Picking up right where I left off, Karen came over to enjoy a little wine on our porch!
We chatted for a while, and got really cold, and went inside to make pita pizzas!
The star of the show was this AMAZZZZZZZZZZING Oak Smoked Cheddar from Feast! Karen picked it up for the pizzas. We requested “something cheddar” and when I looked at the pricetag I told her she was crazy. And then I gave it a sniff. Then a whiff. And then I understood. Second best cheese ever! (Second only to my favorite Bleu d’Auvergne!)
We piled Trader Joe’s pita with some tomato sauce, diced red pepper, spinach and the cheddar and baked it at 350* for about 15 minutes until it was hot and bubbly.
Served with a big bunch of steamed kale [torn and washed and mixed with a few tbsp of water in a hot pan to steam, then seasoned with garlic gold nuggets and apple cider vinegar]
A little KERFweiser on the side – just a touch of hoppy flavor
Placemats from Pier 1 I scored for $1!
After dinner, we had plans to meet Faith + Tate at the Jefferson Theater for a free show put on by the UVA Arts Board by BANG ON A CAN ALL-STARS. Quoted by the NY Times as “the power and punch of a rock band with the precision and clarity of a chamber ensemble.” I’d say: “Classical instruments make ambient music.” Plus drums!
There were 6 songs – 3 before intermission and 3 after. It’s funny that I love all 3 before but didn’t care for the 3 after. The first 3 were ambient, soft and like planetarium music, which I <3. They reminded me of the CD by Northsound “Spring Rain,” which I fell asleep to every night in middle school.
The second half of the show was much more grunge and rock n roll – some of the songs nearly hurt my ears!! Still had a great time though.
But the bike ride home…wow. It was weird that the temperature isn’t that cold, but the WIND is just awful!
Going up a hill into the wind was harder than any cycle class I’ve ever done!
But going down a hill with the wind on my back – so speedy!
Reminded me of this song!
The Grand Old Duke of York
Oh, the grand old Duke of York,
He had ten thousand men,
He marched them up to the top of
The hill and he marched
Them down again.
And when they were up they were up.
And when they were down they were down.
And when they were only half way up,
They were neither up nor down.
Meagan says
Totally random, but who takes the pictures of you guys when you are sitting on the porch and such? Auto timer?!?!
Roberta says
I was thinking the same! self-timer for sure.
KathEats says
I have a super handy amazing remote control 🙂
Heather says
Looks like a delicious dinner – and interesting sounding concert!
I wish it was as warm as it is in VA here in MA! Its too cold to do much outside!
Deva (Voracious Vorilee) says
I have loved the preview of spring we’ve been getting in Ohio. It makes me soo ready for spring to be here in full force! I miss warm weather so much.
Krissy - Shiawase Life says
LOL! I remember singing that song in summer day camp!!! =D
Jess @ atasteofconfidence says
mm pita pizzas:)
Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin says
Those pizzas look so good. I always forget about pita pizzas!
Lauren says
We do a camp song to that song where we stand up when they say up, and sit down when they say down. Then, we speed it up, so we’re moving speedy – the kids think it’s so funny!
Allie (Live Laugh Eat) says
Ooh I haven’t been to Pier 1 in forever…not that I need anymore placemats! STILL thinking of that pumpkin chevre from Feast!
Jil @ Big City, Lil Kitchen says
That theatre is gooorgeous.
Mads says
You guys looks freezing out there!!
I love pita pizzas. It’s automatic portion control and it takes zero time to make the dough :).
I made your kale chips tonight again. They have quickly become my man’s favorite cooked vegetable.
Katelyn @ Chef Katelyn says
Ahhh I am so glad you had a lovely time with Karen! Slash pita pizzas are the best! Lovely pita flavor, quick to make, and pizza-deliciousness:)
Courtney @ The Granola Chronicles says
That Oak Smoked Cheddar cheese sounds delightful. Although I’m a big fan of all kinds of cheese! 🙂
Corinna says
Those pita pizzas look so yummy! What a great Saturday with family, friends, music, food and cocktails!
Elizabeth@GenuineEfforts says
When we were kids we sang that song at Sunday school but it was a bit different. It went something like “There once was a rich old King, he had 10,000 men…” I want to say it had something to do with David or Solomon but I cannot remember and could not find the lyrics online.
Valerie @ City|Life|Eats says
Sounds like an awesome evening!
Christin@purplebirdblog says
Cute placemats, and the show sounds really cool!
Carla @ Will Run for Health says
Your porch seems like the most happening place in C’ville. I have been sick and thus parked on the couch so I haven’t had the opportunity to get out into this weather people keep talking about. That cheese sounds so amazing! You’ve got to love good fancy cheese..
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) says
Totally true “Going up a hill into the wind was harder than any cycle class I’ve ever done! “—and if you’re running and pushing a jogging stroller that weighs 30 lbs with a 40 lb kid in it, even more! I have never gotten workouts like the ones i get since being a mom + wind + hills. = work.outs.
