Happy Monday people! Ready to tackle this bright and shiny week? No, can say I am either but the week is here whether we’re feeling up to it or not!
My weekend was tiring but fun, Oli was delightful, which we honestly weren’t expecting but with 4 year olds, you take what you can get! He’s also at the stage where he’s starting to try and tell jokes and not quite succeeding but is always absolutely delighted when he makes you laugh. We played lots of games, made jelly, went shopping, (Oli scanned the shopping!). He did have moments of being ‘sad’ but we didn’t have hours and hours of crying!
There was pizza for dinner, with vegetables for the grown ups
and just ham and cheese for the boy.
I got to watch Match of the Day, which much to my surprise is the biggest thing that I miss about having a TV! Oli played on the iPad a lot, it’s my secret auntie weapon!
Then on Sunday, Ben and Laura came home and Ma and I headed out.
This week is going to be about surviving the second tube strike, getting some work stuff out of the way so I can go on holiday at the end of the month with a clear conscience and doing all of the things at home that didn’t get done this weekend!
How was your weekend? What are your plans for the week?
Nic Dempsey 
Hi Nic, Sounds like you had a lovely weekend 🙂
I made my second home made pizza yesterday, but am thinking something is missing. Do you have a recipe for a sauce? I’ve been using passata and it’s just not hitting the spot.
Hi Angie
What was on your pizza? Seriously we’re going to have to start pizza club!
I’m not mad keen on sauce on my pizza, I’m a pizza bianca person, but I most often use sun dried tomato paste (it’s about 75p a tube next to the tomato puree in Sainsburys!) but I’ve also used pasta sauce from a jar and pesto in my time, so either of those are an option. I think the problem is that passata isn’t concentrated enough to give you the flavour you’re looking for. I’d take the passata, add a generous splash of balsamic vinegar and/or some red wine, salt and pepper and some of herbs (the Italian seasoning you buy in the dried herbs section would be my pick) and simmer it until it’s reduced by half. That should give you thick sauce that should work on pizza. Failing that Jamie Oliver is always a good place to start, so you could try his version (http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables-recipes/the-quickest-tomato-sauce)
I had chicken and mushroom this time.
I think you are right, the passata is too thin and not got the kick. I will definitely try the sun dried tomato paste, that sounds great.
Do you try different cheeses too? I’ve stuck to cheddar and mozzarella.
I need to add more flavour through toppings I think too. Not sure what yet (will have to go back through your posts to get ideas!)