So let it be written, so let it be done!
Maybe this is why I have a slight aversion to meal planning. I pretty much know off of the top of my head the types of ingredients I have on hand at any given time (save for a few of those things that go hiding in the pantry cupboard), and I can sort of plan on any given day what we're going to have. Jay will tell you that I'm super impressionable, and he's right. I can see something on TV, and think, "Oh man, that looks delicious," and that turns into an idea for dinner. Tonight, we were watching football, and invariably, a few pizza commercials came on... and for the record, Domino's and Pizza Hut are both produce awfully tempting TV spots. Also, I have a friend out on the west coast that keeps posting pictures of things cooking on a pizza oven gadget. Those pictures always amuse me, and sometimes fascinate me. Maybe these were all subconscious reasons for me deciding to make pizza.
To the basement I went to fetch a pint jar of homemade pizza sauce. The oven was cranked to 450 degrees, and the dough hook was put onto "The Crimson Beast" -- by red Kitchen Aid stand mixer.
In no time, I'd whipped up some easy dough using Fleischmann's Pizza Crust yeast, had it sauced and topped in the blink of an eye. Probably 15 minutes from start to finish. Homemade sauce, pepperoni, roasted fresh garlic, fresh mozzarella grated right off the block...
Get in my mouth.
All told, we probably have about three bucks worth of goodies into this pie. It was good enough to serve as our dinner, with enough leftovers for both of our lunches tomorrow. It was unpretentious, pretty good pizza...good enough to satisfy a pizza craving...good enough to satiate a hungry husband, and good enough to keep in regular rotation.
We are closing in on completing two weeks of our no-grocery-shopping challenge, and to be honest, I really haven't missed a whole lot--if anything. We are able to have great meals, be resourceful in using up what we already have, and if I dare say it, the further we continue with the challenge, the longer we want to go with it. Each day has become more inspirational to us.
I've also been asked to put up some recipes of some of the things that I've been making for our meals. Therefore, I've started a "RECIPES" tab at the top right of the homepage. It should drop down into different categories, and it is a work in progress. If a category is empty, that's probably because I haven't made anything in that tab during our challenge yet--be patient--they will fill up eventually.
On a side note, except for being cognizant of our dwindling fresh produce supply, I haven't seen much of an actual dent in our freezer, pantry, or canned good supply. I know we've been using it, but I can't tell just by looking yet. I guess that will come in time, but for now, it will have to be good enough, and good enough for us, usually turns out to be pretty great. How about you?
--SH