Margherita Pizza

Hi Everyone,

I hope you all had a great weekend and enjoyed the beautiful weather. :)  Hooray for the Bengals win yesterday, putting them on a 5-game winning streak with a 6-2 record.  The last time the Bengals had a winning streak this long was the year I was born - 1988.  Looks like they are doing something right with the additions of Andy Dalton and A.J. Green.  My dad was so fed up with the Bengals franchise after last season he actually gave up his season tickets for the first time since he moved to Cincinnati back in the 80's.  Funny thing is, he just purchased tickets for the rest of the home games this season two weeks ago - don't worry everyone, I made sure to call him a bandwagon fan, to which he just laughed.  Unfortunately, the Browns aren't doing so well and lost yet again yesterday. :(  

 To celebrate the Bengals victory, I made my favorite kind of pizza for dinner Sunday night - Margherita!  This recipe is simple and it turned out delicious!  


Recipe: 

12 inch pizza crust (I used Boboli original crust)
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3 -4 large basil leaves, cut into strips
2 small tomatoes, cut thinly (I used Roma tomatoes)
4 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 450°F.
2. Drizzle the olive oil over the pizza dough. Use a brush to spread it around and make sure to get the crust!
3. Next, spread the finely chopped garlic evenly over the entire pizza.
4.  Spread the mozzarella cheese throughout the top

5. Place the thinly sliced tomatoes across the entire pizza.
6. Lightly salt and pepper the tomatoes
7. Spread the fresh basil leaves, making sure to get some on tomatoes and on just the cheese itself.
8. Cook the pizza in the oven for about 9-10 minutes, or until sufficiently crispy and melted to your liking.
9.  Add a little Parmesan cheese ( I added a little before baking and a little after) and enjoy!

End Result: 

Pre Christmas Ale Post

So apparently, Great Lakes Christmas Ale has been tapped in Cleveland, OH and most stores now have cases of it in stock.  I have yet to drink a full Christmas Ale Beer.  I have only tried one sip of a friends beer at a Christmas themed party a couple years ago, but I don't even remember what it tastes like. 

I guess you could say this is my Christmas Ale V-card post.  I am determined to drink some Christmas Ale this weekend and why not, 'tis the season, right! :)  

I will also post about my experience with this drink 'Post Christmas Ale.'  That is, if I'm not too hungover! I have heard this stuff is pretty lethal as far as getting you drunk....hopefully for my first time drinking this 'crack' beer, I don't end up like this guy -->

And yes, if you look at my google history, I did just google "drunk santa."  

Cheers to a great and sunny weekend!

~Mandy
 

My New Obsession

is...

Pintrest!

If you have not been on this website before, it is an absolute must!  My friend Skinner told me about it a couple months ago and it took me a bit to understand what it was and how it worked, but now I am obsessed.  I could literally be on that site all day and just repin, repin, repin.  I actually started reading people's blogs from seeing the different pins and that's what prompted me to make my own blog!  

Pintrest makes me want to cook, bake, decorate, and do all sorts of crafty things.  Such a great way to get recipe ideas for food & drinks, look at different clothing styles and trends, look at holiday decorating ideas, hair style ideas, home decoration ideas, and so much more.  And no, Pintrest is not paying me to say this :)  ... although I wish they were!! So Pintrest -- if you are reading this, I am ready to be your paid spokesperson. 

But seriously, if you have not already created an account on Pintrest -- DO IT! And you will be just as obsessed as I am.  :)

Example of something I repined - Pumpkin Spice Latte

~Mandy

Kim K is Cray Cray!

Just in case you were pinned beneath a giant rock yesterday and didn't hear the big news -- Kim Kardashian filed for divorce from Kris Humphries!!!!

What...a shocker.  

If you saw their 'fairytale wedding special' on E, you are probably not shocked at all.  Anyone with half a brain could have seen that the marriage had no chance of lasting... I mean they weren't even speaking to each other at their rehearsal dinner.  They fought about anything and everything: his dogs, Kim not changing her last name, Kris fighting with members of the Kardashian family, Kim being too materialistic, etc. etc.... I'm not a marriage expert, but these are probably problems that should have been rectified prior to the big day.  

I'm wondering if Kim doesn't really understand what marriage is.  72 days later and she's like eh, this isn't for me, I guess I'll just get a divorce.  Trying not to judge, but REALLY?  Haha.

The Couple in Happier Times...

I'm wondering if the marriage/divorce was all for ratings and publicity or if was actually real love.  We may never know...