Pizza was just pizza, though, until I tried the BBQ chicken selection at Pizza A Go Go in Palo Alto, California, 8 or 9 years ago. I wasn't sure I'd like it, but it seriously changed my whole outlook on pizza. Mmmmm! It's simply this: bbq sauce, chicken, red onions, and cilantro. See? Simple. Delicious. At the time, I worked at a multi-function lab called PhotoTime. It was a great place to work and I had good friends there. When I left for Boston in 1999, they gave me a pizza send-off complete with my favorite, plus a gift for my expected baby- a little yellow Pizza A Go Go onesie. I'm sure it's a collector's item by now.
We moved back to Palo Alto in 2000 and left in 2001, only to move back again in 2002. (Long story.) By this time, Pizza A Go Go had merged with (and was now called) Pizza My Heart out of Capitola/Santa Cruz. We tried the new place, but it wasn't quite the same. It had grown up a bit and lost some of its geekyness. The pizza was still pretty good, and they still made the BBQ chicken, thank goodness. This time, I bought myself a t-shirt which I wear when I'm gardening.
Why am I telling you all this? I'm starting a new "What's for dinner?" thread. Tonight I made my version of the BBQ chicken pizza, which I served with watermelon. It was all about triangles. If I'd been really on top of things, I would have made cherry turnovers for dessert. Anyway....
Here's my recipe for the best California pizza ever: Spread your favorite pizza dough with your favorite bbq sauce. (Tonight I used Sweet Baby Ray's honey chipotle.) Next, sprinkle on some feta cheese if you have it. Add chopped or shredded BBQ chicken (I save some from a bbq chicken dinner, but you can cook up some chicken in sauce if you want or use some deli rotisserie mixed with sauce). Next I take a big red onion, slice it up and cut half the rings into quarters and half into bits. The bits get several handfuls of chopped cilantro mixed in. The larger onion pieces get caramelized in a little water, a tablespoon of butter and 1 or 2 tablespoons of sugar. Add caramelized onion to pizza, then top with some shredded mozzarella cheese. Finally, add the cilantro/onion mix. Bake till done. Inhale.
What's going on in your kitchen?
10 comments:
Wow, that sounds GOOD!
Friday 1st: stir-fry (mostly broccoli with vegetarian "Chik'n Strips" which my kids swore was not tofu and had to be chicken - hee hee)over Bhutanese red rice
Saturday 2nd: crepes with pot-pie filling (ground turkey, gravy, bag o' frozen mixed vegetables)
Yummy!
Sunday June 3: Burritos (tortillas, refried beans- which Toin loved- spanish rice, cheese, spinach, peach salsa), corn, watermelon
I'm going to look for those tofu/chick'n strips. We need more of that kind of thing.
Maren, just found your message of last month sharing your blog. What fun to read and take a glimpse into your life. I was just telling my girls a story about you the other day (picking up worms with your long nails during walks to school in 8th grade.)
Hi Jeanne- welcome! Gee, I don't remember doing that... but it sounds like me. :)
Mon June 4: two cans of Progresso chicken corn chowder with added broccoli, shredded cheese, toast.
Tuesday, June 5: two enveolpes Lipton pasta sides (whole grain, Alfredo) with added sauteed carrots, onion and apple-cinnamon sausage (from Hannaford's), pumpkin biscuits.
Wednesday, June 6: Happle Bagel Sandwiches (from a kids' cookbook we have) which is a half bagel (regular or cinnamon) with a slice of cored apple (we used granny smith) and topped with good, sharp Vermont cheddar, then toasted. Sometimes we sprinkle cinnamon on top. Also, we had the leftover apple slices and a garden salad (fresh garden baby romaine, johnny-jump-ups, store-bought orange pepper and cucumber).
Thurs, June 7: homemade hawaiian pizza. Yeah, that's right- I counted all the food groups and figured we had it covered. Torin liked chewing on the crusts, too.
Sorry I'm late. Not much to contribute since I enjoyed being fed by others the last week and a half, but here you go, as uninspiring as it is:
Mon June 11: cheeseburger Hamburger Helper and canned mandarin oranges
Sun Jun 10: Pork chops cooked with TJ's double roasted salsa, rice-a-roni broccoli au gratin, canned peaches.
Sat Jun 9: shells & cheese with peas & carrots...
oh, this is embarrassing!
Tues June 12: Raid the cupboards in search of inspiration night. Usually this does not turn out well. Alphabet pasta, frozen peas and lentils tossed with olive oil and garlic. Looked unappetizing so I threw in parm cheese and greek seasoning. Still potentially scary. But after the first bite I was so relieved to hear Hazel say "Mmm - yummy!" She still asked for yogurt halfway through, as usual, but did empty her bowl willingly before she got it. Kind of a success. Probably would have been better with some rotisserie chicken in there or something.
Kari- that sounds good! I know those creation nights well... sometimes you hit it, sometimes you don't, but they have to eat it no matter what.
Last night Quinn arrived home for dinner at 6-ish to find: sink full of dishes, girls playing outside, me on the couch holding Torin with a vacant look in my eyes. Realizing there was no hope of dinner at home, we went out to the easiest lowest common denominator: McDonalds. That food never really improves, but we ate it anyway.
Wednesday, June 13: fish tagine (pollock fillets, tagine spice mix from Mom, onions, tomatoes, fresh parsley and cilantro, preserved lemons), Near East brand couscous with pine nuts, strawberry and spinach salad (both from the garden) with almonds, extra strawberries.
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