Hi folks. I think a lot of us questioned whether to do blog posts today or not. It's hard to blog about food which seems so trivial in the grand scheme of things. We wonder if it's going to seem insensitive or silly to post a recipe. We wonder if people will care when their minds are elsewhere. Our own minds are elsewhere too. How can they not be? Who doesn't remember where they were that day when the towers fell? Who was not completely shattered by what had happened that day? I think the whole world was riveted to their televisions and horrified by what they were seeing. I don't think anyone among us was not changed somehow that day. It moved a nation, it inspired so many to go help, and the rest were left holding their loved ones just a little closer that day.
I was at home when it happened. I do not know anyone who was there or lost their lives that day. Yet I remember it like it was yesterday. I had been feeling ill, took a nap, got up and showered, then turned on the tv. Which is odd for me as I never watch tv during the day. Not sure if it was due to not feeling well or what. But I turned it on and wandered off into the kitchen. I heard them say breaking news not much later so I went in to see what was happening. I remember sitting on the coffee table and not moving for I don't even know how long. I could not look away. I saw what was happening and was, like most of you, in tears and stunned by what I was seeing and hearing. I remember sitting there for what seemed like an entire day. My heart just broke for everyone. I could not wrap my head around the horror of it all.
I recall seeing quite a lot of footage, quite a lot of stories of people lost, people found, people hurt. One stood out to me. I remember hearing about two men in the second tower who made the decision not to try to leave. The reason being one of them was handicapped. They knew he would not make it down the stairs with what was happening. So he decided to stay, and his friend decided to stay with him. I remember hearing how they called their families to say goodbye. Most of all I remember thinking what amazing men they were. For the friend to stay with him knowing he would not survive but making that decision not to leave his friend behind. This sticks in my head and I think of it often when I think of 9/11.
I also think of the rescue dogs who went in. Being an animal lover seeing footage of those dogs and what they did was just overwhelming. The service they provide is just unparalleled. I am in awe that they do it and do it quite willingly. It speaks volume of loyalty and the intelligence animals have.
There are so many stories that break my heart. The pain for those who were dealt the unfair blow of losing people they loved must be unbearable. I wonder how they cope. When I see their remarkable tales I am moved beyond compassion. It makes me think about how even in the face of such evil we will not lose our basic humanity. People came from everywhere to help. Selfless acts were done on a monumental scale. And the firefighters and rescue workers go so far beyond being heroes I don't even think there's a name for what they did that day. To run into a building when everyone else is running out, how do you even begin to thank the people who do that.
So for me this day brought back some painful memories but it also restores my faith in human kindness. We are amazing when pushed to the brink. There is nothing we cannot do when we pull together and support one another. To me that is what freedom means. Do not walk mindlessly through your life as there were people down the line who laid down their lives for us to be here and have our basic freedoms. There are people still today who put their lives on the line every day for us. We need to be mindful of that. Doing that can honor them, that can also light the way for our young ones to see what sacrifice is and why it's made.
With that being said I also think we need to live our lives and not shut down completely. I've learned through some painful losses in life that the world keeps going forward no matter what. You can move with it or get stuck standing still. To me you honor those you loved and lost by moving on the best you can. Do not forget them, but do not distance yourself from life or love. Feel your feelings is the most basic way I can explain it. Do not shut the world out or become cold or hard. And I know from experience that is tough to do. But I also know if you close off your heart to those around you then you are missing out on so much in life. Life is meant to be lived, shared, embraced and celebrated. The world keeps spinning, and for me personally I choose to live it fully aware and grateful for every moment.
So I knew I wanted to make something that made me think of New York. For me that is pizza. A nice thin pizza you can fold over, a little too black on the thick crust, a hint of sweetness. So I made pizza tonight. And I thought of 9/11 and the stories that moved me, the people who's loss touched my life and the ones who lost theirs.
Basic Pizza Dough: (for bread maker)
Sourced and adapted from: Black & Decker's Manual and Cookbook
Ingredients:
1 cup water
1 tablespoon shortening
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2-3/4 cups flour
1-1/2 teaspoon yeast
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in your bread machine baking pan in order.
Put the baking pan in the chamber.
Set the machine for dough.
Remove and put in a bowl and cover it for at least 30 minutes.
Herbed Pizza Dough:
Ingredients:
1 cup water
1 tablespoon shortening
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2-3/4 cup flour
1 tablespoon garlic salt
1 tablespoon oregano
2 tablespoons basil (you could use less, I wanted the basil to stand out)
1-1/2 teaspoons yeast
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in your bread machine baking pan in order.
Put the baking pan in the chamber.
Set the machine for dough.
