A Wanna-Be Italian Mama

My husband spent his mission for our church in northern part of Italy. While he was there he learned how to cook many authentic Italian dishes from the people he met. One of his friends owned his own pizza restaurant! Over our 3 years of marriage I have tried to learn from my husband and have created the most authentic Italian pizza I can with out breaking the bank. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Ingredients

1 Can plain tomato sauce

dried oregano, basil,

garlic salt

fresh basil

mozzarella (make sure it is stored in LIQUID! I found mine for an affordable price at Sam's Club)

5 or 6 links of plain breakfast sausage

I make my dough (see this recipe) before hand. You can use whatever dough recipe you want but make sure its a thin crust one. Italians like their pizza as thin as possible. I accidentally forgot to split my dough so thats why this one looks thicker. Spread your dough on a greased cookie sheet with cornmeal sprinkled on it. Bake it for about 5-8 minutes. In a small sauce pan bring tomato sauce to a boil. Add dried seasonings and garlic to your own taste. Let it simmer- no real time, just at least 5 min but longer is better. Italians simmer their sauces for hours, and sometimes all day! You will want to cook the sausage at this same time. When the links are done cut them into bit size pieces. Take crust out after the time previously indicated and spread about 1/2 to 3/4 of the sauce on the crust. Tear up some basil leaves and spread over sauce.

Cut your mozzarella up and spread over pizza. Do the same with the sausage. Italians put salami on their pizzas, not pepperoni. Sausage is a cheaper substitute and it is usually already on hand in your kitchen.

Place back in your oven. Bake at the temperature that your dough recipe suggests until the cheese is bubbly and the crust is brown. Enjoy!

Cute Husband

(Maybe I should get a petti-cure if I'm going to keep taking close ups of my fingers... haha)

I'm not a moring person, never have been, probably never will be. And the other morning I was being more snotty then usual, I was being just cranky and short, and my wonderful husband kept trying not to argue with me and say nice things but nothing made me stop being snotty and unhappy. He went into the kitchen to make his breakfast and go to work like he does every morning and I started getting ready for the day in the bathroom. I thought he had left when he surprised me and popped his head in the bathroom- and handed me this- a little flower he made out of a paper towel and simply said "don't be sad honey- its a beautiful day!" gave me a quick kiss and left for work. I almost started crying! I am so lucky to have such a caring, loving husband even when I'm a jerk to him.

Its been trying to snow lately- bleh. I keep waking up to it looking like this but it all melts off during the day. That makes me happy but then I remember it wont be melting off soon! gurr....

{Have you noticed?.......... I'm on a blogging roll! Lets not jinx is!}

Ice Caves!

Last weekend my old roommate and good friend Amanda Strong came up to visit with her boy friend Matt. It was so fun to see her again and to go do a lot of fun things in the area! Friday night we went to a straw maze and Saturday we went to the ICE CAVES!!! I've been to this cave a few times when I was single (one time I went it was one of Jesse and I's first dates!) and it is way fun! If you are in the Rexburg area I recommend you check it out!
Ssooo..... I don't own any snow pants. Jesse MADE me wear his cuz he didn't want me whining when I got soaking wet and cold in just jeans- what a thoughtful husband! =)

Love my Manda- Panda!

Whoever was the first one to think- "hey lets go down in this giant whole in the desert and go in an ice cave!" ???

My cute husband

The first "hallway"

Looking down into what I like to call "The Lobby"

In "The Lobby"

I like to call this the penguin part =) your supposed to slide on your stomach or back but Manda chose not to.

3 years ago on one of our first dates! (... yes I am wearing the same coat)