When my parents met, they both lived in Virginia – close to all their relatives and friends. A couple years after they were married, my Dad got offered a job in Chicago “just for two years.” They were young and thought how exciting “city” life would be!
Well a couple years after that move, my brother was born, two years after that, me and my sister were born. And they just stayed, long after the original job my Dad moved to Chicago was long gone.
So we had my Mom’s parents – Grammy and Grandy – that we spent summers with in a tiny town called Warsaw, Virginia, about an hour away from Richmond. The kids in that town used to think we were so cool because we were from Chicago – nevermind the fact that we lived in a near west suburb. We were asked “are there gangs with guns on every corner?” “Do you have trees?”
I have fond memories of them – in fact to this day, the smell of fresh cut canteloupe can bring me right back to Grammy’s kitchen table, me eating chunk after chunk of the juicy fruit while she made the best cinnamon toast – white bread, butter, sprinkled cinnamon sugar, then broiled in the oven. The edges were always almost slightly burnt, but the middle was sugary soft goodness.
My fondest memory of my grandpa was when we had a crab fest. Friends and relatives would be elbow deep in blue crabs over newspaper strewn picnic tables. My grandpa was missing half his thumb. When I asked him how it happened, he picked up a crab and said “one of these just bit it off!” I was forever scared of live crab for a few years after that!
Sadly, my grandpa died when I was 11. Grammy died when I was 19 – and as luck would have it, my college field hockey team was playing schools in the east coast and I was able to see her in the hospital right before she died. Sometimes I wish I hadn’t seen her in that condition – because the last time I had seen her she was so bright and lively. I hugged a frail, tiny little woman – I guess I can only say I am happy my brother and sister don’t have that image of her.
I often wish that I had known my grandparents as an adult – I missed out on asking all the questions a teenager doesn’t give a shit about. And that I had more pictures of them – I probably take more pictures in a day than they did in a whole year!
Here are a few pictures of my grandparents 😀
This one is not only my grandparents on the far right and left, but my great-grandparents, who we called Memaw and Ditty and I believe they are holding my Mom – maybe her christening, which would make this picture taken in 1940.
Not sure when this one was taken?
Do you have fond memories of your grandparents? Are they still alive?
My breakfast was so good yesterday, and simple. 1/2 cup egg beaters with baby spinach, 3/4 ounce cheddar cheese, 1 pt. cheese stick and watermelon. This whole plate for 4 points!
For lunch I had a 5 pt. cup of chili, with a 5 pt. roast beef sandwich. And if you are thinking that’s too much mustard – you are wrong. 😀 I also think I need to bring a bigger plate to work!
Okay, so you all know what a pizza whore I am. I haven’t made any in a long time. I saw this pizza on Tastespotting and immediately knew I would make it this week, especially with asparagus at .99 cents a pound!
I adapted it to make one pizza: 12 PointsPlus for 1/2 a pizza – nice!
Shaved Asparagus Pizza
For the dough for 1, 14 inch thin crust pizza:
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 cup tap water
- 1 teaspoon yeast
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
Mix well and let sit for 20-30 minutes. Heat oven to 500 with a baking stone. Roll out dough, brush the edges with the teaspoon of olive oil.
For the topping:
- 6 ounces fresh asparagus, shaved
- 4 ounces herbed spreadable cheese (any brand is fine)
- 4 ounces fresh mozzarella
- salt and pepper to taste
- sprinkle of Italian seasoning
- fresh basil (mine was moldy, so I just sprinkled dry oregano over the top) 🙁
While the original recipe called for dotting the top of the pizza with the herbed cheese, I decided to make that my “sauce” and spread that all over the bottom.
So the base was the herbed cheese, then I added the sliced mozzarella, then the shaved asparagus on top. Bake on the preheated stone for 12-15 minutes. Let cool slightly before slicing.
*When I got home from work, I made my dough and preheated my oven – that gave me enough time to do 30 day shred before getting back to business. The weather was too crappy at lunch to walk outside yesterday. 🙁
The verdict? I loved this pizza! I normally start my crust out on a regular pizza pan, then as soon as I am able to shake it off the pan, I put it directly on the racks in my oven so that it gets really crisp. I left the dough on the preheated baking stone the whole time and it was the perfect crust for me – although Tony likes a more substantial crust – I need to make him a deep dish pizza next time. 😀 I also liked that since the herbed cheese spread was the base, every bite was cheezy goodness.
Stats for Thursday
- 36 points, including wine and 1/2 cup sf ice cream
- 30 day shred, level 1
- average blood sugar 119
Here is another flashback. This was taken this past Christmas:
And this was taken a couple weeks ago – my face is thinner for sure!
See you tomorrow for WI Saturday! 😀
Damn! That is a nice lookin’ face! Keep up the good work!
You sure do look thinner! Bravo!
I was closer to my mother’s parents than my father’s parents. I miss them all, though.
I enjoy your blog quite a bit. 🙂
Thanks Paige!