Remove and put in a bowl and cover it for at least 30 minutes.
Pizza Sauce:
Ingredients:
1 can tomato sauce
2 to 3 tablespoons sugar
Directions:
Combine both ingredients in a bowl and stir.
Simple.
Pizza # 1- Kim's:
Ingredients:
1/2 batch of the basic dough
1/4 batch of pizza sauce
1/2 package of prosciutto
1 cup mozzarella cheese
Olive oil to taste
Directions:
Preheat oven to 500 degrees. If using pizza stone put rack on lowest position. If using pan, use the second lowest.
Roll or toss your crust.
Brush a generous helping of olive oil over dough.
Spread your sauce evenly.
Add your shredded mozzarella.
Add your prosciutto.
Cook for 7 to 10 minutes depending how dark you like it and how well your oven works.
Cut up and serve.
Pizza # 2- Kiana's:
Ingredients:
1/2 basic dough
1/4 pizza sauce
1/2 cup shredded pepperoni
1 cup shredded mozzarella
Olive oil to taste
Directions:
Preheat oven to 500 degrees. If using pizza stone put rack on lowest position. If using pan, use the second lowest.
Roll or toss your crust.
Brush a generous helping of olive oil over dough.
Spread your sauce evenly.
Add your shredded mozzarella.
Add your pepperoni.
Cook for 7 to 10 minutes depending how dark you like it and how well your oven works.
Cut up and serve.
Pizza # 3- Guys Pizza:
Ingredients:
1/2 basic herbed dough
1/4 pizza sauce
1 sweet pepper, cut up
1/4 cup onions, cut up
1 cup shredded mozzarella
Olive oil to taste
Directions:
Preheat oven to 500 degrees. If using pizza stone put rack on lowest position. If using pan, use the second lowest.
Roll or toss your crust.
Brush a generous helping of olive oil over dough.
Spread your sauce evenly.
Add your shredded mozzarella.
Add your peppers and onion.
Cook for 7 to 10 minutes depending how dark you like it and how well your oven works.
Cut up and serve.
Pizza # 4- Spare (I always make a spare in case we have drop in guests or one goes awry):
Directions:
1/2 basic herbed dough
1/4 pizza sauce
1/4 package of prosciutto
1/4 cup shredded pepperoni
1 cup shredded mozzarella
Olive oil to taste
Directions:
Preheat oven to 500 degrees. If using pizza stone put rack on lowest position. If using pan, use the second lowest.
Roll or toss your crust.
Brush a generous helping of olive oil over dough.
Spread your sauce evenly.
Add your shredded mozzarella.
Add your pepperoni and prosciutto.
Cook for 7 to 10 minutes depending how dark you like it and how well your oven works.
Cut up and serve.
So this is our New York Style Inspired Pizza night. It was a small gesture to remember something so monumental and life changing. There's no way I could ever express my sadness but for me when I am sad I cook. When I want to make someone feel better I cook. When I want to feel better I cook. When I grieve I cook. And when I want to honor someone I make a recipe revolving around them. So New York this is your recipe, a small gesture of love and support for so many broken hearts and missed lives. It will never be forgotten.
Toodles and smoochies. xx
Recipe shared at These Chicks Cooked!
I was at home when it happened. I do not know anyone who was there or lost their lives that day. Yet I remember it like it was yesterday. I had been feeling ill, took a nap, got up and showered, then turned on the tv. Which is odd for me as I never watch tv during the day. Not sure if it was due to not feeling well or what. But I turned it on and wandered off into the kitchen. I heard them say breaking news not much later so I went in to see what was happening. I remember sitting on the coffee table and not moving for I don't even know how long. I could not look away. I saw what was happening and was, like most of you, in tears and stunned by what I was seeing and hearing. I remember sitting there for what seemed like an entire day. My heart just broke for everyone. I could not wrap my head around the horror of it all.
I recall seeing quite a lot of footage, quite a lot of stories of people lost, people found, people hurt. One stood out to me. I remember hearing about two men in the second tower who made the decision not to try to leave. The reason being one of them was handicapped. They knew he would not make it down the stairs with what was happening. So he decided to stay, and his friend decided to stay with him. I remember hearing how they called their families to say goodbye. Most of all I remember thinking what amazing men they were. For the friend to stay with him knowing he would not survive but making that decision not to leave his friend behind. This sticks in my head and I think of it often when I think of 9/11.
I also think of the rescue dogs who went in. Being an animal lover seeing footage of those dogs and what they did was just overwhelming. The service they provide is just unparalleled. I am in awe that they do it and do it quite willingly. It speaks volume of loyalty and the intelligence animals have.
