perfect summer pizza

Okay, I know I've done posts about authentic Italian pizza and all its random toppings before, but I seriously just had some of the best pizza ever, and I want to share it with you. Wanna know what was on it? Parmesan, diced cherry tomatoes, and arugula. That's it! For some reason, the combination of these flavors was so fresh and summery, I totally forgot that I actually HATE ARUGULA. Anyway.

Take a pre-made pizza crust, or pre-made dough (if you put it in the freezer beforehand, please remember to thaw it before you want to eat it!). Brush the top with olive oil, and then sprinkle on some freshly grated Parmesan cheese. (You can mix some mozzarella in there too if you want.) Sprinkle diced cherry tomatoes on top, and cook according to directions on package.

When pizza is finished cooked, dump the fresh arugula on top , slice, and enjoy the flavorful medley in your mouth that is the combination of bold Parmesan, sweet cherry tomatoes, and peppery arugula!

for whenever it actually gets cold in chicago

I just came across this recipe for potato chowder and I can't wait to try it myself (minus the bacon and chicken stock). It seems like an ideal way to fight the chilly Chicago wind. Bonus: there's also a ridiculous grilled cheese recipe included, if you're feeling bold and have a food processor handy!

scrambled eggs.

I found a little guide to making the perfect scrambled eggs, for those of you who don't know how to make them already (you know who you are). Check it out here, then call us to taste test.

when the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie. . .

I'm not sure if you're aware of this or not, but pizza is kind of a big deal here in Italy. It was created in Naples, and they still make it better than anyone else. But you don't have to be a native Italian or even know how to make dough to create a delicious pizza.

To make a quick and easy pizza, try pre-made pizza crusts from the grocery store. Brush the crust with some olive oil or butter, depending on your preference. You'll probably want to add some cheese and some meat, but consider some of these ingredients for an authentic Italian flavor (no joke):

Corn

Spinach

Artichoke

Chopped-up hot dogs

French fries

Gorgonzola cheese

Real mozzarella cheese

Portabella or porcini mushrooms

Ricotta cheese

Walnuts

Little purple onions

Cooked potatoes

I'll think of more later. The Italians like to combine some of these ingredients and give the resulting pizza a cute little name. For instance, a pizza with cheese, hot dogs, and french fries is either an American pizza or a German pizza, depending on the pizzeria. The mountain or forest pizza usually has some combination of mushrooms, mozzarella, gorgonzola, sausage, and walnuts. The four seasons pizza has artichokes, mushrooms, ham, and something else that I can't remember. A Naples pizza features sardines (yep, sardines).

<3

fried flowers

So I've been in Italy for about a week and a half now, and I just want to let you know that the food here is as good as ever. They don't just eat pasta in Italy though:

Try battering and frying up some zucchini blossoms. The blossoms are actually pretty big, like maybe half the size of my hand? You dip them in batter and then chuck them in a frying pan full of oil. Eat them (stem and all) with your hands, and make sure to eat some radishes right after, because apparently they absorb all the grease. (okay on second thought I have no idea where you are going to find zucchini blossoms, but it was an interesting idea.)

Caponata is a fantastic side dish made up of aggplants, onions, and other vegetables in a delightful sauce. My last host mother made it last week and it was great.

Tonight for dinner my host brother made a bruschetta from these toasted bagels, with diced tomatoes mixed with oil, garlic, and basil. Seriously delicious and super easy to make.

Hope this gave you some good ideas!

"you're in my house, eating my birthday cake with my family!"

The above quote is courtesy of Ahnold. It is relevant because one of you may or may not have recently had a birthday. Now, I'm all for making you boys cookies and cakes for special occasions (and I know Sara is too), but when you're out on your own, you may not have friends/family/slampieces to cook for you. You might have to start making your own birthday cakes, or you might want to make one for someone else.

I'll be honest here: baked goods aren't really my thing. There's a lot of math involved and I tend to screw it up. But this is a basic recipe which should help get you started. Think of it as a little birthday present from me to you.

<3

Grilling for Memorial Day

So it's Memorial Day, which means summer is pretty much officially here. Pools are opening, swimwear is going on sale, and people are cooking out. As a vegetarian, I'm not much of an authority on that last part, but I want you guys to be prepared, because as men, you are supposed to be masters of the grill.

This article gives you tips for making the perfect hamburger, which is pretty important stuff. And as an added bonus, here's a link to a piece about making delicious potato salad, in case you're feeling daring. Potato salad is one of my absolute favorite barbecue dishes, probably because it's also one of the only ones I can actually eat.

Happy Memorial Day!