“I’m not a cat”

February 17, 2021

“Nothing like a little judicious levity.”
~ From The Wrong Box, by Robert Louis Stevenson and Lloyd Osbourne (1889)

By now, most of you have probably seen the short video of a lawyer accidentally visually represented as a cat during a courtroom hearing via Zoom. Usually, when I come upon an amusing video clip such as this, I enjoy a brief chuckle, followed by numerous “Yes, I’ve seen that; so cute!” replies to the dozens of friends who have laughed at something and want to make sure I don’t miss the latest online hilarity.

This particular clip, however, I never seem to tire of, regardless of  how many times it has been shared with me or featured on a comedy or news program I might be watching. The face of that cat, combined with the gentle frustration in the lawyer’s voice, tugs at my heartstrings in all the right ways and brings a smile to my face, no matter how much pandemic fatigue I may be fighting in a given moment.

Maybe it’s that he comes across as just a regular human, trying to get through this pandemic situation and all of its added complications and frustrations like the rest of us. Perhaps it’s because I happen to have an enormous affection for cats, which makes the plaintive feline version of his face even more sympathetic to me. I’m not sure. I only know that this short little video, which the presiding judge thankfully shared on YouTube, shifts my mood from stressed to serene, from annoyed to amused, from “How am I going to get through another day of this?” to “OK, I guess we are all in this together” within a few seconds.

So, in that spirit, although I’m sure you’ve already seen it multiple times, here is the Cat Lawyer. Hope it brings you a smile, no matter what kind of day you may be having:

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For a bit of delicious levity, try Smokey Skillet Pizza.

Smokey Skillet Pizza
This super-easy homemade pizza is cooked in a frying pan! I used ready-made pizza dough from Trader Joe’s refrigerated section. You could also make your own dough, if you prefer. Frying the dough adds an extra layer of flavor. The smoked mozzarella and simple tomato basil sauce make for a mouth-watering result. If you have left-over dough, fry it up for breakfast the next day and serve it topped with real maple syrup… yum!

 

1 (14.5 oz) can of organic diced tomatoes with juice
(or two cups of diced, fresh hot house or organic in-season tomatoes with juices)
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 & 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4 or 5 fresh basil leaves, sliced into thin strips
Salt and pepper to taste
1 (16 oz) package of prepared pizza dough
All-purpose flour, for dusting
Olive oil for frying (you’ll want about 1/2 cup for a 10-inch pan)
6 oz smoked mozzarella cheese, grated or sliced thinly
Optional: ground or flaked dried red chile pepper for the table

In a medium bowl, mix tomatoes, garlic, 1 & 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil and basil. Add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.

On a clean surface, using a little flour, shape and stretch dough into 1 large, 2 small or 4 mini pizza shapes. You want to make the crust on the thin side, so that it will cook all the way through quickly.

Choose a frying pan with a little depth, not like a soup pot, but not flat either.

Cover bottom of pan with a generous layer of oil. Heat oil over medium-high heat until a piece of dough sizzles when dropped in.

Fry one crust at a time. Place in hot oil and cook until the bottom is golden brown. Turn with tongs and a spatula and cook the other side. Remove from hot oil and top one side with cheese. The heat of the crust will begin to melt the cheese. Top this with tomato sauce (sauce goes on top for this version of pizza). Place pizza in toaster oven or under a broiler at 350°F for a minute or two to heat the toppings thoroughly.

Serve immediately.

Serves 2 to 4

 

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