Love the $1 pier one score!
Alaina says
I love making pizza’s on TJ’s pitas! The wind was awful up here in MA. And it brought some flurries with it! I miss the 60’s from yesterday.
Sana says
The wind sounded NASY from my bedroom!
Namaste Gurl says
Mmm, I love me pita or tortilla pizzas- so easy and simple to make! I’m now on the chickpea flour pizza kick…
stacey-healthylife says
I love creative pizza’s like that. Tj’s whole wheat naan bread is also awesome for pizza’s.
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
I bet that cheese is amazing!!
So I just had to stop at Pier 1 to get a few of those chalkboard glasses!!! So glad ours had them. Very, very cute. Can’t wait to play with them. Thanks for the heads up!
KathEats says
Fun!
Ali says
Have you ever tried doing it with chalkboard paint? We bought a can of it last year ($11 ish at Home Depot), made an oval-shaped cardboard stencil, and painted on all our ball jars and storage jars. It’s so fun to label all the jars, and to be able to write the water:grain ratios right on them (I can never keep straight the different ratios for quinoa, millet, wheatberries, and brown rice).
KathEats says
I didn’t know you could do that!! Does it come off in the dishwasher?
Ali says
I don’t know…we don’t have a dishwasher at the moment so do all dishes by hand. It’s been on there for over 2 years now and we’ve had no problems with the glass jars (it did peel off plastic a bit, in the corners. My guess would be that it would be ok – it seems pretty sturdy – but I’m not sure.
Ali says
This is the stuff we have:
http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatalogSearchResultView?D=980042&Ntt=980042&catalogId=10051&langId=-15&storeId=10051&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntx=mode+matchall&N=0&Ntk=P_PartNumber#BVRRWidgetID
KathEats says
We have some that Matt used for the brewery. Might have to play with it!
Kat @ Cupcake Kat says
I love making pita pizza! It looks even better with the kale. I may have to make myself this meal.
Kathleen says
I want to make a pita pizza! I’ve only used tortillas for crusts, but I’m presuming making it with pitas wouldn’t be much different, expected cooking it a little longer? maybe?
Rachel @ Healthy Teacher says
Looks like you guys had a really fun day. Dinner looks great!
Annette @ enjoyyourhealthylife says
I am SO recreating your dinner- that looks fantastic!!! And cheese is def the star of any pizza in my book……
lynn @ the actor's diet says
pita pizzas are so convenient and easy; i don’t know why i don’t make them more often!
Lauren says
I always say the best wine and the best cheese cost more than $10. Sounds like a great night!
Hannah says
That cheddar looks insane! Properly ripened, strong cheese is the best 🙂
Simply Life says
fun day!
Lauren at KeepItSweet says
we had some crazy wind here, too. those mini pizzas are so cute
Stephanie @cookinfanatic says
Ahhh that song is going to be in my head all morning now! It reminds me of being at summer camp (out in Goochland, about halfway btw Cvill & Richmond) where we used to sing that to wake up in the morning and do the corresponding ups and downs by squatting up and down – talk about a wakeup call!
Sarah (Running To Slow Things Down) says
What a fun lunch!! The pizzas look so adorable and delicious. 😀
Amanda (The Nutritionist Reviews) says
I love how little the pizzas are! Cute.
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey says
That cheese looks so good – stupid lactose intolerance.
Jess (Sweet Potato) says
i love the idea of the pita pizzas!
Katie says
The pizza looks great and the placemat is super cute! Score for that bargain! I need to buy more placemats for photo purposes
I think its awesome you and Matt bike everywhere, I wish we could do that around here , and yeah biking in strong winds would not be fun : p
Have a great Sunday ! xoxo
LauraLee @ Old Fashioned Vegan says
The Grand Old Duke of York just gave me a flashback to elementary school! I’m pretty sure I learned the song with choreographed dance moves. So funny!
Stacey (The Home-Cooked Vegan) says
Mmmmm, pita pizzas. Looks like a fun night, and I have GOT to get to Pier 1! Love that place!
Hannah says
How is Karen’s treatment going? I keep thinking about her!
KathEats says
Up and down – ironically like this post 🙂 But she’s doing well overall
Holly @ Couch Potato Athlete says
Those pizzas are adorable — and now I totally want to go to Pier 1!
Meagan says
It must be nice to live in an area where you can just pop out and meet friends for an evening and come back and forth so easily!
Susan says
This inspired me to make a pita pizza for lunch. Yum!
Lindsey @ Morningstar Project says
My grandfather used to sing that song when I was little! Brings back good memories 🙂
Ashley says
You know what is even better than pita pizzas? Naan Pizzas! They rock! They get really crispy in spots and stay chewy in the middle… They’re the best! My husband and I love Nann Pizza. And it’s fun to say because it sounds like “Non-Pizza”. So they are yummy AND silly. : )
natalie (the sweets life) says
love those placemats–I need to hit up my Pier 1 and see if there are any on sale!