Growing Up

Growing up—the gut-wrenching phrase that brings such dreadful tasks as saving for a down payment, investing in an IRA, and…finally trading in the vintage beach loft for a sassy, sophisticated city abode!

Bedroom décor packed? Check!

Shoes packed? Check—though not sure how to fit them all in 2-door Nissan OR new closet, must work on later…

Kitchen supplies packed, boxed, bubble-wrapped and otherwise thief-drop-break-and-open proof? Check!

Last dinner party in the old apartment held? Uh oh….

Panic sets in when guests arrive in T minus 2 hours and the only 3 remaining kitchen utensils are: left hand, right hand, and pizza tray that won’t cram into "Baking Tins" box. Even the tried and true recipe box has been carefully packed into “Cookbooks & Misc.”

Luckily there is one person who always seems to save the day when it comes to moving. (Like the night before college, when coming to the dreadful realization that bedrooms in fact do NOT pack themselves...) Even though Mom is not physically here to help, her veggie pizza stands in to solve the grown-up moving dilemma. A casual yet gourmet dish that will entice guests and make them feel special, since bare walls aren’t doing the trick, this pizza is simple enough to make even in the absence of your favorite tools and appliances.

Good thing--since growing up has not yet brought with it “take guests to Nobu” as a viable option.

Mom’s Veggie Pizza

Start with a pre-made pizza crust (Boboli works well)
Combine pre-made pesto, ranch dressing, and finely chopped garlic and spread over the crust for sauce.
Then top the pizza with veggies in the following order:
Spinach
Zucchini (slightly salted)
Tomatoes
Artichoke hearts
Mushrooms
Olives
Green onions
Finish with grated mozzarella and parmesan cheeses. (Can omit for a healthier pizza.)
Bake 10 minutes at 450 or until veggies are crispy and crust is golden brown.

In Praise of Dinner Parties

"The most traditional form of entertaining, and to our mind the most satisfying, is the sit-down dinner party. At good dinner parties, conversation flourishes, friendships are forged or reinforced, and good food and drink can be appreciated and discussed. In no other form of entertaining does the host so unequivocally display respect for the guests and convivial concern for their welfare."


-taken from The Joy of Cooking