Saturday

After posting the late Blog, I kicked it into gear. I got a long way to go and a short time to get there (Smokie and the Bandit), so I shaved, showered, jumped into some clothes and took off for CVS, where I got some needed prescriptions.

Then it was over to the Home Depot, where I bought some plumber’s putty and clear silicon caulk for the sink project.

Next was Westborn, to pick up ingredients for the main show: Jake’s birthday celebration. I am actually quite proud of this as I made it up myself.

I suggested that we hook up and I would bring cibata bread and various toppings. I figured you could cut the cibata bread in half (horizontally,) add stuff, broil it until the cheese melted and make individual pizzas. So, I bought a bunch of different toppings and then headed to the Wine Palace (or whatever it’s called) at Middlebelt and Schoolcraft. I tried to get a Spanish wine they like (Marques De Orianza) and they had the brand, but not that exact wine, so I got another type of their red wines, instead. I could have sworn that’s where I bought it the last time, though.

I got to their house about 2:05 PM, but I wasn’t late. We never agreed on a time, so I had a “Get Out Of Jail Free” card.

We started out playing a board game whose name I never heard of and don’t now remember. We had spinach dip and little pita rounds as an appetizer and somehow, (I don’t know how,) I won the game!

Then we moved on to the main course. I cut up two cibata breads while Carla chopped veggies and grated cheeses. Then she fried up the Italian sausage and sautéed the mushrooms. Jake was on pizza sauce duty. Then we assembled our personal pizzas.

I deliberately cut the first cibata thin on one half and thick on the other. I am not a fan of thick crust (or, God forbid, Chicago-style) pizza. I was introduced to pizza in the early ‘60s, when my brother Carl worked in a pizza joint. It was named after the space race at the time, but for the life of me I can’t remember what it was called (Appolo? I dunno). Anyway, it had a complete “space” theme and he was in a glass-enclosed space out front, making the pies. And the pies he made were thin, crispy and delicious! Anyway, I digress. I like thin pizza.

So, we each made our own. I made mine mimicking something I did see on TV: no tomato sauce, just a drizzle of olive oil, fresh mozzarella rounds and fresh basil that Carla had cut “Chiffonade.” They made theirs with Italian sausage, pepperoni, Provolone, fresh mozzarella, yellow banana pepper rings, etc., and then stuck them in the oven to warm up and melt the cheese. BTW, Carla took off all my basil before inserting it in the oven. She explained it would burn before the cheese melted and should be added after it came out. I didn’t know that.

The last square (there was four if you recall) was a collaborative effort: Carla called it a garbage pizza. We each suggested a topping (mine was sliced black olives). So they went into the oven and we watched for the cheeses to melt.

When they came out, Carla had a brilliant idea. She suggested we cut each individual square into three pieces so we could all taste each other’s pies. Brilliant! So, we did. I must confess, I liked mine the best. And, I couldn’t eat all four slices (neither could Carla) but Jake did.

Then we watched the new version of True Grit, starring Jeff Bridges. It was interesting as this is not a remake of the John Wayne movie (Jake explained they hired a screenwriter to make a new script from the book, rather than remake the original movie). So, while many things were similar, enough was different to keep you interested.

When that was over, I made my goodbyes, wished Jake a happy birthday and headed home. I got there about 9:15 PM, treated the cats, got out of my clothes and lay in my bed reading my book until I fell asleep.