Thursday, November 16, 2017

Friday night pizza

When our kids were small, every time we went to visit Cindy's parents in California, on Friday nights Cindy's parents took us out for pizza, and not just any pizza it was always pizza from the New York Pizzeria in Calimesa, California. As a matter of fact when Cindy and I were first married, on Friday night of our first visit to California we met the whole family for pizza at the New York Pizzeria.

Imagine this, the first time I met Cindy's brothers was over a New York Pizzeria pizza and a pitcher of beer. The new husband of their baby sister, and now I'm sitting across the table from, and being looked over by her three brothers, all at once. I find myself staring at three men much bigger than me, I'm out of my element, I'm in California for the first time ever for God's sake, an outsider, the new guy, staring down three guys that I don't know. It could have been pandemonium! We are at The New York Pizzeria with the whole family and I was afraid that no one would notice a little pandemonium, but in my favor Ray (Cindy's Dad) had already given me his blessing.

Two  of her brothers were more interested in the pizza than me, and one wanted to flex his muscles and let me know how his little sister would be treated. He was the smaller of the three and flexing muscles don't impress nor intimidate me anyway. The pizza was good and after a couple of slices and a mug of beer, he stopped strutting around like a bantam rooster and I guess that I passed the test because I'm still here after twenty plus years.


Needless to say Friday night is pizza night, and every visit to California after that included Friday night pizza, with the Family special, of an extra large sausage, pepperoni, and cashew pizza with all the side fixings, a pitcher of beer, and coke for the children and non drinkers.

When the kids were younger, we all sat around visiting and watching while the kids scarfed down the pizza, we always had to order extra because between all the running back and forth between the game machines and the parents for more quarters, the kids were never full of that good ole cashew pizza.

Our kids are all adults, Cindy and I now live in California and take care of her dad Ray. And when our kids come to visit they still want to go out for Friday night pizza. And not just any pizza, it has to be at The New York Pizzeria.

When Tim, Elisa, and Benjamin came out the last time, Tim really wanted to go out for pizza, Tim loves that sausage, pepperoni, and cashew pizza but I think he loves the memories of going out with Cindy's parents for the Friday night pizza routine more than the pizza itself.

Although I have seen Tim order two large pizzas to hide out in an ice chest so he could carry them back home to New Mexico, I have a feeling those pizzas never made it all the way to New Mexico, heck the empty pizza boxes probably landed in a road side rest area trash can somewhere in Arizona.

Now that Cindy's Mom is gone, and her Dad doesn't get around very good, we don't go to Friday night pizza that often anymore. Tim asked his Papa Ray if we could all go out for Friday night pizza and Ray simply told him no, said that we could order pizza and bring it home.

Tim told him that it wouldn't be the same, that he remembered always going to pizza with Nanu and Papa on Friday night's, and now that Benjamin was here that he wanted his son to have the same memories of Big Papa that Tim did.

We pushed Ray to the car in a wheelchair, pushed him into New York Pizzeria in that same chair, ordered the Family special, of an extra large sausage, pepperoni, and cashew pizza with all the side fixings and a pitcher of beer. And of course Cindy and Benjamin got their pitcher of Coke.

Benjamin ran back and forth between the game machines and his parents (and Mimi) asking for more quarters and ate his fill of pizza, Benjamin had a ball and believe it or not Ray had just as much fun as Benjamin did, Ray sat and laughed, he had pizza and a few mugs, but the best time he had was talking with Tim, going over memories and oohing and aahing over the "prized possessions" Benjamin was gaining from the quarter eating machines. Ray didn't really want to leave when it was time to go.

I'm not sure how many more Friday night pizzas we are going to have with Ray, but I do know that this was a great one. Four generations sitting around together eating the same pizza at the same restaurant they have been coming to since Cindy was a little girl.

I have a feeling that one day Benjamin just may walk into the New York Pizzeria with his children, and order a Family special of an extra large sausage, pepperoni, and cashew pizza with all the side fixings and a pitcher of beer. And of course a pitcher of Coke for Mimi.

52 comments:

  1. Hmmm...not sure about cashews. I love them, but on pizza...worth a try, oh and add some mushrooms, that and four generations of pizza lovers and some beer, that is hard to top. Here is to many more Friday night pizzas!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had never heard of cashews on pizza either until that first trip to visit Cindy's folks, we sure like them, you just may have a new favorite once you give them a try.

      Delete
    2. You convinced me, I'm going to have to try cashews on my pizza!!

