Christmas gifts

Two years ago I read an article about how I should be tipping not only my mail carrier at the holidays, but my local sanitation workers as well.

At this point, I had been a taxpaying adult with my very own dumpster for roughly four years. Oops. Four years in which Emily Post was hanging her head in shame at my kind.

At least I had been giving the mailman a card and gift (because I knew his name and had spoken to him on several occasions) so I was at least 33.333% polite.

As if I didn't already worry enough, the revelation opened a whole new Christmas themed field to stress about: how much should I tip the people who provide the valuable service of garbage removal each week? How about the recycling people? Cash or gift? How many of each? I think there are two men who take the trash and one who takes the recycling but I'm not entirely sure.

And the logistics: I had been leaving a small present and a card for the mailman attached to the mailbox (hopefully not a federal offense; if it is, let me know and I will repent of my criminal ways). But short of standing outside all day, how would I deliver said tip? Even I in my tipping ignorance know it would be rude (and possibly foolhardy) to tape a present to the lid of my dumpster.

Then bring in the question of money. If I'm going to do this, I want to do it right. I don't want to insult my garbage collector by being cheap but I don't want to overcompensate either.

There may be someone out there who gets all this stuff right, year after year. But I'm guessing the majority of us are just figuring it out as we go along. So instead of letting my worry control me I'll focus on what the season is really all about. Peace on earth and not anxiety. Good will and gratitude toward others and not stress over what to "get" them.

But now that I know you're supposed to tip sanitation workers, I expect a huge tip from someone for whom I provide the very important task of waste removal several times a day. She's only 16 months old but it's not too early for her to learn proper etiquette. Though I will accept a hug and kiss in lieu of cash.

I hate being sick

You would think after seven years of daily nausea, etc. that I would be used to stomach illness, but being gluten free spoiled me. 

Now when I'm actually sick (and it has nothing to do with gluten) I feel somewhat betrayed. Didn't I already pay my dues, thereby getting me out of stomach bug duty for the next 58 years?

Oh, it doesn't work that way? Too bad. 

So instead I'm taking it easy and being thankful that Little Girl is still easily entertained by making a mess and picking it up.

Today I'm also thinking of and praying for those affected by the tornadoes in Indiana and Illinois, as well as remembering those in Oklahoma still recovering from their own bad weather six months ago. 

Thoughts on pizza making...

With much self-sacrifice**, I made my husband a "regular" pizza crust last night. Amazingly, I still had wheat flour (albeit at the very back of the top shelf of the pantry). More amazingly, it had not expired.

**it wasn't that much of a sacrifice; see below.

Why did I ever think baking from scratch was hard? With **one** flour? I guess it's similar to the adjustment from zero kids to one. You wonder how on earth you will manage but once you get the hang of one, adding a second makes your job only about 12% harder instead of twice as hard.

After making the pizza crust with only four ingredients, one of which was salt, I made this crust.

In case I haven't mentioned it, this blogger is one of my gluten free heroes. I've loved everything I've made from her blog (and I kind of went nuts baking over the last month so speak from experience). In fact, I made a double batch of this pizza crust without trying it first. That's how much I trust her and her recipes. Check it out. Chocolate chip cookies! Sandwich bread! Things I thought I would do without until I could afford $5 for something that used to cost $1!

I did substitute additional sorghum flour for the teff, though, as my gluten free budget needs a break. When I went nuts baking as I mentioned earlier, I kind of also went nuts on the flour buying.

Which I guess disqualifies me as a cheapskate, but let me preface by saying that I buy in bulk at the best prices I can find. Also, I only buy one new type of flour every few months, making substitutions when I can. Despite the high cost of flours, making from scratch is definitely cheaper than buying pre-packaged GF stuff. Talk about sticker shock!

This isn't a picture of me. Nor is it a picture of pizza. With a hungry toddler fussing at my feet, I never remember to take pictures. So here is a semi-related picture of Big Girl making lasagna. Otherwise this post would just be a big block of text. You're welcome.

Anyway, my pizza turned out fantastic tasting, though I don't think I rolled the dough thin enough to cook in the time allotted (which is all user error and not recipe error). I was using a smaller pan and thought cooking it longer would compensate. It did cook through but was just a little "breadier" of a crust than I'm used to (ahem, cracker-like crust, I'm looking at you).

So do I miss the convenience of Little Caesar's? You bet. But I'm also glad to have two decent pizza places within five miles as well as awesome DIY recipes. I'm so glad it isn't 20 years ago.

Disclaimer: please don't get upset with me for baking a glutenated crust in my kitchen. I know some people wouldn't be able to handle the cross-contamination. However, I have weighed the risks with my level of sensitivity and I feel comfortable with the amount of precautions I take. Your mileage may vary, obviously.