Monday, June 8, 2015
It was a BOND day for me; pita pizzas were on the menu. When I stopped at the office Connie, one of the coordinators, said today was an easy one. I didn’t disagree with her but I think mini pizzas are one of the worst items on their menu; it is right up there with quiche in my mind.
When I got to the grocery store there were no pitas on the shelf. I was able to get some frozen ones that I was assured would thaw in about 45 minutes. They did so it worked out.
But the chopping – onions, mushrooms, ham, pepperoni – and grating the cheese took so long. There were cans to open and drain – pineapple, olives, pizza sauce. That wasn’t the worst part though; once the chopping was done and the ingredients were on plates and in bowls there was very little counter space for my pizza assembly line. I can only fit two pans in the oven at a time and each pan holds two pitas; you can do the math as to how long it took to get 24 pita pizzas out the door.
I managed to get the veggie tray done before the ladies started eating. While they ate, and I continued to bake pizzas, I finished off the fruit tray. I didn’t have a chance to sit down until the guest speaker was already starting her presentation.
Needless to say the clean up was horrendous and it was close to 3:30 before I was done. On the way home I always stop at the community compost centre to drop off our peels, etc. and by four I was snoozing on the couch!
I am the most senior volunteer (in experience and possibly age) so I get first pick of the dates I want to work. It would be nice if we could pick our working days after we see the menu plan. As it is now I am booked for dates through to the end of July but I picked my dates without a clue as to what I will be making. But I guess that wouldn’t be very fair as I know, whenever possible, I would pick the easy menu days.
It isn’t all hard work though. The mother of the twins arrived early and while she made a trip to the washroom I was able to cuddle one of her babies. That’s the reason I do all this.