      Delete
    3. I think you will like them Fran.

      Delete
  2. Sounds like a wonderful family tradition. Some traditions seem to go from generation and others last for a time and then they are never more. I like it that you're keeping this one going.

    Have a fabulous day. ☺

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Isn't it funny how something like a Friday night out for pizza turns into a Family tradition, this is one that hopefully will continue on.

      Delete
  3. Daisy has a younger brother that often was in that "I hate my family" phase so luckily I never ran into that kind of issue.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Adam, Most of the time those phases seem to work themselves out.

      Delete
  4. What a lovely family tradition. May it carry on for many more generations.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Delores, I have a feeling that it just may.

      Delete
  5. Sweaty eyes here. This is a lovely tradtion. Precious memories.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We found a few pictures with Cindy's Mom at one of the outings, the memories that flooded back from seeing those...

      Delete
  6. Cashews on pizza? That sounds different. I love them but I can't imagine them tasting good on pizza, but I may have to try them sometime! Friday night has always been pizza night at our house, but sadly only the supermarket variety, not freshly made ones from a restaurant. Now I feel I'm missing out. :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Joey, You could sprinkle some cashews on top of your pizza and heat them up a bit to cook them into the pizza somewhat, I think you will like it.

      Delete
  7. What great memories your family has made over pizza. What a treasure. I've never heard of cashews on pizza but I can imagine them being especially good on Hawaii pizza.

    Pizza is one of the things since becoming a widow that I miss. We used to get it every week for years, then once a month when calories started to matter. It just isn't the same to get a personal pan pizza.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Our daughter loves the Hawaiian pizza, we have never added the cashews to that particular pizza, it could end up being one of those "best of both worlds" pizzas though.

      I too have had to adjust the ingredients on my pizzas, chicken and spinach pizza is good but Cindy still slips me a piece of the other one so I'm not left out.

      Delete
  8. Now I am curious to try cashews on pizza. Think they would go great with pineapple. Ok I can hear you groan. Sounds like a neat tradition you have going and hope it keeps going.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Patti, I have never tried cashews on the pineapple pizza before, that just may be a good recipe, I have a feeling you already have this idea in the works.

      Delete
  9. I bet cashews would go great on a pizza. I'll have to try it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. John, we really like it, I have a feeling that you will like it also.

      Delete
  10. It's great that Tim persuaded Ray to go out for pizza. One more memory for each of them, and a new one for Benjamin. Never heard of cashews on a pizza, but I'd take them in place of the pepperoni.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We were happy to see that Tim talked Ray into going, it's getting hard to get him to go out anywhere anymore, but this trip with Benjamin was really fantastic.

      Delete
  11. How have I never heard of cashews on pizza? That is nuts! Lol!

    I love traditions like this. On Friday nights here, we now have happy hour with drinks and appetizers and a cheese board for whomever is home.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "That is nuts!" I had to laugh at that one Bijoux.

      It sounds like you have a good one starting with your Friday night Happy Hour routine. Families need something like this to look forward to doing together.

      Delete
  12. You've reminded me that it's been too long since I've enjoyed a pizza.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Stephen, you and the Mrs. just may have to go out for pizza tonight ;)

      Delete
  13. It's so good that your son could convince your father-in-law to go out. A great memory, to keep forever. So good it's making me weepy. Reminds me of the special A&W nights we had with my dad. We picked up the burgers and took everything to the nursing home where we ate in the family dining room. Dad could only travel by disabled bus or by ambulance, so this was as close to eating out as we could make it. He always enjoyed it, and the only thing that would've made it better was a pitcher of beer like you guys had :) Well done to you and your four generations of caring family members.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jenny your special A&W nights sound perfect, I bet your Dad really looked forward to that time together with you, even though in the Family dining room this time with him was indeed special for both you and him. It's really nice that you made the effort to do this for him, because most people wouldn't.

      Delete
  14. It is always wonderful to read of traditions that have continued over many a year. I have to say, never thought of cashews on a pizza.

    betty

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Betty, If you like cashews, and you like pizza, mixing them together has to be good...you just may like it.

      Delete
  15. I've eaten a lot of pizza, from many sources, but I've never heard of cashews on a pizza!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Most pizza places don't even have cashews on the premises, we have asked in other locations, but this particular one always does, lately they have started charging a double topping price for them but we all know that cashews are not cheap.

      This may be a new pizza for you to try.

