Librari[d]an

What is this!? Pace yourself, man! Not too many recipes at once! Actually, I plan on adding recipes as I make them. Just makes the most sense. So. What is obscene about this pizza dough? Well, it never turns out the same twice. Not ever! That makes it obscenely dynamic and interesting. But the results are always scrumptious, even when I put so many spices on that it tanks my sisters’ stomaches.

:: Jen and Kate’s Mystery Pizza Dough ::

2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (or just a package, if you don’t feel like measuring)
1/2 teaspoon brown sugar (or cane sugar)
1 1/2 cups warm water
1 teaspoon salt (I use less)
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 1/3 cups flour

1. In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast and brown sugar in the water, and let sit for 10 minutes. (If the water it too hot or too cold the yeast won’t metabolize the sugar, so be careful.)

2. Stir the salt and oil into the yeast solution. Mix in 2 1/2 cups of the flour. (Use any type of flour you want. I have had excellent results with all-purpose, unbleached, whole-wheat, and even graham flour.) Add spices to the dough if you’re feeling bold and forward!

3. Turn the dough out onto a clean, well floured surface and knead in a bit more flour until the dough is no longer sticky. Place the dough into a bowl sprayed with non-stick cooking spray and cover with a cloth. Let the dough rise approximately one hour. (A warm and humid place is best. Try putting it on top of the stove as the oven preheats.)

4. Top with your favorite pizza sauce and fixings. This recipe should make two substantial pizzas. (I like to use meatless spaghetti sauce that’s low in sodium. As for fixings, experiment. One of my favorite combinations is white onion and chick peas!)

4. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit/220 degrees Celsius. If you are using a pan/baking sheet rather than a pizza stone, be sure to spray it with non-stick cooking spray. Bake the pizza until the cheese and crust are done to your liking (about 15 to 20 minutes).

I have cut a lot of the useless, time-wasting steps out of this recipe. (I like to keep things simple, but not in a reductive way–like Bush’s State of the Union a few hours ago. Although, I did like the way he spit out the second part of this sentence: “If we fail to pass this agreement, we will embolden the purveyors of false populism in our hemisphere.”)

But yeah, that hour for the dough to rise still turns some people’s screws. I find it easy to deal with, especially if you have the foresight to plan your evening. (“Company at the door? Why, I just happen to have pizza dough ready to be garnished and consumed!”) Also, if your friends are over, enlist their help in making the dough first, then socialize, then complete the recipe and feast.

:: Bibliography ::

Jen probably got this sucker from the internet. Everyone’s taking credit for it, look.

Not necessarily a particularly telling portrait of my everyday life or the year itself. Had to work with what I had:

Mintwood Christmas 2006. February 2007 ice storm. Rooftop photo op: 1 and 2 (March). Documentation of magnetic poetry / quiz night names. Chanelling Bowie. Maytide picnic. Conservation de la Cathédrale. Top roping at Saw Mill Run. June Pirates game. Paul’s pride and joy (July). August: Settler’s Cabin wave pool, Pirates, Fireworks over the Roberto Clemente Bridge, Kennywood, Critical Mass (with Miss Intensity). Susan’s birthday potluck (Nov). Christmas Eve 2007 salad. Somewhere to be in NYC, or, in search of the Dumont Burger. Delicious pizza. Underground man, New Year’s Day 2008.

If you were horrified to find a picture of yourself here, let me know so I can put a big X over your visage!

I was there: Regarde. We moved significantly closer to the centennial ball as the night progressed. Also, it looked much bigger when it wasn’t viewed through a camera lens.

It was fun; I don’t know why people say it’s tedious. All you need is some chums, something to keep warm, and a bit of endurance.

Good times. (Yep, those are purple, glittery 2008 glasses. Scored for two bones!)

Note: You have to view the complete post to be able to click the links to my photos. Goddamn theme! >:^<

Yinzers take note: your beloved sports team is being appropriated by hip-hop pop culture! That’s right, Pittsburgh Pirates paraphernalia is totally en vogue in New York City. I can’t walk even a few blocks - whether it’s in Harlem or on Madison Ave - without seeing some cool African American guy sporting a pirates hat or shirt.

Apparently they do not know or care that the Pirates bungle what they’re supposed to do best (baseball). Instead, it seems the decision to purchase and adorn the self with these officially emblazoned textiles is aesthetically motivated. This tickles me pink, but I can see why they choose my hometown team; pirates gear is simple gold text on a black background, occasionally with red details/piping. It looks snappy. In fact, these are the selfsame reasons why I purchased my Pirates jersey at the thrift shop. Happily I brought it with, and when I wore it to the Met I certainly got some covetous looks.

The Met was amazing. I particularly enjoyed an exhibit called blog.mode, which had historical and contemporary couture. Among them I saw this dress which I saw about a year ago on the Met’s sweet Timeline of Art History. (Great reference tool, that.) That dress is pretty freaking weird, no? And it doesn’t hold a candle to some of the Japanese designs I got to see, one of which was reminiscent of the character design for Vanessa from P.N.03 with a bustle.

Back on topic, it’s pretty interesting to see something that for so long I’ve associated with blue collar group-think removed from its native context and transmogrified into a fashion fad in the city that never sleeps. Haha!