COOKING INTERLUDE: Chana Masala (Chickpea Curry)

Happy Memorial Day! Today my sister and I took an unconventional approach to Memorial Day lunch. We made an Indian dish called Chana Masala, or Chickpea Curry. The recipe was from Smitten Kitchen (sorry I couldn't post a link but the internet was really slow today and it wouldn't work when I was testing it...).


 We served our masala with garlic naan that we bought frozen from Trader Joe's. We toasted them up and piled the Channa Masala on top. It was crispy and spicy and mmmmmmmmm... I only have one tip for you if you get thirsty don't drink Dr. Pepper (the best soda in the universe) with it. It leaves a horrid aftertaste that will make you have a conniption.

On a boring day when you don't have anything going on or really want Indian food don't stoop so low as to use the microwave stuff make it from scratch it's easy, quick and delicious.

Tasting 3: "Villa Pizza Fresh Italian Kitchen"

We went to the Tanger Outlets today out in Riverhead, and of course we had to try some of the pizza in the food court. They had an italian place called "Villa Pizza... or something. Their sign had a lot of different things on it.

The pizza was...okay. It wound up tasting like someone heated up a frozen pizza- which we're thinking they probably did.

Crust: The crust was way too thin, and it got soggy in places. It was stretched unevenly, with really thin patches *

Sauce: The sauce was actually out favorite part: it was very finely textured and almost runny, but it was nicely tangy. I have to say, though, it wasn't very seasoned- probably could have used so basil or oregano. ***

Cheese: The cheese had no real flavor, and it was greasy. **

Ratios: Not enough crust, too much cheese. **

Bottom Line: As far as we're concerned, it was basically old frozen pizza. About what you'd expect from a mall food court. 7/20 stars

Tasting 2: Generic School Pizza

Hey All!

 Sorry that this is the first post I'm doing but well, the world isn't perfect. So Lunch on Friday at my school is always pizza. I personally really like pizza (and the snacks you can buy with your extra money) so I really like Fridays. Usually, the pizza is Dominos but, for some odd reason that I bet I will never discover, they had generic school pizza that the lunch ladies defrost. Ew.

 Unfortunately, I did not get a picture of said pizza but it actually wasn't that bad. I did however write my review with a sharpie on a napkin (but sadly it got washed with my pants and has shrunken and torn really weirdly). But enough with my yammering, LET'S REVIEW!

 Sauce: Medicore, smooth texture but too sweet *** 

 Cheese: Very good, melty, flavorful, not too greasy ****

 Crust: Thick but soft and pillowy ****

 Ratios: Too much cheese and crust not enough sauce ***

 Bottom line: Not a terrible Pizza, the outside crust I actually liked more than Manhattan Pizza's! Definitely not the ultimate pizza that were searching for but it wasn't the worst pizza I've had during my thirteen years. 14/20 stars