Faux Pepperoni for Pizza

For most of my teenage life pepperoni and black olives were the only things allowed on my pizza slices. Day after day after day where I worked at Mazzatta's Italian Restaurant.

In the past 20 plus years as a pescatarian I have indulged in pepperoni pizza on rare occasions, but not often because I prefer my meat to be "happy" and generally pepperoni in pizza joints doesn't fit that description.

But since working as a lunch lady making vegetarian meals only in a groovy, alternative charter school where I hear the plaintive longing for pepperoni on the pizza, an investigation of alternative forms seemed in order.

And then I found THE recipe on the Minimalist Baker.

Can I just say easy, delicious and quick!

If you have kids, big or small, with a vegetarian diet who are craving pepperoni this is the ticket. Don't be put off by the list of ingredients, you probably have all them in the pantry, and this just needs a few whizzes in the food processor and a quick bake and Voila! Magic!

Homemade French Fries - Easy, Quick, Amazing!

French Fries - you would think they would be impossible to make at home without a huge amount of hot oil that you were afraid was going to catch on fire or at the very least splatter all over your stovetop. So wrong! Or should I say So Right!

These were PERFECT! Simple, easy and the oil was hardly flavored so it was so reusable!

Yes, it will take a full bottle of oil (I used olive oil, it's the only oil I cook with; but use peanut or sunflower or canola or whatever you desire.) You simply cut up your russets, place them in a large, heavy bottom pot with enough oil to cover them by at least 1/2 an inch and bring it to a boil. Then watch as they bubble away for about 10-12 minutes and you get gorgeous, browned, crispy French Fries that will wow your eaters and blow your mind!

Keep in mind, if you use different size pots (because you want to make sure you have plenty of fries!) a small pot will cook faster. As soon as they look golden, spoon them out with a slotted spoon and let drain on newspaper or paper towels and sprinkle with salt immediately and inhale! Or, eat like an elegant French person, NOT!