CHRISTMAS TIME?: We know we’ve had a chilly summer, but we got a
call Tuesday from Betty Simmons in Marvindale whose Christmas
amaryllis is budding! Anyone else witness such a phenomenon?

PIZZA PERFETTO: Carol Longo Harris of New Hope writes, “I really
enjoyed Joan Festa’s article about the Italian festival and the
‘guants, wans.’ My mother Parma Longo called the ribbons
‘wons.’

Carol also sent along a story about her search for Italian
recipes in mom’s recipe box.

She writes: “One night at a covered dish supper I grabbed a 2”
square of pizza. Even before I put the morsel in my mouth the smell
reminded me of my Italian grandmother’s kitchen. The texture of the
bottom crust was crunchy. The top was not soggy. It was love at
first bite. No offense intended to Bo Derrick but it was a perfect
10. Perfetto!”

“‘Who made this pizza?’ I inquired while working the room. ‘Who
made this?’ Rose from Buffalo, N.Y., raised her hand and pointed to
87-year-old Angelina, the maid of honor at her wedding. Angelina
reluctantly agreed to share the ancient recipe used by four
generations of women in her family.

“‘It’s easy,'” she said.

“‘Dissolve one package of yeast in two-cups warm water. That’s
all!’

“‘The flour, how much flour?’ I probed.

“‘My mother always said to knead small amounts of flour until
the dough felt as soft as a baby’s butt, my aunt until it felt like
your breast but my mother-in-law insisted the dough wasn’t ready
until it felt like your belly.’

“‘The sauce? Angelina, how do you make the sauce?’

“‘While the dough is rising, simmer crushed tomatoes with grated
cheese, oregano, garlic, basil, a piece of carrot (to take away
bitterness) and a sprinkle of pepperocini (dry red pepper
flakes).’

“How long and at what temperature do I bake the pizza?”

“‘Double bake,’ Angelina whispered. ‘First bake the sheet of
dough for 15 minutes in a 400-degree oven, next spread a thin layer
of sauce and a squirt of olive oil on top. Bake again at 350
degrees for a few more minutes.’

“So now, I have a recipe, but no baby. Ladies, I wonder, what
part of your body, feels like a baby’s butt? Who will tell me?”