Cooking With TechyDad (and NHL and JSL): Pita Pizzas

NHL and JSL love the Disney Channel. One of the "mini-shows" they have on (filling time between regular shows) is "Tasty Time with ZeFronk." In this show, a dachshund (ZeFronk) makes tasty snacks which a cat named Dom always steals. After one episode showing Pita Pizzas, NHL remarked that he wanted to try making this. We made a trip to the grocery store and later that week, we were ready to cook.

First, we gathered our ingredients. Pitas, mushrooms, cheese, sauce and meatless pepperoni. (You can use real pepperoni if you’d like, but it’s not Kosher so we use the soy-based variety.)

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Next, we did what ZeFronk always does before cooking: We washed our hands!

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Now, it was time to cook. I laid four pitas down on two cookie sheets.

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The boys took their positions by the stove, standing to step stools to help them reach. I put some sauce on each of the pitas and the boys used a spoon to spread it out. (There are no action photos of JSL because I was too busy helping him to take photos.)

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Next, NHL spread out some mushrooms. JSL protested at this saying he didn’t want mushrooms so I let him know that we could customize it. He could have no mushrooms, no pepperoni. B and NHL could have mushrooms, no pepperoni. I could have the works.

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With the ‘shrooms in place, we applied the cheese.

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And then the pepperoni.

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Into the oven they went for 8 minutes. (Obviously, this step was done by me.)

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And then we had Pita Pizzas to enjoy! Healthy and tasty too! YUM!

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Homeless Shouldn’t Be Allowed To Vote?

While in Charleston, the talk amongst the other groomsmen, groom and myself turned political.  Knowing that the other three were McCain supporters (I was the only Obama supporter of the four of us) and that we were deep in "McCain-country", I mostly kept quiet.  I wasn’t going to turn my friend’s wedding into a big political argument.  (It wouldn’t have swayed anyone’s opinions anyway.)  Someone did say something that I objected to, though.

M said that the homeless shouldn’t be allowed to vote.  I disagreed on that point.  It just felt wrong to me, though I didn’t have a good argument prepared as for why.  Now I do.  It’s all too easy to become homeless.  The ongoing subprime mortgage fiasco is pushing many out of their houses.  Some of these people might wind up on the streets.  Should we add insult to injury and take away their right to vote when the bank forecloses on their house?  What about people with medical conditions that leave them broke?  What about people who lose their job and can’t afford their house/apartment while they fruitlessly search for a new job?

Tying a person’s right to vote to any particular test (shy of being a felon – and I’ve even heard good arguments against this) seems like it is only a way to prevent certain groups from voting.

The Dynamic Debating and Dancing McCain

After last night’s debate, McCain walked towards the wrong side of the podium.  He caught himself and headed back around the correct side.  However, as he caught himself, he did a little dance.  I thought it was comical enough to try my hand at some video editing.  So here is Dancing McCain!

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If the election doesn’t work out for him, perhaps he can be a contestant on Dancing With The Stars.

Bingo II: Revenge Of The Debate

As I said in my last entry, Palin Bingo was such a success that I decided to make another run of it for the upcoming Presidential debates.  I’ve removed the Palin-specific words (like "Trig", "Todd", and "Alaska") and added in some words that we missed the last time around.  In fact, we’ve added 71% more words.  There are actually 20 quindecillion (2 * 1049) possible Bingo cards.

I also added in some cool effects using jQuery (my favorite JavaScript library) and two plugins for it – the jQuery Corner Plugin and the jQuery Gradient Plugin.

Finally, I changed the center Free space.  You can now to choose Obama or McCain in the center (or opt to have it randomly filled).  It’s up to you whether that means that the Bingo game is only in play if Obama is talking, McCain is talking, or either one.

The debate is in a couple of days (as I post this), so spread the word.  Tell your family and friends.  Print out your Debate Bingo cards, pop some popcorn, and play Debate Bingo!

Suggestions For Upcoming Debate Bingo

Palin Bingo was such a success (984 Palin Bingo cards created) that I decided to modify it for the upcoming Presidential Debate.  I’ve stripped the list of “Palin-specific” words (like Trig, Todd, Alaska, etc).  I’ve also added some Obama-McCain words (“Change” and “Hope”) as well as some words that my wife and I can’t believe we missed.  (How could we not have included “Main Street” or “Economy”?)

I’m sure there are words that I’ve still missed, so here is your chance to contribute.  If your word is accepted, you win a Free Debate Bingo board.  (What?  I’m giving them away for free anyway?  Shhh… Some people might think it’s a prize!  😉 )  The only rule to word selection is that it had to be something that one (or both) candidate might realistically say.

Also, it can’t be a word that I already have.  Here’s my list so far:

Bridge to No Where, Russia, Maverick, Alaska, Washington outsider, Pro-Life, Oil, Obama, Clinton, Community Organizer, Executive Experience, McCain, Taxes, Drill, Pork Barrel, Earmarks, Wall Street, Canada, Media, Conservative, Foreign Policy, Georgia, United Nations, Iraq, Iran, Bail-out, Terrorist, Afghanistan, Al Qaeda, Bin Laden, Ahmadinejad, Polls, President Bush, Lobbyist, Washington Insider, 9-11, Putin, Reformer, Main Street, Economy, Meltdown, Military, Negotiations, Washington Outsider, Energy Independence, Biden, Palin, Hope, Change, Liberal

So let’s hear those Bingo Words/Phrases everybody!

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