Dessert/ Dinner

Oven Smackdown

Hi friends!

I hope everyone is enjoying their Saturday. I made good use of myself this afternoon while the boy was still gone and FINALLY cracked my first thai coconut!!!!

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I really had no idea how to do it or what to expect, so I just went at it with the trusty Chef knife. It took awhile to cut into, but once I did, SO much fresh coconut water came out! I was seriously astounded! I drained it all into tupperware….

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And then took a big, fresh gulp of pure coconut goodness! I honestly don’t know if I could ever buy the stuff in the carton again after this…..it is cheaper, too!

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After I drained all the coconut water, I set to whacking the bad boy totally open so I could scoop out the soft meat inside. Again, this took several tries…..

But it finally happened!

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SO COOL! The “meat” was super soft and creamy and very easy to scoop out with a spoon. Here’s everything that I got out of this one baby thai coconut—-

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I divided the meat in half, put each portion into little plastic baggies, and stuck the baggies in the freezer so I can make a smoothie at some point this next week! I’m so excited!!! Crazy that when you buy the coconut water in the cartons at Whole Foods, it costs about $4.50….yet this coconut was only $2.50 and I got meat AND water from it! Score!

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Shortly after my last post I had some major hunger pains. I really did not eat much lunch and then I meant to make something more at home but was too excited about the juicer! So, I had a tasty and substantial snack of a toasted Ezekiel sprouted grains english muffin with raw almond butter and raspberry preserves

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Ugh….and then R and I had a minor disaster when it came to dinner. I had planned to make us homemade pizza and I even made the crust and everything—

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We were having SO much fun. Ryan bought a nice bottle of wine and poured us each a glass…….

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I covered my half with fresh mozzarella from the market, along with summer squash and onion…and R got pepperoni and cheese—

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And then THIS happened—-

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Ugh yeah. The oven door completely FELL OFF and, basically, the entire oven fell apart after that. Let’s just say that it is duck taped together right now……………..

Needless to say, WE WENT OUT. We tried a brand new pizzaria downtown, which was known for authentic wood fired Italian pizzas

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It was incredibly authentic and not only was the entire menu in Italian, but all the pizzas were baked at 900 degrees in this huge wood stove!

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I immediately ordered a much needed glass of Italian red wine since my last glass of wine at home was disrupted due to the oven meltdown.

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The pizzas were individually sized at 12″ and I chose the Margherita pizza, which featured buffalo mozzarella, homemade tomato sauce and fresh basil—-

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And Ryan chose the only meat pizza on the menu, the Carne, which featured Italian salami and black olives:

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I think we were both a little shocked at the obvious lack of cheese on the pizza!!! Seriously, the cheese is VERY minimally sprinkled on. I LOVED this because it meant that I could eat more and not feel the effects of waaaay too much dairy. Ryan, on the other hand……….let’s just say it ain’t no pizza hut 😉

And, for the first time, I actually ate my entire pizza!!! It was SO good….and very light and thin. The crust was the absolute BEST I’ve ever had. SUPER chewy and soft. I asked the server about this and she said that the flour they used is special Italian flour that is flown in from Napoli and they use wild yeast. I thought I had died and gone to heaven!

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I hated it. Obviously. 😉

I ended my meal in typical Italian fashion with an espresso —- (decaf, that is!)

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After dinner we were both still a little hungry. I know, can you even believe it after I ate an entire pizza?! But, yes, it was NOT your typical pizza and I guess I have a hollow leg. Anyways, we decided to go out for dessert at another little Italian cafe. Just so happened that their special this evening was tiramisu…our favorite!!!!

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We each ordered this mini dessert and each cleaned our plates. It was major yum! I haven’t ordered a fun dessert like this in forever and it made me feel like I was on vacation or something 🙂

Now I am about to pass out after the wine, the whole pizza, the dessert…………I’m exhausted!!!

See you in the morning!

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  • Meg
    April 18, 2009 at 7:43 pm

    Sorry about the oven, but it looks like you guys ended up having a fabulous night out!

  • Cecilia
    April 18, 2009 at 7:48 pm

    Nuthing beats woodfired pizza … but POOR RYAN haha!! If only you include a pic of his face when the pizzas arrived 😀 Maybe next time he can ask for double (triple?) cheese though, haha!

  • Angelea
    April 18, 2009 at 7:51 pm

    That espresso reminds me of a lovely drink that my hubby makes for me. I should have submitted this for the dessert e-cookbook!

    Bailey’s Espresso: double shot espresso with Bailey’s Irish Cream (amount to your liking)

    Super simple, but it’s so addictingly amazingly delicious.

    There’s a non-dairy irish cream called Briscoe’s. I haven’t been able to find it here locally, but this would be an alternative for vegans or cow’s milk avoiders. Would love to know if anyone has tried it!

