Sunday fun day!

Today we had church, then we were off to the Pig Races and then we took the kids to lunch and then basketball. I am invited to go to an Oscar viewing party at a friend's tonight, but before I go I am going to make homemade pizza.

There are a lot of homemade pizza dough recipes out there, I particularly like the ones from the A Year in Bread blog but today I just picked up a big blob of ready to go dough from the bakery department of my local grocery store. Even if you don't see pizza dough out in the cooler case at the bakery, go ahead and ask for it, they may have some in the freezer just waiting for you.

If you let the pre-made dough rest for an hour on the counter it is very easy to work with, just stretch it out in your hands on all sides and then roll it out with a rolling pin on a lightly floured surface. No complicated flipping or twirling necessary. I make a lot of pizza so I have a "pizza stone" (actually a ceramic tile from the hardware store) and a short handled pizza peel that I sprinkle liberally with corn meal to keep the dough from sticking. Some of the corn meal bakes right into the bottom of the pizza dough making it taste just like a real restaurant crust. YUM! So tonight's pizza will be topped with the leftover spaghetti sauce from last night, some turkey sausage and some sauteed mushrooms.

I am making some more homemade hummus for the Oscar party, some homemade vanilla pudding in chocolate cups and topped with whipped cream and strawberries, and a baked artichoke dip. I will be bringing some baked parmesan crackers and some pita chips and carrot sticks. You know this is going to be fun and all but if I don't get a 20 minute cat nap I will sleep right through the Best Picture award! Good night, hope your weekend was fun!