Pizza

I've become pretty obsessed with pizza lately...and by lately I mean the last 2-3, oh maybe even 30 years. I've finally found a favorite crust recipe (which I'll include below) and now I'm experimenting to find toppings that up the health factor of pizza. Tonight I made a keeper.

I used my mandolin slicer on the thinnest setting to cut up:
**1 small zucchini &
**1/2 orange bell pepper

Then I chopped approximately:
**3 oz of fresh spinach &
**2 sprigs of fresh basil
into large pieces.

I mixed the vegetables in a large mixing bowl with approximately
**5 ounces of fresh sheep feta
and mix it up thoroughly using my hands.

Set the oven to preheat to 425F. After preparing the pizza dough (directions say to let it raise, but I never do) I press the dough out into a 12-inch pizza pan sprayed with olive oil pan spray. I brush the dough with olive oil I've infused with garlic, then dump and spread the vegetable mixture. It will be tall, but it cooks down.

Put in the center of the oven and turn the heat down to 400F. Bake for 17-20 minutes or until crust is nicely browned and vegetables are cooked.


Williams-Sonoma Pizza Crust (with my changes included)

1 T active dry yeast
3/4 c + 2 T lukewarm water
2 c of all-purpose flour
3/4 c of corn flour (can use all-purpose flour)
1 t of salt

Dissolve yeast in the water until the sponge (the foamy stuff) develops. Gradually mix in the flour and salt until thoroughly mixed into a good dough consistency.

The camera on my flash hasn't been working so in the picture below, the peppers are orange and the other vegetables are green. Use your imagination.

HAHAHAHAHAHA

Ohhhhh Hilary!!!!

Experimentation

I've heard many jokes about what happens to the children of psychologists, but this one turned out pretty well. It's a pretty long read, but an interesting experiment of the role of environment and really has nothing to do with his parents' professions.

Joshua Bell

Who'da Thunk?

These may be four of the most non-news stories of today.

What was that about bringing in fresh, young perspectives to Cuba?

We appreciate the seatbelts sir, but again? Really?


Sarkozy not only has a fun name to say, he says things newspapers have to put in "a mild English translation."

And then, the following story leads me to ask...what exactly is a fairy cake?

Water for Africa

Tonight I was listening to the BBC Africa podcast as I was getting ready for bed. As you may know, W is touring Africa trying to salvage his image as he gives African countries a little more high-handed Western guidance (I'll tell you how I really feel a little later... ;) ) According to the reporter, Bush traveled to Arusha, Tanzania where he "hugged and kissed unsuspecting women and their children." He gave an "emphatic" speech, stating "I fully understand, like you do Mr. President (Kikwete), that this is a soluble problem." Technically, his word usage was correct although this is considered a rather archaic use of the word "soluble." My first thought was to make it go away, just add water. Water, ironically, is part of the problem when it comes to mosquitoes. Well crap, back to the drawing board on that one Mr. President.

And in other news, I've found one more reason to cancel my membership to the YMCA.

Looking for a cheap cure?

This is interesting. Forget one of those fancy breathing machines, all you need is one of these obscure noise makers.
obscure instruments and sleep disorders

Now I don't have to use all those long distance minutes....

Want to lay one on the Wailing Wall? Try here.

See!! The humerus is a funny bone!!

It's good to know a man with a broken arm is in charge of our defense, particularly when people like this are free in the world. Of course, I'm guessing he has no role in that kind of security , if any.

Graduation

My dissertation defense will soon be scheduled which is very exciting news. In a few short months, I will be Dr. Pearson! In the meantime, I still have a lot to do. I keep thinking I need to rework my blog page and so various other housekeeping things. One of them being to figure out what happened to my Countdown to Dr. Me timer. This is very important!

Back on the Kenya tangent, I came across a photographer living in the Mathare slum who blogs for AfricaNews.com. Here's a link.

Kenya

A friend who lives in Nairobi keeps telling me not to believe the papers so I try to ignore the news even while obsessively checking the BBC: Africa and The Daily Nation. There seems to be more hope for a stable government, but in the meantime it's the stories like these that break my heart.

Elections: Children Pay a Heavy Price

Family Stuck with Three Little Angels