Forty Years Later: The Cheer Is All In The Details!

Winter Pizza...my little gift to you!

I have to say one thing. I'm cruising into the holiday season feeling much better than I ever thought possible. I mean, wouldn't you think that the first Thanksgiving and Christmas after the divorce would be awful? Weepy, sad, full of anger, lethargy, depression: all those emotions and feelings encompass my expectations for the holidays. But, as things have turned out (thank you very much Universe) I believe it's going to be a stellar year.

This isn't all mental, however. Physically I'm having a bit of an up tick. In fact, I am feeling rather in top form. I can't point my finger at just one thing; I think it's a combination of a few things. I am five or six weeks into working out at the club, and three weeks ago I added in the mountain hikes. I am now into the third week of taking some new vitamins that I'm beginning to think are just dynamite. Then right after Halloween I gave up Jiffy Creamy Peanut Butter and Dove Promises (this one is a temporary hardship) and I've lost six or seven pounds. Whew! This is a good run. I imagine it is a normal sort of chain of events for a recovering divorcee (such a gay sounding little word). It's like I'm feeling well on the road of recovery from the mental part of getting a divorce; now I'm getting some physical strength and self confidence under my belt to face the next phase.

Tomorrow Katy and I will pick up Max at the airport in Denver and head up to Northern Colorado to spend four nights with my sister and brother-in-law. We are going to Fort Collins, the town I expect to eventually move to when I ever sell my house (please Universe, just this one more little thing). We are leaving very early so I can go to a mall and buy some makeup I've run out of. We don't have to get Max until five. I want some extra time at the mall, because guess what is right next door to the store where I buy the makeup? Anthropologie. Ahhhh. Shrine to whimsical decor and dress. I must remember my mantra in this lousy economy: hoard your liquidity, Anya! I mean it!

I need to get packing, but I'll leave you with a little Thanksgiving gift. Linda and her dog Chief and his friend Scout came over Saturday night and didn't leave till after midnight. Among many fun things we did, fueled by a bottle of Plungerhead zinfandel, was to make a pizza for our dinner, the recipe being one she had just received from her cousin. You must try it. The juxtaposition of the hot tangy gorgonzola and the cold baby arugula and sweet caramelized acorn squash can only be described as sensational. The squash of course, could stand alone as a side dish served hot or at room temp. The recipe is written rather loosely as there are no measurements and actually, no written recipe. This is so easy yet so impressive; you could build a reputation on this pizza.

Winter Pizza

Pizza dough from a pizza restaurant (Linda got hers at Whole Foods)

Large amount of crumbled gorgonzola

1 acorn squash

1 package baby arugula

maple syrup

red pepper flakes, salt, pepper

white truffle oil

olive oil

some flour for dusting the pizza board

A pizza stone and even a paddle make a lot of difference in ease and in the case of the stone, the quality of the crust. But of course you can use a pan. As for the truffle oil. Don't stress not having it. You could eliminate it, but if you live near a Whole Foods or other gourmet food store, you don't have to.

Slice the squash in inch wide slices. Put into a bowl and toss with olive oil, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper; then drizzle with maple syrup. Spread on a baking sheet and bake in a 350 degree oven till soft. Carefully use the sharp point of a knife and remove the skin from the meat; cut into 1" chunks. Scrape up the caramelized maple syrup crunchies from the pan. Let cool. This step can be done a day in advance at least. Just refrigerate and let the squash come to room temp before using.

That's all the prep there is.

Heat oven to 500 degrees, and put pizza stone into oven. A hot stone makes a better crust. Get it good and hot. Then, lightly flour a working surface and work the dough into a rustic, round shape the size (or less) of the stone. I like to do this part on a floured pizza paddle. This just makes it easier to put the pizza onto the very hot stone in the oven. Lacking one, two people can gently lift the pizza and lay it upon the stone.

Brush the pie dough with olive oil, then drizzle white truffle oil over all to taste. Sprinkle on the gorgonzola and be very generous. Cover the pizza thoroughly. Turn the oven down to 400 or 450 and put the pizza onto the stone. Watch this beautiful concoction like a hawk, lifting up the edge occasionally to make sure the bottom isn't getting dark. The crust shouldn't get very dark: very light brown with little areas of a darker brown will be just right. You have to watch it because the time will vary in every oven. I think we cooked ours 10 or 13 minutes or so. Yours might take more or less time; close observation is your best tool here.

Remove pie from the oven. Completely smother the hot pizza with the baby arugula. Use lots of it. Then cover with the chunks of squash. Finally, sprinkle the maple syrup crunchies over all. Admire greatly, then eat while hot so you can groan at the hot/cold, sweet/tart magnificence of it. (It's still delicious when it cools off.)

One tip from Linda's cousin Vinnie (honest to god, that's his name), an Italian and a cook extraordinaire: when you shape pizza dough, the trick is to use just enough flour to keep the dough moving around easily on the board or your prep surface. Too little and it sticks there and perhaps on the stone too. Too much and...well, you know. It would taste all dry and floury.

So, my dear friends...I may find time this week for another post, but if not.....

Bon Appetit and Happy Thanksgiving !

Comments

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What an inspiring post, Anya! You sound great. I'm so happy to hear that. Thanks for the pizza recipe... it sounds delicious and I intend to try it.
Have a wonderful week and a Happy Thanksgiving!
Cousin Vinnie... I love it! What a great character.

Posted by: Judy in KY | November 24, 2008 at 10:08 AM

That pizza looks amazing!!

So, you will be nearer where wwe live! We will be in Denver, no less.

Posted by: Mmmm | November 24, 2008 at 07:56 PM

OK, now you're making me wanna move in with you. Arugula is my favorite green, especially on pizzas. And Anthropologie? When I was in the States, I loved that store, and on my bedside table is my favorite photo in my favorite Anthropologie frame: almost 10 yrs old.

I'm glad to hear you're on the up; all that exercise and feeling good is totally related! Have a wonderful holiday...

Posted by: Braja | November 24, 2008 at 09:38 PM

I've just had breakfast, but that pizza is making me hungry...

Posted by: Ross | November 25, 2008 at 12:00 AM

Anya
Just a great post and upbeat thoughts which I appreciate.
And the food.. can't wait to make it.
Hope you are having a great holiday out and about.
Mim

Posted by: Mim | November 26, 2008 at 02:53 PM