  • Cecilia
    April 18, 2009 at 7:56 pm

    By the way, you can buy young whole coconut at a cheap price at those asian grocery store 😀

  • Courtney (The Hungry Yogini)
    April 18, 2009 at 7:56 pm

    What a gorgeous pizza from the restaurant. I like them better with less cheese!

    What a cool coconut adventure =)

    Enjoy your night!

  • Emily
    April 18, 2009 at 7:59 pm

    I want to try coconut like that! Fun!

    What a great night with Ryan! (minus the oven mishap!)

  • Robin
    April 18, 2009 at 8:00 pm

    duck tape?

  • Meredith (Pursuing Balance)
    April 18, 2009 at 8:10 pm

    Oh my goodness, I can’t believe the oven door fell off!!!!!

  • Maddy
    April 18, 2009 at 8:14 pm

    That pizza looks delish! What is the place called?

    • jenna
      April 19, 2009 at 5:31 am

      Maddy,

      The restaurant was called Pizzaioli Bavaro…super Italian! 🙂

  • VeggieGirl
    April 18, 2009 at 8:33 pm

    Mmm, coconut meat, pizza, and tiramisu!!

    Eek!! Sorry about the oven 🙁

  • Glidingcalm
    April 18, 2009 at 8:35 pm

    that sounds like such a fun night with amazing food………but so sad your other pizza had to go to waste! it looked so pretty! (p.s. i love your alligator apron!)

    i also would be deathly afraid that i’d chop a finger off trying to get a coconut open, but MAD PROPS to you Miss Jenna!

  • emily
    April 18, 2009 at 8:40 pm

    What a fun evening! I’ve only had a young coconut like that in Thai restaurants, but when I was a kid we used to get “normal” coconuts off the beach and spend forever cracking them open to get the juice!

  • Jenny
    April 18, 2009 at 8:59 pm

    Talk about a major turnaround! Even with the mishap, looks like a mighty fine night to me 🙂

  • Sarah (lovINmytummy)
    April 18, 2009 at 9:13 pm

    OMG, I cannot believe the oven door fell off! I would have been SOOO mad. I think my front yard would probably have an oven door in it after I would heave it out the door. I can’t believe you kept your cool!

  • Run Sarah
    April 18, 2009 at 9:17 pm

    I’ve never tried eating coconut like that, I will definitely have to, especially if it’s more inexpensive. Sorry to hear about your stove! Dinner looked fabulous though.

  • Michelle Hisae
    April 18, 2009 at 9:21 pm

    A ‘disaster’ led to a fun night out! Think about it – you wouldn’t have gotten that GREAT dessert had the oven cooperated! Oh the things you sacrifice… 🙂

  • Genesis
    April 18, 2009 at 9:57 pm

    I love young coconuts. I grew up eating these. My brother and cousins used to climb the coconut tress and we just drank/ate it like there was no tomorrow. I miss living on the islands!

    I’m glad you got to taste what ‘real’ coconut water tastes like.

  • Sharon
    April 18, 2009 at 10:20 pm

    Oh wow, I can’t believe the oven door fell off!

  • Katrina (gluten free gidget)
    April 18, 2009 at 10:21 pm

    HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! I’m sorry but your oven incident seriously made me laugh out loud, and in a public place, too! That is the funniest thing I have ever seen happen in a kitchen! (whew… wipes eyes…) I hope you get that fixed soon!

  • Caroline
    April 18, 2009 at 10:33 pm

    Wow, cool! Coconut, up-close and personal.

  • Alison
    April 18, 2009 at 10:39 pm

    I tried my first fresh coconut in Taiwan a few months ago. A vendor bored a whole into it and my husband and I drank the juice. I wasn’t that impressed. I thought it was rather tasteless. There must be something wrong with me b/c everyone else I know loves it. Oh well.
    Your pizza looks fantastic.

  • Jen
    April 18, 2009 at 11:08 pm

    Um…you do know that coconut is the world’s best natural laxative, right?

  • Tracey
    April 18, 2009 at 11:10 pm

    You should have taken the pizza with you to pop in that hot oven at the restaurant 😉 Both yours and their looked delish! This is my first comment, love your blog and hoping to emulate your eating style over time. Your hair looks great, by the way, so shiny! I can’t wait to try one of those thai coconuts, yummy! Good luck with your oven 🙂

  • brianna
    April 18, 2009 at 11:50 pm

    authentic italian pizza is the best! I have such a hard time eating from regular pizza places now!

  • bibixs
    April 19, 2009 at 12:53 am

    I had pizza too. From domino’s
    jahaaha yours look so much better!

  • Leah @ Simply Fabulous
    April 19, 2009 at 4:57 am

    Oh my dear…crazy about your oven!!
    But, at least you guys still got your pizza fix!!

