Amy eats a worm! ugh!!

our youth activity was a stake party at the park. the theme? "endurance" aka: FEAR FACTOR. plain and simple. who was one of the finalists? yes, amy. what?!
First they had to eat a jalepeno. no problem (amy was smart enough to quickly brush some of the seeds off) half of the kids dropped out.

second, the challenge was to drink a "smoothie" a smoothie? no, more like a chunky. we still don't know what was in it but artichokes, ranch dressing, ketchup and pickle juice are a few identifiable ingredients.. pretty sure it was just the crazy desire to beat paul out (which she did) that kept her going--this she said was the worst one.

next: eat
a worm--fried in chili peppers and olive oil. lots of gagging here. ugh, double ugh! (what kind of a stake have we moved into...?)
and last but not least--for the finale : a live cricket! (which she swallowed in one gulp!) and i guess it's still kicking around in there.
this one I couldn't watch.

BEST PIZZA DOUGH RECIPE EVEEEERRRRRRRR!!!

one of the secrets here: get your oven as hot as possible. mine would only go to 500 degrees--and place the pizza as low as you can (even on the floor of the oven!)

I have been looking for the perfect pizza dough recipe. I am tired of thick crusts, and pizza that tastes like bread dough. So this week, after searching and reading about the best way to make the kind of dough you would find in Rome (never been to Rome), or NYC and San Fran (have been there), I found it!! --the perfect crunch and subtle yeasty taste. I learned that it comes from delayed fermentation. I tried it and yes! Perfect!! For the directions go HERE and find Peter Reinhart's Napoletana Pizza Dough. Really, the trick is in the process, not so much the ingredients (except the chilled--yes, I said CHILLED flour!)

4 1/2 cups (20.25 ounces) unbleached high-gluten, bread, or all-purpose flour, chilled
1 3/4 (.44 ounce) teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon (.11 ounce) instant yeast
1/4 cup (2 ounces) olive oil (optional)
1 3/4 cups (14 ounces) water, ice cold (40°F)
Semolina flour OR cornmeal for dusting

HE'S GROWN A FOOT OR TWO...

It came today! And once we got everyone together and gathered around the table, with 4 phones on speaker, he opened the call. To view the letter opening, go here. to watch Josh do the Trepak, go here. To see a really cool youtube of the city he will spend the next two years in, go here. Elder Gill reports to the MTC on December 21.

GILL FAMILY REUNION * OUTERBANKS NORTH CAROLINA

I must go down to the see again,

To the lonely sea and the sky;

And all I ask is a tall ship

And a star to steer her by

John Masefield