There are so many stories that break my heart. The pain for those who were dealt the unfair blow of losing people they loved must be unbearable. I wonder how they cope. When I see their remarkable tales I am moved beyond compassion. It makes me think about how even in the face of such evil we will not lose our basic humanity. People came from everywhere to help. Selfless acts were done on a monumental scale. And the firefighters and rescue workers go so far beyond being heroes I don't even think there's a name for what they did that day. To run into a building when everyone else is running out, how do you even begin to thank the people who do that.
So for me this day brought back some painful memories but it also restores my faith in human kindness. We are amazing when pushed to the brink. There is nothing we cannot do when we pull together and support one another. To me that is what freedom means. Do not walk mindlessly through your life as there were people down the line who laid down their lives for us to be here and have our basic freedoms. There are people still today who put their lives on the line every day for us. We need to be mindful of that. Doing that can honor them, that can also light the way for our young ones to see what sacrifice is and why it's made.
With that being said I also think we need to live our lives and not shut down completely. I've learned through some painful losses in life that the world keeps going forward no matter what. You can move with it or get stuck standing still. To me you honor those you loved and lost by moving on the best you can. Do not forget them, but do not distance yourself from life or love. Feel your feelings is the most basic way I can explain it. Do not shut the world out or become cold or hard. And I know from experience that is tough to do. But I also know if you close off your heart to those around you then you are missing out on so much in life. Life is meant to be lived, shared, embraced and celebrated. The world keeps spinning, and for me personally I choose to live it fully aware and grateful for every moment.
So I knew I wanted to make something that made me think of New York. For me that is pizza. A nice thin pizza you can fold over, a little too black on the thick crust, a hint of sweetness. So I made pizza tonight. And I thought of 9/11 and the stories that moved me, the people who's loss touched my life and the ones who lost theirs.
 |
| CRUST |
 |
| PIZZA # 1 |
 |
| PIZZA # 1- SUPER THIN CRUST |
 |
| PIZZA # 2- KIANA'S THIN BUT NOT NEW YORK THIN CRUST WITH SHREDDED PEPPERONI |
 |
| PIZZA # 2- KIANA CUTTING IT |
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| PIZZA # 2- KIANA TAKING A SLICE |
 |
| PIZZA # 3- THE GUYS NEW YORK STYLE WITH SWEET PEPPERS AND ONION |
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| PIZZA # 3- NICE CRISPY CRUST |
 |
| PIZZA # 3- I LIKE THE WAY THIS ONE TURNED OUT, IT HAD A HERBED CRUST |
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| PIZZA # 4- HERBED CRUST NEW YORK STYLE WITH PROSCIUTTO AND PEPPERONI |
Sourced and adapted from: Black & Decker's Manual and Cookbook
Ingredients:
1 cup water
1 tablespoon shortening
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2-3/4 cups flour
1-1/2 teaspoon yeast
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in your bread machine baking pan in order.
Put the baking pan in the chamber.
Set the machine for dough.
Remove and put in a bowl and cover it for at least 30 minutes.
Herbed Pizza Dough:
Ingredients:
1 cup water
1 tablespoon shortening
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2-3/4 cup flour
1 tablespoon garlic salt
1 tablespoon oregano
2 tablespoons basil (you could use less, I wanted the basil to stand out)
1-1/2 teaspoons yeast
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in your bread machine baking pan in order.
Put the baking pan in the chamber.
Set the machine for dough.
Remove and put in a bowl and cover it for at least 30 minutes.
Pizza Sauce:
Ingredients:
1 can tomato sauce
2 to 3 tablespoons sugar
Directions:
Combine both ingredients in a bowl and stir.
Simple.
Pizza # 1- Kim's:
Ingredients:
1/2 batch of the basic dough
1/4 batch of pizza sauce
1/2 package of prosciutto
1 cup mozzarella cheese
Olive oil to taste
Directions:
Preheat oven to 500 degrees. If using pizza stone put rack on lowest position. If using pan, use the second lowest.
Roll or toss your crust.
Brush a generous helping of olive oil over dough.
Spread your sauce evenly.
Add your shredded mozzarella.
Add your prosciutto.
Cook for 7 to 10 minutes depending how dark you like it and how well your oven works.
Cut up and serve.
Pizza # 2- Kiana's:
Ingredients:
1/2 basic dough
1/4 pizza sauce
1/2 cup shredded pepperoni
1 cup shredded mozzarella
Olive oil to taste
Directions:
Preheat oven to 500 degrees. If using pizza stone put rack on lowest position. If using pan, use the second lowest.
Roll or toss your crust.
Brush a generous helping of olive oil over dough.
