My grandmother's pizza

One of my favorite local websites, NorthforkParents.com, is hosting a contest. In exchange for a "food memory", you get a chance to win 4 tickets to Baystreet Theater Kidstreet Production. A food memory simply retells some of your best and worst food experiences.

I thought I might share mine here. And if my story conjures up memories of your own, and you're a North Fork local, please hop over to NorthForkParents, and join the fun!

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My grandmother, "Nana Fanelli," was a wonderful cook. As a kid, my hands down favorite was her pizza. Nana's crust was home made and fresh and thick and bready. She used to slice the mozzarella, not grate it. And her sauce was made from the tomatoes she grew in her College Point, Queens garden. Add to that fresh basil, oregano, grated Parmesan and the best olive oil she could afford.

The pizza would be made well ahead of time, and would be sitting, still in the pizza pan, when we arrived at her house for a visit. She would always be waiting to feed us, and we were always too late for her liking. The moment we all piled into the tiny kitchen, Nana would slice the pizza up, with a pair of scissors, so she didn't "make marks in the pan." Even as a child I found this ironic, since her pans were as scratched and cut and worn-out as her own hands! But the picture of her thick, rough hands, using the scissor to snip a piece of the pizza for me to sample, is etched in my memory.

My mother cajoled the "recipe" from her while Nana was in her eighties and mom made it for us after Nana became to tired to do it herself. (Mom uses scissors too!) In recent years, I have memorized the recipe myself and I make it regularly for my kids. My youngest tells me, "The only pizza I like, mommy, is yours!"

I can feel Nana Fanelli smiling from above.

My new addiction

I've had some trying times these last weeks.

I'm tired, worn out, not sure how to go on. I knew I needed something to get me going again. I went to yoga. It was nice, and hard work, but that wasn't it. I went to a Jazzercise class. It was even harder. Still not enough.

I've been eating everything I can find. I've talked with friends. Went for walks. Listened to my iPod. Nothing was really helping.

I thought it might be time to write, but I am too damn tired to concentrate. Sigh... maybe I need to get in touch with my therapist again...

But no. Tonight I found my salvation. I found out you can watch full episodes of The Daily Show online- just one day after they air!

I know I'm VERY slow on the uptake. I know it's been around for years. But I don't have cable. I have never watched a show - snippets on YouTube here and there. But never a full episode.

Jon Stewart, where have you been all my life?

http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/index.jhtml?episodeId=188632

Spongebob Square Candidate

As I sit here and watch what they are calling a "debate", I am frustrated to no end about how much finger pointing is going on. No one actually answers a question, nor can anyone actually tell us how they themselves feel about a thing, because the focus is on what the other guy has done or has said or what they are responsible for. I'm so frustrated that I keep talking over the answers and making observations about the candidates' choice of necktie. My 12-year-old son just asked me, "Do you want to watch Spongebob?"

"I think we are watching Spongebob, Jack."

I would say this is a freaking joke, if it weren't so serious. Americans are asking intelligent, observant questions. And these men are giving us the same rhetoric of six months ago. Their platforms haven't changed at all, despite how deeply and quickly our economy has tanked.

And they just keep blaming the other and telling us what "he" did wrong and what stupid and naive thing "he" is saying. They don't even answer the questions!

"It's his fault!"

"No. HE did it."

Can't either of them just be a leader already? Can't they say something that they feel strongly and passionately about in a frank way withOUT going after the opponent's position. Their answers are repetitive, we've heard them before. Once a question is put to the candidates, they dance around like Patrick and Spongebob through the valley of doom.

Don't get me wrong, I still know who I am voting for. I am still pleased that George W. Bush will finally NOT be our president. And I still think I know which is the lesser of two evils.

But, come on. Even the better candidate is not the best candidate. I am longing for a real leader. These are historic times. We need an historic leader.