Saturday night Pizza Party!
It was our third time making pizza from scratch and we figured we’d be brave and invite friends over to partake in pizza. It could have gone horribly wrong considering we’re newbies at this. Luckily Papa Murphy’s is on speed dial, just in case.
I prepped all the toppings and Michael made the pizza dough. After a few reader suggestions about baking the pizza twice, Michael thought it would be worth a try.
The dough recipe makes two pizzas (smallish pizzas). The first one was half Feta Cheese, artichoke hearts, basil and some fresh Mozzarella. The other half was mozzarella, tomato and basil. I totally spaced and forgot to put the prosciutto on that half of the pizza. Our friends Jenn and Steve came over and I was distracted with talking and such. The mix up was okay though, it turned out delicious anyways. I opened a bottle of Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling. It was a special Harvest bottle and turned out to be pretty sweet. I like their Dry Riesling better.
Michael baked the plain pizza dough for about 10 minutes before I put the toppings on it. Then I brushed olive oil with Italian seasoning on the crust and we baked the whole pizza again. This method worked GREAT! The first pizza was fantastic. The crust was perfect, the toppings were delicious. I like the new method of pizza making.
It’s not a pretty pizza–sort of a Salvador Dali-esque shape. Trust me when I said it tasted great. We each had two pieces and it was gone in minutes. Michael made up the second pizza and baked the crust first. I put the toppings on.
The second pizza was half fennel sausage, peppers and mozzarella and half mozzarella, tomatoes and prosciutto.
The second pizza was good too but we all agreed it was a little “meat heavy.” We ate our pizza (these smaller pies yield about 8 small slices) and then headed into the living room to play cards.
We played Spades. It’s one of my favorite card games. It’s really fun to play because it can get pretty rowdy and competitive depending on who you play with. And Michael is very good at playing poker so he’s a good partner to have. He can guess what everyone is holding. Show off. 🙂
I grew up playing Spades with my family. I have very fond and happy memories of camping and family vacations where we spent hours a night playing Spades. My brother and my parents and me had a great time. A specific memory it when we’d spend a week or two every summer in a cabin in Eastern Washington. It was right on Blue Lake and the days would be spent with me swimming in the lake, fishing with my dad, or solitary hikes in the desert. Then at night after a dinner of whatever we caught that day we’d play Spades for hours. I love it!
It was a great night. The pizza was a success (thank goodness!) and it was fun hanging out with friends we hadn’t seen in awhile. I’m looking forward to hosting some more pizza parties. 🙂
QUESTION: Have you played Spades? What’s your favorite card game?
Kristina @ spabettie
that veggie pizza looks DELICIOUS. I want.
my favorite card game is contract rummy – it’s MY family card game – we played all the time when I was growing up, on holidays and any time the grandparents would be there too, and sometimes my aunt + uncle… it got to be a HUGE table of us playing cards, and I LOVE those memories. we recently brought it back last Thanksgiving – we played until after midnight!!
Lisa Eirene
Card games are sooo fun and FREE. It’s a great activity to do with friends and I often forget about it. I’m glad I “re-remembered”. I want to have some more card and pizza parties.
Brie @ Brie Fit
We play a lot of Gin in our house! We love poker, too, but it’s hard to play with just two people.
Chateau Ste. Michelle riesling is my favorite white wine. I’m a red girl through and through, but if I want white, that’s what I get.
Lisa Eirene
If you ever make it to the NW, the Chateau Ste Michelle Winery is really beautiful. It’s a great place to have a picnic and wine taste. I love their wines too. I wasn’t a white wine drinker until I tasted their dry Riesling–then I was converted!
Lori
I love games. For cards, I like playing Euchre (pitch) and rummy. My husband is quite the poker player (hold em).
Lisa Eirene
I’ve never heard of Euchre! I’ll have to look that one up. I like rummy and Gin. Michael is really good at poker too.
Carbzilla
I love cards. Chris doesn’t like to play. 🙁 I’ve played Spades but now, of course, have totally forgotten how to play.
Twice baked crust makes so much sense. I’m glad the foodie intelligentsia helped you out with that one!
Guess who’s one step closer to buying you pizza at Apizza Scholls? But are you even gonna eat there anymore? 😉
Lisa Eirene
Oh bummer! I was having visions of pizza & cards with you and Chris!
I think I know what you mean….that’s great news! We will totally be up for Apizza Scholl’s neighbor! While we are making some pretty good pizza at home it just doesn’t compare…
Miz
My daughter and I have started making pizza together too
at FIRST she rebelled and wanted the trashtastic pizza her dad had given her 🙂
but Ive converted her…
Lisa Eirene
Isn’t is so much better? Each time we try it gets yummier!
DefineDiana
I love Spades, I learned how to play it at camp when I was a kid. I rarely play it now-a-days though.
My boyfriend’s family plays hearts a lot, so I usually play that with them.
Those pizzas look so yummy.
Lisa Eirene
I’ve heard that Hearts is similar to Spades but I don’t know that I’ve tried it.