Iron Chef Pizza Challenge with special guest judge Danny W.!

Two puppies, two kids and Nina (let's be honest, she's a bit of a loose cannon). It's no wonder that we don't normally get guests to Sunday dinner. Sadly, we have to resort to cheap tricks like having Iron Chef challenges to get people to visit. The good news is it totally works!


The entries...




Nina's Tuscan Zucchini and Proscuitto Pizza












Mom went all rebel and did a Chicago Deep Dish Sausage Pizza.















Bill (bill? I know! I was so proud) did a Pepperoni-Surprise Thin Crust. It is way less naughty than it sounds.












Me. plain. (I prefer to call it classic) Someone always has to make something non-controversial at these challenges so that the kids have something to eat.


But what's this?? a dark horse...a COOKIE Pizza from team Danstin (or Judan?)
It looks like it has enough red dye #5 to send a small child into a seizure, but it is impossible to be immune to warm-chocolate chip cookie dough with frosting. Totally not fair. That's like putting crack in your pizza.


Gia makes the ballots--she does a great job. But, judging is hard work. Wine is necessary.

Of course the cookie won (actually they tied with Nina with 10 points).

Good job guys! (though I should warn you Bill is demanding a recount).

Mario says the next challege should be Purina-related.

Gingerbread House of Horror

Holiday baking! One of my favorite traditions! While the grown-ups were making chocolate dipped biscotti and limoncello, we set the kids to making gingerbread cookies for Santa.

Oh, how sweet! (now THIS would have made a good Christmas card!)

Hey look, Uncle Justin is here! Yay! He is just in time to decorate the cookies with the kids!

Oh, wait. Oh, my goodness. Well, when the kids can't fall asleep at night we'll know its not because they are excited for Santa...its because they can't get these images out of their heads...

Justin, I think its amazing that for your job, you catch dirtbags all day long and keep us safe from the bad guys. I am consistently impressed at how you maintain cheerful optimism when you get to see some of the nastiest people there are--but dude, my kids won't eat the gingerbread anymore. I think you may be a little sick...but, that's probably why I like you so much!

I can't wait to see what you do when its time to color easter eggs!

Sorry about the lame X-mas card...

But we are probably lucky that mike is in it at all.

He warned me as soon as I got the camera out.

"I no take picture with YOU."

I did not believe him. This kid is 2, I've got 32 years on him, so presumably I should be able to outsmart him.

He would not pose with Gianna, near Gianna, in the same room as the tree or anything that resembled a Christmas decoration.

Good girl G (She posed like this for about 30 minutes, can you see the strain in her eyes?)

Impressive G! but where is Mike?

There he is...can you spot him?

Near the end, I resorted to bribery--not a first, nor will it be the last time. But it didn't work!

He sobbed while he ate the chocolate which meant I was still left with no viable picture for the card. How can chocolate NOT work when you are 2?? Chocolate still works on me.

Next year I'm hiring Beth to do my X-mas cards.