Spinach Pizza with Ricotta and Roasted Turkey

 

Like any warm blooded American, pizza and I are best friends.  Although our relationship recently has been closer to that of “frienemy” than best friends forever.  You see, the disconnect lies with the sauce.  Traditional “quick and easy” pizza sauce is more frequently sourced from a can, rather than an actual tomato.  And that’s a problem for me.  It’s metallic.  It’s strangely reddish-orange.  It’s often sickeningly sweet.  It’s tomato only in name.

 

Zucchini Fritters with Herbed Lemon Ricotta

I realize we’re long past zucchini season here in Kansas.  But the weather has been nice (in the 50s and 60s) these last few weeks, and I’m getting restless.  I can see spring on the horizon and all the fresh fruits and vegetables that fill the farmer’s markets soon after.  I’m not really one for the heaviness and heartiness that usually comes with cold weather foods.  I much prefer the lightness and freshness of spring and summer – the recipes we make when it’s too warm outside to run the oven for and hour or two.  The salads, bruschettas, simple pizzas and sandwiches.

Spinach + Ricotta Ravioli in a Brown Butter Mustard Sauce

I was walking down by my neighborhood river the other day and was thinking about how we never do anything just for fun anymore.  Everything in our lives is always such a chore.  Everything has a purpose. 

We choose jobs based on how much they pay, or if we get medical or dental.  We cook because our family has to eat.  We run because it’s healthy.  

It seems rare that we do something purely for the simple enjoyment it brings. Our lives seem to be focused more on getting the job done, rather than enjoying, and living, the life we have.

Homemade Noodles with Cream and Parmesan

Last January I kicked off the new year with the traditional good luck dish – black-eyed peas.  And while 2011 was a good year, I’ve decided that 2012 needs a little something extra that simmering beans (peas?) in a pot with sausage and peppers just can’t achieve.  This year isn’t going to be a good year, it’s going to be a great year.  This year requires flour wells, eggs incorporated by hand, dough kneaded until silky smooth and yolky yellow.