Part of my day, Part of my thoughts

Throughout much of my adolescence, I had quite extensive braces. As my mouth would try to get accustomed to a recent fitting, tightening, I would frequently bite my tongue or cheek.

While normally nothing, I whined about it a bit (after it happened twice in a row!) while I happened to be around my grandmother. As an accomplished nurse epidemiologist, she informed me that once you bite yourself like that (usually accidentally), the area swells up. And once it swells (INSIDE your mouth), it is so much easier for you to accidentally bite yourself again! That was a complete revelation to me at the time.

I must have been around 10 or 11 when she told me this, back when I spent most summers with her and my grandpa, taking sailing lessons. And to this day, every time I bite my lip or tongue or inside of my cheek (it happens more often than I'd like to admit), I always cautiously feel it and try to determine how much swelling there is, always fearing the imminent second bite, as Bub always warned me.

I have advice from her that I remember every day. Embarrassing moments she witnessed that I remember more than I care to, if only to save my own humility. Family history she listed off that I wish I remembered more of. Or scientific ramblings that she'd listen to me rattle off. Things come up almost every day day that either remind me of Bub, or remind me of some sage advice she waved at me on the way back from a rant on my end.

As we approach 6 months since her passing, there's still things that make me think of Bub almost every day. I think of all the wisdom she passed on to me in common place conversations. I miss the way she called me "shana punim". Even more so -- I miss how my future children will never hear her coo that to them. They'll never hear her coo how perfect they are, even though no one is perfect except HER great grandchildren. I'll miss her telling stories about how she snatched my future babe, like she did me, IN the delivery room, before my hubs even gets a chance. Just as I smiled at her, her first great grandchild would have smiled and spoke to her, in a way only great grandchildren can speak, minutes after birth.

And just as she would wax poetic to me, all my life and right up until my last visit, about her mother (who I am named for) would have loved me, so will my mother have to tell the story about how much HER mother would love whoever comes along next. As Jason and I approach our fourth anniversary next month, I do think a little bit into the future (no buns in the oven, yet!). And while I didn't have a lot of references for the stories she'd tell me, I cherish them now as they quickly fade from my memory, and I selfishly am excited for the day when I can share about where I learned the curse of biting your own cheek.

As Bub still flows in and out of my every-day life, I wonder, both hopefully and sorrowfully, when these things will start to fade from the every day. How soon/long before I remember back only a week? And then it's only a month at a time? How long before I have to be reminded of her yartzeit because the year passed too quickly without her memory? But how long before every day has the weight of mourning on my chest?

Pizza Week - Clam and Bacon Pizza

Happy Pizza Week, everyone!

Pizza is ubiquitous. It is consumed in such high quantities, that it's practically American food, rather than Italian any more. Although, if you've ever had true Italian pizza, from the source, it is ethereal and life changing. Pizza can be an art form, a quick weeknight take-out, or a family-friendly meal assembled together. There's hardly a wrong way to do pizza.

I met this pizza recreation from Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. While the recipe wasn't posted online, the flavor combination is in no-way my own. The original used garlic paste as a base, and used way more cheese. While it sounded fantastic, it was definitely gut-bomb worthy. Hopefully this version is a little lightened up, and great for an easy assembly at any time of year.

I used my dough pre-made from Trader Joe's, and my clams were actually from their freezer section. If you have access to affordable fresh ones, I would highly recommend that.

When you're done reviewing mine, be sure to take a peek at the other fantastic options this week!

Monday

Carrie – My Favorite Pizza Crust

Tuesday

Kat – Taco Pizza

Kirsten – Cornmeal Pizza Crust

Wednesday

Madelyn – Tangy BBQ Chicken Pizza

Megan – Pork and Pear Pizza

Thursday

Beka – Clam and Bacon Pizza

Kirsten – Greek Pizza

Monica – Roasted Veggie Pizza on Gluten Free Crust

Friday

Jeanne – Pepperoni Rolls-Two Ways
Lauren – Caramelized Onion, Sausage and Barbecue Pizza with Ranch Dressing

Clam and Bacon Pizza

Makes: 1 Medium Pizza, good for two hungry people

Ingredients:

• 1 ball of your favorite pizza dough, risen
• 4 pieces of bacon, diced
• 1/3 to 1/2 pound in-shell clams
• Few TBSP butter
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 small shallot, thinly sliced
• 4 oz. Ciliegine (tiny balls of mozzerella)
• 2 cups (ish) fresh arugula

1. Preheat your oven to 475 degrees. Allow your pizza stone to heat up, if you're using one.
2. In a pan, cook the diced bacon to render the fat. Once cooked, remove from pan.
3. To the pan, add the clams, butter, and garlic (my frozen kit from TJs included the sauce, so omit if yours is included). Put a lid on the pan and steam per package directions (about 8-10 minutes, generally). Remove the pan from heat, and allow to cool, then remove from the shells. Discard the shells (or save for seafood stock).
4. As the clams are cooling, prepare your dough. Stretch into a 12-14" circle(ish). Par cook the crust for about 3 minutes.
5. Pour the butter-garlic sauce from the clams over the dough. Begin to layer the other ingredients - clams, bacon, cheese, then shallots.
6. Bake (on pan or pizza stone) until the cheese is melted and the rest of the dough is crispy (6-10 minutes, depending on your oven).
7. Once you remove your pizza from the oven, top with fresh arugula and enjoy immediately!