Easy Pizza

Pizza is pretty easy to make, and I generally like the results when I make it as home just as well or better than ordering a pizza. Definitely tastier than frozen pizzas.

It is also an excellent way to use up bits of leftover veggies, meats, and cheeses. For this pie I used a bit of leftover salami, a leftover sausage, a few tomatoes, some garlice and cheese.

Preheat oven to 425. Don't be afraid to use a ready made crust if you're short on time:


If using fresh tomatos, slice them and drain on paper towels (otherwise they'll make your pizza soggy)


Slice leftover meat (salami, bacon, sausage, pepperoni, roast beef, turkey, roast pork .... ) into little bits. Fresh garlic is wonderful on this as well - just make thin slices.

I used pizza sauce from a jar this time around. If you have a jar of spaghetti sauce at the back of your fridge, use that. If you have a little can of tomato paste, mix it with equal part water or red wine, and mix in Italian herbs (basil, oregano, thyme, salt, pepper, garlic powder)

Put meat directly on crust. (by warming the meat UNDER the sauce, it doesn't get too dry) Add garlic (if using). Cover with sauce and bake about ten minutes:

Meanwhile, prepare the cheese. I used a mixture of asiago, cheddar (on the left), and slices of fresh mozzarella (on the right)

Add cheese and any other toppings (in this case tomato) and return to oven:

Bake another 5-10 minutes, until cheese is melted:

the Glory of Summer: tomato, basil and fresh mozzarella

The simplest of recipes is just the thing for a summer picnic. Perhaps you have a reason to attend one today?



One of my favorite summer salads:



Fresh tomatoes

Slices of buffalo or fresh mozzarella

Fresh basil, chopped in long slivers. If you have both purple and green basil, even better.



Combine these items in a bowl. If you really want to, add a bit of balsamic vinegar and olive oil ... but I normally just eat it plain. The fragrant basil just stuns the senses and makes this the perfect summer salad. I often eat this for a simple lunch on top of a bed of lettuce.







The Declaration of Independence of the Thirteen Colonies

In CONGRESS, July 4, 1776


The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.


We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness ......We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by the Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free ...