I’m hardly a chef, or a cook for that matter, but there’s something about the food-energy in New York City that just makes you want to try. So, I often find myself testing a recipe, trying to recreate a dish that I tried at a restaurant, or just throwing together whatever I can scour from my refrigerator (typically pasta, moldy cheese and some random leftovers in a Styrofoam container). Although sometimes unexpectedly successful, my cooking endeavors usually look more like science experiments.
But recently I’ve really put my all into it. Maybe it’s the hot summer weather, or my boredom with TV show repeats, but from some place deep down, I’ve mustered up the motivation to extend beyond grilled chicken and rice.
This summer, I’ve tried shrimp, pork, roasted chicken, sauces, soups, and even baked goods. I started growing my own herbs (that didn’t last very long, but I tried) and have even ventured from the comforting pages of my cookbooks. All in all, cooking has become much more than just a way to eat; it’s actually become a hobby.
So, my latest endeavor was pizza. Not the finest in NYC, but regardless, a proud moment for me.
I started with some ready-made dough from the freezer aisle at my grocery store, a mix of fresh veggies from the store (or the garden, if you’re really talented), and some sauce (homemade is the best, but store-bought works for me).
Roll out the dough (my favorite part).
Then, pile it all on…
…and bake at 350 degrees until the dough is crispy.
And then, almost as good as the road getting there, enjoy your very own pizza.
Now, that’s Amore!
Jen
