Before I get going on what I’ve got to say, I must add my two cents to Yeah Right’s immaculate post on deep dish pizza. I too have been working on my pizza game during these dark times. Everything he said I have also done. My twist on the whole venture has been this: use the barbecue.

I have found, via experimentation, that using the ‘cue helps dry out the air a bit more for cooking the dough, resulting in a browner crust. The flame also gets the skillet hotter quicker. (Remember to oil.) The end result is that I found it takes about 3-5 minutes off oven-cooking time. Also, as you might note, I am not using a skillet in that shot because Lodge also makes a 12″ pizza pan. WineWife likes thin crust, and sometimes her wishes must be accommodated (so BeerGuy’s wishes can eventually be as well).

I have a skillet, and have used it to make slices I used to dream about having to travel to get.

Ham, regular bacon, back bacon, pineapple & love. It was like eating an Italian luau. To paraphrase an old Gravy maxim, if you can perfect five dishes across a spectrum as your go-to options, the rest will come easy.

Riga leg update:

She’s already eager to get back to life. After one day, she can stand at her food station & eat, which is a very good sign.

The one shaved leg makes her look like she got drunk at a country bar & the electric bull ripped off her pants. She’s walking with purpose, because she wants to be a part of everything. That’s what the vet warned about – she will push too hard, too soon. She has to be leashed even in the back yard. Plus, we have to remember to ice her after every walking session, or she’ll end up like Earl Campbell. But – so far, so good.

Tonight’s sports:

• NHL:
  • Columbus vs. Toronto – 8:00PM | NBCSN / Sportsnet
    • Game Five – winner gets to move on; loser gets into the draw for Alexis Lafrenière, the kid who is going to kick so much ass once he gets his pro legs.
      • Because there is no God, Mario will get him.
    • I will forgive John Tortorella everything he did as Canucks coach if he can beat the Leafs.
      • Not everything he ever did. Just the shit he pulled in Vancouver. /tips hat to Gratliff.
• MLB:
  • Chicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals – 7:00PM | ESPN / TSN2
• NBA:
  • Rockets vs. Kings – 8:00PM | TSN5
  • Nets vs. Clippers – 10:00PM | TSN / NBATV
• WNBA:
  • Washington Mystics vs. Indiana Fever – 7:00PM | ESPN2

Plus, the PGA Championship will be ongoing from early in the afternoon. (CBS – Jim Nantz) Paulina Gretzky’s husband had a one-shot lead going into the final round. By the time this post goes live, he ought to be on the 12th hole.

Tomorrow brings a day of respite, as the NHL gears up for the first round, and the NBA sorts its playoff seeds for its tourney starting on the weekend. Dog days of summer my ass!