The Pizza--Original BBQ Chicken Pizza
May 31, 2013Tonight was the first night of The Friday Night Pizza Project. I would call it a decent start. We learned some lessons, laughed at each other, and the pizza was pretty good, though I have to admit I was not at first all that excited about the notion of barbecue sauce instead of tomato sauce.
Lessons Learned
It's okay to pose pictures, but it's never okay to not take them. I had in my mind this idea that we would calmly create pizzas and have wonderful conversations every Friday night and that I would record these blissful family moments with pics and stories. Why did I think that was going to happen? How long have I lived with these people? Here's the way it really happened--the dough stuck to the counter. Jim Bob declared "the fire is ready" and we were just getting started. People were more interested in being silly than getting things done. Jonathan and Jessica were chattering so much that I couldn't think. We were pretty much completely done with our prep before I even had a chance to get my camera. I must confess it was all I could do to pretend I wasn't going to have a nervous breakdown if I didn't get my pictures.
Take turns slicing the onions. This week it was Jonathan's job. And he cried. Next week someone else will have that opportunity.
Ry is ready for cooking. With minimal assistance and a chair to stand on, he was able to saute the mushrooms and onions for us. I explained to him what was hot and what he couldn't do, and he listened. Jonathan stood with him, but mostly for my peace of mind.
Sometimes it pays to keep things. I have been on a huge purge everything kick lately, but of course anything that reminds me of my mother stays. Jayna was trying to grate the Gouda with a mini version of a grater and asked why couldn't she use "that one up there" that we have for decoration. It was my mother's grater that she used weekly for grating cabbage for Sunday lunch--same thing every week--roast, carrots, potatoes, green beans, coleslaw, and brown and serve rolls--had to be the kind with four lines in the top.
My heart smiled to include my mother somehow in this new weekly tradition of ours.
We make a pretty good team. Jim Bob and I were frustrated at the beginning because it seemed the kids were more interested in their electronics or other activities than they were in our new family bonding activity I wondered if this was just be part of adolescence--my new future, but after we got going, everyone engaged and we got the pizzas on the grill.
My kids are crazy weird. It seems every time I get my camera out, they immediately start acting silly. The proof is below.
I think I'm going to like this. Was our first experience picture perfect? By no means. Did our cook time give us opportunity for deep meaningful conversation? Only if you count "don't slice your fingers" and "wash your hands before you touch that". Did we make a colossal mess in the kitchen? I'm not even going to answer that one.
Sometimes it's okay to eat dinner at 10:00 at night. That's all I'm gonna say about that.
Cleaning up is more fun when we all help. Maybe
Here are the pics--all of them. Unedited greatness. Weirdness at it's best.
Opinions of the FAB Four
Jonathan
During the cooking process, I cut up the onions for sauteing. I was so emotional! When me and "Little Spoon" got to work, there was nothing to stop us. We sauteed the mushrooms and onions( I didn't flick an onion on his head. I don't know where he got that.), cooked the chicken, and the stirred the sauces into the chicken.
The pizzas were great. The sauce made the cheese and chicken all the more better. I think the crust could stand to to a little better, but nonetheless it gets a 4/5.
Jayna
The best way to make a pizza is to use home-made dough, and non-frozen ingredients all grilled to perfection on daddy's pizza stone. We made The Original BBQ Chicken Pizza, and on mine I put Honey Pecan BBQ Sauce, Gouda cheese, Mozzarella cheese, sauteed onions, grilled pineapple, mushrooms, and chicken.
The Pizza tasted wonderful!!! I loved how the cheese complimented the sauce. The pineapple was really sweet and made the sauce really stand out. The crust kinda fell apart when I picked up a piece, and the crust was a little too crunchy as well, so I rate it 4 out of 5.
Jessica
The best way to make a pizza is to use fresh ingredients. Fresh is the best! preparing the dough is easy, but don't touch the dough much or it will turn out bad in the end. Stretch the dough out to the size you want it and cook it. When the dough is done put the sauce on the crust. Make sure to leave a little room on the out side. Then and put the ingredients on. like I said before, fresh is the best! When you're done with your ingredients, put it back on the grill to cook on the other side. Take it off the grill and slice it and let it cool down.
The first pizza I had at the beginning was really good, but we need to work more on our crust.
I give it four stars. Fresh is the best!!!
James-Ryan
I helped make pizza. I stirred the chicken and sauce with a little spoon. I cooked onions and mushrooms.
Jonathan helped me stir. He flipped an onion on my head. Daddy threw the pizza dough in the air, and I clapped. My pizza tasted sweet. I liked the chicken. I give the pizza two stars.
The Prayer
Father God, we have started a big project here--there are 26 recipes in that book. At one a week, it will be Christmas before we finish. Please protect our time together, give us the determination to guard our family time from interruptions. Bless this time together to create conversation, use it to instill in us your love and your big dreams, and while we are cooking, bless our Jacob and Johannes. Give them peace at night and remind them that we love them, think about them all the time, and count the days until we are all 8 together. Thank you for this food--for the vast array of flavors and choices, for the abundance, for the home and table around which we gather. May we always accept your favor with humility and gratitude. Show us how to share this good life with and from you.
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