and pass the parcel in the backyard, harkens back to a simplier time.  Today parties are themed affairs at gyms and school basements with greasy pizza and a goody bag that barely makes it in the house before its tossed.
 I recently went to my nieces fourth birthday in Westport, CT. It was a beautiful summer day and the backyard was filled with happy kids playing racing games and waiting their turn for a try at the donkey pinata.   Lunch was elevated from a lukewarm, gummy pizza to a trio of semi homemade pizzas. A margharita for the kids and two with proscuitto for the adults.  (Buy the dough from your local pizzeria, add good tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella and load on your favorite toppings.)  After a traditional vanilla buttercream birthday cake from Tate's a beautiful silver tray was brought out filled with sweets. Colorful chinese take out containers were given to the kids to fill with their favorite confections--jelly beans, chocolate covered raisins, smarties, Mary Janes... sugar heaven! The adults each took home a carton too--a guilty pleasure that I was very happy to have at 11 pm that night!

Chinese take out containers from the Container Store and Pin The tail on the Donkey from Amazon