You look smaller and smaller each time you share photos 🙂 You look great!
😀
Oh wow, I’m glad to see the pizza turned out so awesome!! It looks delicious! I bet it’d make a unique offering at a brunch, too!
My Grammy passed away in 09. She had tons and tons and tons of photos too. My aunt Annie separated them amongst all of us. I spent a few hours scanning mine into Facebook to share w/ everybody. My maternal Grandparents are both alive and kicking!
The most recent picture of you and Tony makes me so happy! You guys both look great! Definitely thinner and really happy!
I love this. Such great photos.
I never knew my maternal grandparents, but my paternal ones are the most amazing people ever. They gave me the happy childhood that my unhappy parents couldn’t. They’re both still alive and so bright and lucid, but my grandpa is not in good health and it kills me.
The pizza looks delish!
Loved reading about your grandparents! My maternal grandparents are still alive but since they live in Joplin (they survived the tornado, thank God), I only see them every couple years. I never met my paternal grandfather but I remember my grandma Davis fondly. She was quite a character! I can see your Grandmother’s eyes in you, don’t you think? Love the pics of you and Tony too–I can def tell your face is thinner!
Awwww……I have such great memories of my grandparents. My grandfather especially. I’m certain that’s where I got my love of sweets from – he always baked a cake when we came to visit! 🙂
And you look SO much thinner in that picture – way to go, Biz!!!!
“Do you have trees?” LMAO
I met my dad’s dad once when I was a tween. He was a very strict and old fashioned and firmly believed that children where to be seen and not heard. Definitely not the fun and cuddly grandparent I’d always dreamed about!
You’re looking awesome, Biz! You’ll be rockin’ a bikini in no time! 😉 Good luck with the WI tomorrow!
I like asparagus cooked to the crunchy stage. Shaved sounds like they would be mushy? And you are probably right about the christening photo – I am wearing a white dress. Don’t you just love the hats!!
Hi Momma! You would like this, the asparagus isn’t mushy at all – next time you come over, I’ll make this for our appetizer! 😀
Have fun with my brother! 😀
Mom and I just read this and she says, “That does not make my mouth happy” looking at the shaved asparagus. I, on the other hand, think Shaved Asparagus would be a good band name.
Well, you don’t like asparagus, do you Charlie? I don’t think I’ve seen you eat any vegetables other than baked potatoes! 😀
Not true. I eat Dortios too.
Biz, you look so much like your grandmother! And I never realized you have an inner east coast girl 😉
I spent a lot of time with my grandmother (maternal) and my adopted grandparents. Both of them were fine ladies who live(d) in Virginia!
Look at that skinny face! Amazing!!
I have fond memories of my grandparents – my mom’s parents. My dad’s parents died in 1940 and 1960 (before I was born. I mean, they were born in 1892 and 1893). We would get together on the weekends at their “camp” in the woods and cook hot dogs and roast marshmallows, play games (kickball and badminton if good weather and board games if bad) with the cousins.
You DO look thinner! Good luck with the WI tomorrow. 🙂
That pizza sounds so good with the herbed cheese – I used to make pasta with that and fresh tomatoes and basil…now I’m thinking about buying a Boboli (I know, sacrilege to you!) crust and recreating your gourmet pizza!
I have lots of good memories of my grandparents. Luckily for my they lived well into my adulthood. Love the old pictures of yours.
Have a great day – you get a long weekend, woohoo!
I feel lucky that I got to know all four of my grandparents. Some people never have that opportunity. Thanks for sharing some of your memories of yours. The shaved asparagus pizza looks amazing.
hahahhaha- the questions the kids in VA asked you cracked me up! I moved from San Francisco to Massachusetts when I was in middle school and everyone used to ask me how many movie starts I knew ;). Your grandparents sound wonderful. Love the crab story. I only have 1 living Grandma. I was fortunate enough to live with her for a summer during college while I was working on an internship. I MUST make your chili. And that pizza looks ridiculous good. Love love love fresh mozzarella and asparagus!
Your Grandma looks like she had a lot of spunk…there is a twinkle in her eye for sure!
I love your polka dots dishes! Have a great weekend, Biz!
I only have one – I bought it at Goodwill for .99 cents – I love it. 😀
I’m really close with all of my grandparents. The only ones still alive are my grandmas though. My Dad’s dad passed away when I was in 7th grade and while I have memories with him, not nearly as many with the other grandparents. My other grandpa passed away a year and a half ago and I’m glad that I didn’t make it home before he died because he apparently looked terrible and didn’t remember anyone, but grandma…I only have the good memories of him. I still have a great time hanging out with both of grandmas though 🙂
I can see a difference in the pictures, you are looking great!
Thanks Sam! 😀
I am super close with my dad’s parents – love to hang out with them 🙂
I have so many memories of my grands – wonderful. I miss all three of them always.
If my husband sees that asparagus pizza you can expect a house guest this weekend. heehee
Have a great one Bizzy.