      Delete
  16. It always brings a smile to my face when families enjoy precious memories and stay true to those traditions. Four generations getting together and having such fun sounds wonderful to me. Hugs...and Happy Friday! RO

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. RO, It occurred to me after the kids had already gone home that we had four generations sitting around that table, and everyone was laughing, that is a special memory in itself.

      A Happy Friday to you my friend.

      Delete
  17. Family traditions are a wonderful thing as each new generation joins in and hears the stories of previous years. I can't think of a single tradition that my family holds, we all seem to always be doing different things, but that's okay too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I believe that is just the way it is now River, for the most part Families don't get together as much anymore due to doing so many different things, I guess this just makes any time together a special thing.

      Delete
  18. Interesting, Jimmy. Here it seems to be fish and chips on Friday not pizza. I remember when the first pizza parlour opened in my part of the UK, it stayed empty for a while until people felt brave enough to go inside and try pizza. Now they're all over the place. I have to admit that I don't like pizza but you won't hold that against me, will you?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good morning Valerie, I like fish and chips too, I have a feeling since you don't care for pizza that cashews on top will not change your opinion, and I would never hold that against you, I promise.

      Delete
  19. I'll have to echo many of the other folks here. Cashews on pizza? I've never heard of it either, but I love cashews, and I love pizza. So I'm going to give it a try. Heck, I might even try it at New York Pizzeria in Calimesa!

    This was a great post Jimmy! There isn't much better than family memories like these.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Pat, It's good to see you my friend, I know the New York Pizzeria has cashews for the sausage, pepperoni, cashew pizza the only drawback is they have started charging double topping price for them.

      Delete
  20. Do you know if the add the cashews before or after baking?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jean, It appears to me that they put the cashews on before baking, simply because they are sunk into the cheese a bit and sometimes slightly toasted.

      Delete
  21. Family traditions - especially the ones that involve food - are the best! Cashews on pizza - now that sounds like a great idea.

    With us, it's Thursday nights when we get take-out pizza. Buffalo chicken on pretzel crust pizza, always the same order. The guy at the drive-through window knows me by name, and I swear - he knows when I am late on a Thursday evening!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like it that the guy at the drive up window even knows your Thursday night routine, reminds me of when we lived in New Mexico every payday Cindy and I went out for Mexican food, it got to where when we walked in our favorite waitress sat our drinks on the table, then next we saw her she was bringing out our meals, we didn't order anything she just always knew what we wanted...I miss that.

      Delete
  22. Cashews on pizza sound delicious to me! My favorite pizza is pepperoni but I will eat one woth everything on it too! I even like anchovies!
    I remember the pizza joints around here used to have arcade games in them. We quartered mom and dad to death!
    Lisa

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There you go Lisa all you have to do is sprinkle some cashews across and cook them in and you'll be in business.

      This joint we go to is a small mom and pop version of the ones you mentioned, with only a couple of games and a few quarter machines with cheap prizes...the kids love it though. And like you described the parents here get quartered to death too ha ha.

      Delete
  23. This is my first time ever reading about cashews on a pizza. Wow, my wife would probably like that seeing how much she likes cashews! I on the other hand, even though I really like eating pizza I wouldn't be able to stand cashews on it. Cashews make my gums itch.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You may have to get yourself a pizza with cashews only on half so you and your wife can have "the best of both worlds" as they say.

      Delete
  24. Lovely memories Jimmy!!!

    i laughed over the mention of the way you felt when Cindy's brother met you first lol.
    i was able to imagine the guy who was introduced to her girlfriend's bros and feeling little nervous :) reminded me the culture we have mostly like here .

    how lovely tradition of family get together over yummy Pizza (my sons love it) every friidy Jimmy.
    I agree that kids wanted to revive those memories by being on same place with family members rather than having just pizza.

    You such loving and generous to have your father in law with you and look after him .
    i can imagine how much fun Ray had that day when you took him with you their , i think it will be stored in his most magnifying memories of life because in such days when he needs attention like a child you gave him what he needed MOST.Very touching last paras Jimmy.Thank you for sharing this beautiful part of your memories with us

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am really happy that you enjoyed this Baili, family memories are a blessing and I am proud to share some of ours with you.

      Taking care of Cindy's Dad Ray is an honor for me, I just hope we have a lot more Friday night pizzas with him.

      Delete
  25. Wonderful family traditions to build and maintain.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by, jump in and tell me what you think, or just say Hi, I really appreciate your comments.