Spread your sauce evenly.
Add your shredded mozzarella.
Add your pepperoni.
Cook for 7 to 10 minutes depending how dark you like it and how well your oven works.
Cut up and serve.
Pizza # 3- Guys Pizza:
Ingredients:
1/2 basic herbed dough
1/4 pizza sauce
1 sweet pepper, cut up
1/4 cup onions, cut up
1 cup shredded mozzarella
Olive oil to taste
Directions:
Preheat oven to 500 degrees. If using pizza stone put rack on lowest position. If using pan, use the second lowest.
Roll or toss your crust.
Brush a generous helping of olive oil over dough.
Spread your sauce evenly.
Add your shredded mozzarella.
Add your peppers and onion.
Cook for 7 to 10 minutes depending how dark you like it and how well your oven works.
Cut up and serve.
Pizza # 4- Spare (I always make a spare in case we have drop in guests or one goes awry):
Directions:
1/2 basic herbed dough
1/4 pizza sauce
1/4 package of prosciutto
1/4 cup shredded pepperoni
1 cup shredded mozzarella
Olive oil to taste
Directions:
Preheat oven to 500 degrees. If using pizza stone put rack on lowest position. If using pan, use the second lowest.
Roll or toss your crust.
Brush a generous helping of olive oil over dough.
Spread your sauce evenly.
Add your shredded mozzarella.
Add your pepperoni and prosciutto.
Cook for 7 to 10 minutes depending how dark you like it and how well your oven works.
Cut up and serve.
 |
| HERBED DOUGH BEFORE I COOKED IT. GORGEOUS IF YOU ASK ME. |
Toodles and smoochies. xx
Recipe shared at These Chicks Cooked!
What a sad sad day it was... :-(
ReplyDeleteGreat way to remember it... I love those pizze!
Beautiful post. Well said. And your pizza is fabulous~
ReplyDeleteThose are some impressive looking pizzas! They look straight out of a pizzeria. Yum! I love pizza:)
ReplyDeleteSuch a heartfelt post. The pizzas look so delicious. I'd love to try them all. Yummy!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful tribute Kim. I find there are just no words...you said it all so well. And great looking Za's!!!
ReplyDeleteThis was such a thoughtful post, Kim. Everything you've said is so true. And I think making these pizzas was the perfect way to remember those who were lost, but to also celebrate life and the loved ones around us!
ReplyDeleteSeeing the memorial yesterday made me want to go to New York for a visit - seeing your pizza has made my mind up - it looks sensational. Well done x
ReplyDeleteWell written and thoughtful tribute here. Out of the recipes, I would say the herb crust really has my attention. I have saved the recipe for that -couldn't pass it up. Thanks for posting.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post. Living in NYC, yesterday was such a somber day. Great way to pay tribute with these gorgeous pizzas.
ReplyDeleteYour pizzas look wonderful (if only I was closer to drop in and get a slice :)!
ReplyDeleteYour post is beautifully written and echoes the sentiments of many.
Such a beautiful post! I cannot believe it has been 10 years. Your NY style pizza is the perfect tribute!
ReplyDeleteSuch a well written heart-felt post... I must say the herb crust made me do a double take. I'm definitely making this one for sure. Thanks for sharing, both the recipes and your tribute to NY...
ReplyDeleteHoly yum!! I wish I had eaten at your house last night! I am totally making that herbed crust! Great post :)
ReplyDeleteKim, your tribute post was beautifully written and very touching. It was so lovely of you to make New York Style pizza. .....and the pizza looked delicious! What a talented cook / pizza maker you are!
ReplyDeleteA fabulous way to honour those affected by the 9-11. Your pizzas look amazing. I am going o bookmark these ones for making later!!
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Your pizza looks good. Can't go wrong with pizza.
ReplyDeleteThere could be no better tribute than New York style pizza. This is absolutely perfect. Bravo.
ReplyDeleteYour writing is very moving. What an unbelievable and tragic time in history that was and the remembrance is still poignant. Your pizza looks fantastic! I know my boys would love that.
ReplyDeleteThis was a lovely post. My husband and I visited NYC 8 years ago when the wounds were still raw. It is beautiful the way the nation still comes together, now in a more healing way.
ReplyDeleteI love the pizza connection. What a great food to add to this tribute.
Oh yes Kim, you wrote it so well, and all your pizzas look very very tasty, with fantastic toppings!
ReplyDeleteGreat post Kim. I couldn't bring myself to do much of anything on Sunday. This was a nice tribute. And it made me crave pizza! I'll be in NY soon for my Rosh Hashanah demo at Zabar's, I'll have to grab a slice...
ReplyDelete