Even though I was in Tokyo for a few weeks, I did keep up to date on world events while I was away: the nuclear deal with Iran, Ukraine’s shift away from the E.U., and, of course, my fantasy football team – the Snow Monkeys – and their drive for playoff spots in two different leagues. Yesterday marked the second-to-last weekend of regular season playoff. Post-season berths were on the line. And I was hungry for a win. And pizza!
Fortunately, my buddy Rob just got himself a pizza oven…
Well, I guess I’ve fully recovered from my stomach issues – as evidenced by the fact that I ate six slices of pizza. Also, a small salad (but I think that was overdoing it). While we watched both games of the double-header, Rob was preparing dinner…
And for dessert…
Even though she didn’t join us, choosing instead to stay home and enjoy a nice, long (presumably five hour) bath, Akemi contributed to the dessert cause with these delicious seasonal pistachio cream cookies:
Quite the afternoon. And, best of all, I now have the inside track on the best pizza in town. Rain or shine, day or night, I know where to place my order.
And, as for my Snow Monkeys. I’m glad you asked…
Alas, the day’s action brought with it a mixed bag. My Snow Monkeys were eliminated from playoff contention with a loss to the creatively-named Lawren (managed by, of all people, Lawren). It was a particularly bitter defeat because I elected to sit my regular starting QB, Philip Rivers, in favour of Houston QB Case Keenum who had the seemingly easier match-up. After all, the Rivers and the Chargers were facing the fearsome Kansas City D – who, incidentally, I was also playing. Bad call. Rivers put up approximately 23 more points than Keenum. Also, the KC defence put up a grand total of negative 3 points. Had I gone with Rivers and the Cardinal D, I’d still be fighting for my playoff life.
Much happier results in my original league where my Snow Monkeys won and wrapped up a spot in the playoff, positioning themselves for a potential top seed and bye for the league’s wildcard weekend!
Does Robert C. Cooper deliver? 🙂
@Joe:
I love Rob’s pizza oven! I’m starting to think I could buy some bricks and build one of those here, but since it was 27F (-3C) and snowing here today, maybe I wouldn’t get as much use out of it as Rob does. I’d also need to get a much longer pizza peel (aka “the round shovel thingie”) so maybe I should table the thought for now. Rob’s pizza looked great though!
Needless to say, I was happy with the Raven’s win yesterday. And congrats on the original league Snow Monkeys win and playoff spot!
Congrats on the Snow Monkeys playoff berth. 😀 Those were some great-looking pizzas there. Congrats to Rob on his pizza oven. Love the technical terms for the pizza tools. Akemi’s cookies did look very festive and delicious.
Joe, you are making me want to add ‘must have a pizza oven’ to the list of things my new house must have. The list is already fairly long.
a pizza oven 😎 . i think the round shovel thingie is called a pizza peel.
http://www.amazon.com/Kitchen-Supply-14-Inch-16-Inch-Aluminum/dp/B002JPJ0QY/ref=pd_sim_sbs_k_1
😳 😯 ❗ i didn’t expect a big-ass picture when i put in the link, sorry.
Ooooh. Pizza oven! Something that has been on my wish list for many years. I already have a peel courtesy of the bread making course I did last year. Which reminds me, I need to go get the baguettes out of the oven!
So nice to see Rob. Glad he is doing well. Now I want pizza!!
@Line Noise:
Baguettes??? You just put me in the mood for warm baguettes and brie with strawberry preserves! I now know what to bug Barb to get me for breakfast tomorrow. 🙂
I want!! (The pizza oven, that is!…and mebbe Rob, too… 😉 ) Then I can make all the gluten-free pizza I want! Without paying a bazillion bucks extra for it! Unless, of course, that pizza oven costs a bazillion bucks… *checks*… Yeah…okay. I’ll just stick with ordering out. 😛
das
Wow a pizza oven! I’m jealous but happy for him. The food looks amazing!
I could go for a meal of pizza and roast lamb today, veggies be damned. We’ve got that heavy wet snow that sticks to everything. They ran out of soup at the caf, so I’ll have to settle for more hot tea later.
I saw a great interview with Mean Joe Green last night, he’s a total sweetie but he does make current football players seem so greedy and empty headed. Joe said he played simply for the joy of the game.
I’m also listening to the extended version of Beyond the Night which goes perfect with a wintry cold afternoon; maybe it’s all those cool carpets and blankets they use in the ring ceremony.
Oooh, nice pizza oven. I have to make do with a pizza stone in the regular oven. I do have a nice wooden pizza peel. Since I can’t have tomatoes, I get creative with pesto or flavored oils. Still, yum. And a pizza stone is terrific for crisping rolls and anything breaded.
The Australians…so calm, so cool…soooooo….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R86d8fsAnY
😆
das
Wood oven baked pizza is one of my favourite things to eat. In fact, one of my favourite places to eat is this place in North Conway, NH:
http://flatbreadcompany.com/FlatbreadMenu%202012.html
For a future mailbag if you wish to enlightened us, i will ask in french. Tout le travail de développement d’idées et de scénarios que vous faites pour des projets comme ceux mentionnés est-il fait à vos frais ou êtes-vous engagés à contrat? Pouvez-vous nous informer un peu sur les modes de rémunérations des multiples essais que vous faites pour des séries ou des fims quand ceux-ci n’aboutissent pas? En d’autres mots, êtes-vous payés uniquement si la série ou le film reçoit le OK de production?
Merci
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Pizza was the appetizer? That looks incredibly delicious.
Sorry to hear about your Snow Monkeys.
I wish to have the cookie recipe and the tiramisu recipe.