Humble Pie

It is a given that nobody likes to pay taxes even though they fund libraries, mass transit, schools, hospitals, and parks to name just a few of the more visible and used  services.

Not even the people who are responsible for writing the tax code, like Tom Daschle. In fact, twice last week I found myself in Never-Never Land conversations with acquaintances who felt that both Daschle and Geithner have no place in the administration given their tax “over sights”. Why Never-Never Land? Because these are two individuals who have some “explainin’ to do” themselves.

One was someone who hadn’t paid his own taxes for, oh, let’s just say a few years and found himself saddled with a heavy burden of interest and back taxes. The other was someone who’s wife is pregnant, on mat leave, is working for cash out of her home while taking government money, and who is incensed that she is being audited, yet again. And they talk about Daschle and Geithner?

It is a given that we expect more from our government officials. After all, they establish the rules that we are all supposed to live by. When they fail to do so, not only do their penalties seem far less severe than when it happens to us, they go on to positions of greater glory after a few humiliating, grovels in front of congressional committees…whose own members probably couldn’t sustain the same level of scrutiny without discovering that they too neglected to count the car, the plane, the dinners, the theatre tickets, the Super Bowl box, as a deemed benefit of some sort. But that’s another story.

There was something touching and painful watching Geither tell his inquisitors that he did his own taxes; that he used Turbotax to generate his 1040 and that he made a big mistake. As smart and as rich as he is, even he could make a really, really stupid mistake.

Imagine the kinds of stupid mistakes the rest of us can make: one year our accountant put a total on the wrong line. We signed the form. Yes, we read it but we hired him to do the math.  The penalty was beyond painful. To the IRS there is no such thing as a “mistake”.

The accountant said “things happen” and took no responsibility. Geithner had only himself to blame, and unlike my two friends, bore public consequence of admitting his error on television .

David Brooks, that Republican-Democrat or Democratic-Republican, I’m not sure which,  said on WNED a few nights ago that to lose Daschle over taxes was a loss to the government greater than the ethical lapse of not paying the taxes. If that isn’t a slippery slope, I don’t know what is.

At least Obama is a man who learns quickly and owned up to having made a mistake by continuing to support Daschle’s nomination. Maybe the president’s example of going on national television to eat humble pie will resonate with my tax-evading friends.

Somehow I doubt it. It’s so much easier to blame the government for your woes than to look within. Bitterness lasts longer on the tongue than sweetness.

Humble Pizza Pie

Makes 2 pies

This is a cheese-less pie. Of course, if you have money leftover after paying your taxes, you can use it to buy the best cheese you can afford, like taleggio which melts beautifully, or imported bufala mozzarella, in which case you might want to substitute fresh basil for the parsley.

Semolina Dough

3 cups Italian 00 flour

1/2 cup semolina flour

1/4 tsp yeast

1 Tbsp olive oil

2 tsp kosher salt

about 1 cup lukewarm water

1/2 cup tomato sauce

1 cup sliced mushrooms, tossed in oil, sauteed until they release their juices

1/2 red onion, sliced thinly, tossed in olive oil

1 cup diced, cooked chicken

chopped fresh parsley

Four hours, but better still, 24 hours before you want to eat, make the crust.

1. Mix the flours, yeast and salt in a bowl.
2. Gradually add the water mixing with a rubber spatula or your hand.
3. Scrape the dough off your hand when it almost comes together in a single ball.
   
4. Cover and let sit for 20 minutes.
5. Remove from the bowl and knead for about 5 minutes or until the dough is silky smooth and a bit tacky. It should stick to your hand for a few seconds before falling when you hold the dough ball in your hand, turn your palm towards the counter and let the dough fall.
6. Lightly oil a plastic bag and place the ball inside. Let it rest and rise for 4 hours or place in the fridge overnight.
7. Remove it from the fridge about two hours before using so it can both warm up and rise even more.
8. Preheat your oven to 450F. Have two pieces of parchment paper at hand the size of your pizza.
   
9. Lightly dust the counter with flour. Divide the dough in half.
10. Use your finger tips to dimple and flatten the dough turning all the while to keep it round. If it starts to resist and shrink back, cover the dough with plastic wrap and let it rest for 10 minutes before resuming. You can also us a rolling pin to roll it but it’s much more satisfying to do it by hand.
11. Place the dough on a piece of parchment paper.
12. Use the back of a soup spoon to spread a thin layer of tomato sauce within about a half inch of the edge of the pie. if you like a bigger crust, leave more room.
13. Sprinkle half cooked mushrooms over the pie.
    
14. Sprinkle half the onions and half the cooked chicken on top of the pie.
15. Repeat with the second pizza.
16. Slide pizza(s) into the oven. Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until the the edges bottom of the pizza is nicely browned.
    
17. Drizzle the top with some spicy olive oil, brush the edges with it or plain olive oil, sprinkle some coarse salt and chopped basil parsly on top.
    
18. Mmm, mmm!
    

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