  • Beadie @ What I Ate Yesterday
    April 19, 2009 at 5:02 am

    Yikes! Sorry about the oven. At least you got the best.pizza.ever. because of it!!

  • MizFit
    April 19, 2009 at 5:04 am

    how CUTE are you.
    I swear I need to get me an assistant 🙂 as I try for the photos and the Toddler always cuts my head off.

    Will you be at blogher this summer?

    Hope so!

    • jenna
      April 19, 2009 at 5:29 am

      MizFit,

      No…I wish! I never was able to get a ticket! 🙁

  • Shelby
    April 19, 2009 at 7:03 am

    Mmm, fresh coconut sounds amazing. I have yet to try it since I’ve always be scared to crack it open haha!

    OH NO! How weird is that? Your oven door just fell off?! Crazyness =P

  • Gloria
    April 19, 2009 at 7:40 am

    Your homemade pizza looks amazing, and I love your apron almost as much! Go Gators 🙂

  • Kristin
    April 19, 2009 at 7:54 am

    Is that the new place downtown? I have been waiting for it to open. Yeah! A new restaurant. Was the dessert from there also? Sorry for all of the questions but what saturday market did you go to? I live in Brandon and am always looking for new things to do.

    • jenna
      April 19, 2009 at 8:19 am

      Kristin,

      Nope..we went to Pane Rustica for dessert. And the market was the St.Pete Farmer’s Market…open from October to May!

  • Ally
    April 19, 2009 at 8:35 am

    Hey! I’ve been to Italy a few times and the pizzas are truly like that there – very minimal cheese. And one pizza is meant for a single serving, so don’t fret about it not filling you up too much. It’s not like you eat an entire pizza hut pizza : ) Glad you had fun!

  • Lauren
    April 19, 2009 at 9:34 am

    The coconut looks awesome! I bet it tasted like heaven 🙂

    I can’t believe the door completely fell off of the oven!! The pizza you ended up ordering looks delish.

  • Kassi
    April 19, 2009 at 10:55 am

    hey jenna!
    i went to Italy last month and had the same surprised sensation when my pizza was delivered with so little cheese! I roamed all over italy and, let me tell you, pizza was EVERYWHERE with all toppings imaginable (my favorite was one with roasted baby artichokes; the flavor was so intense/amazing!! theres a picture of it in my Rome photo album in facebook if you want to check it out) but nowhere did i see pizza with even half the cheese we use here in the states! thought you might find that interesting to know!

  • gina (fitnessista)
    April 19, 2009 at 12:06 pm

    yay, you did it!! i looooooove thai coconuts. so jealous you can buy them where you live, i’m going to sock up today! there’s an easier way to cut them open– i think megan and i are going to make a video this week.
    the pizza looks amazing– sorry the oven door fell off! still looks like an incredible night!
    enjoy your sunday <3

  • Jenna
    April 19, 2009 at 1:36 pm

    i don’t mean to lol but i sooo did when you said the door of the oven completely fell off!!!! The most random stuff happens to you…you need your own reality show seriously!!!

  • Terrormisu
    April 19, 2009 at 3:39 pm

    If it resulted in tiramisu I would not have had otherwise, HELL YEAH it’d be worth it to have a disintegrated oven.

    Just sayin’.

    Mmm…few things in life are greater than a creamy, boozy tiramisu.

  • Susan Eitelman
    April 20, 2009 at 7:40 am

    Hi Jenna,

    Where did you find the Thai Baby Coconut? Was it at a specialty grocery store, as suggested in one of the other comments? (I sure do hope the answer is easier, like Whole Foods!) 🙂

    Thanks so much!
    -Susan

  • Kristin @ Iowa Girl Eats
    April 20, 2009 at 10:34 am

    OMG that is seriously one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen! I didn’t know the coconut flesh was so soft!

  • Melissa (Nibbles and Wiggles)
    April 20, 2009 at 2:42 pm

    OMG @ your stove door :-/

    Thanks for showing the coconut opening – I have been wondering about those thai coconuts!

  • Heather
    April 21, 2009 at 9:18 am

    Those pizzas look delicious.. both the ones you ate and the one you made! Would you be able to share the recipe you used for your crust?? I’ve always been looking for a good one 🙂

    • jenna
      April 21, 2009 at 12:25 pm

      Heather,

      I used the Heidi Swanson’s recipe for crust, available here—http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/001506.html

      Except I used half bread flour and half whole wheat flour. I wish it would have turned out! 🙁

  • The Power of Namaste | Eat, Live, Run
    May 2, 2009 at 10:45 am

    […] was laughing because the stove at the condo is STILL broken from the pizza disaster a few weeks ago. We were going to buy a new one last week but then everything happened […]