Et c'est là l'histoire de Manon Lescaut

When I picked her up on Wednesday night from dress rehearsal, she was in tears.

"I'm getting sick!" she croaked. "I'm losing my voice! They fitted my understudy for a dress, but I will not miss opening night!" She wiped the tears away as she stage whispered her intent.

Is there anything sadder than a Drama Queen with a head cold the night before opening night?

I put her in the shower when we got home. And at 10pm, I called Red Cross Disaster Relief and asked for advice.

My Grams (who really is a Red Cross Disaster Relief expert) suggested gargling - salt water and Listerine. Also, tea with honey and lemon.

I fed the puffy-eyed starlet tea and oranges and put her to bed. I let her sleep in the next morning. I roasted chicken and made broth with lots of garlic. I lysoled the house.

"I'm going to my makeup call," my brave Diva said when she awakened from her afternoon nap. Her voice really did sound better.

The show, as everyone knows, always goes on. Luckily this one went on with Anna. She glowed bright in her bright orange dress and hat. Her cold lent a huskiness to her character's Southern accent that was appealing.

Mary and I brought her flowers and hugged her afterwards as she whispered in my ear, "My voice is gone again." She grinned ear to ear and accepted hugs and congratulations. A good opening night cures nearly everything. :-)

We repeated the shower, gargle, tea ritual when we got home last night. This morning I made her a big thermos of hot water with lemon and honey.

"Liza Minelli swears by hot water and lemon with honey," I said.

"I love Liza Minelli!" Anna exclaimed.

"Sh. No unnecessary talking," I reminded her. "No volunteering answers in Spanish class."

Her barking laughter wracked her little body as she literally shuddered at the thought of volunteering in Spanish.

The glow of opening night will get her through school and the performance tonight. She can sleep in on Saturday before the last show.

I am glad this story had a happy ending.

Harvest

I brought the herbs and tomatoes in before the snow. I have a pile of green tomatoes (Usually I hang the plants by their roots in the basement and the tomatoes continue to ripen. The plants I had this year were too unwieldly for that.)

So, green tomato rice, green tomato relish, and green tomato pizza. I added the optional bacon. And also mushrooms. Bill and I agreed that this pizza was really good. From Southern Living - (and why are all green tomato recipes southern? I would think they would be from Minnesota or Nebraska.)

Green Tomato Pizza

* ***Crust***
* 2 cups bread flour
* 1 scant teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon sugar
* 1/2 cup warm water, 110°
* 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
* 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon olive oil
* 1/4 cup warm or room temperature water
* ***Sauce and Toppings***
* 2 cloves garlic, smashed and finely minced
* 3 tablespoons olive oil
* 2 medium green tomatoes, sliced very thinly (about 1/8-inch thickness)
* coarsely ground black pepper
* kosher salt or sea salt
* Mozzarella cheese, about 2 ounces, or as desired

Preparation:
In the bowl of stand mixer combine bread flour with salt and sugar.

In a 2 cup measuring cup, sprinkle the yeast over 1/2 cup of warm (110° ) water. Let stand until yeast is softened. Add the 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon of olive oil and remaining water to the yeast mixture. Add to the dry mixture, stirring with the paddle attachment until well moistened. Switch to the dough hook and mix for about 2 minutes.

Oil a large bowl and transfer the dough to the bowl (it will be tacky). Turn so the dough is oiled all over. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm draft-free place until doubled, about 1 to 1 1/4 hours.

Meanwhile, put the 2 tablespoons of olive oil with the garlic in a saucepan over low heat. Heat until the oil is hot and aromatic. You don't want to cook the garlic, just flavor the oil. Set aside.

Heat oven to 400°.

Transfer the dough to a floured surface and sprinkle a little flour over the top. Pat/roll the dough into a circle or rectangle about 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch thick, depending on the pan you're using. Shape doesn't really matter. Transfer to a lightly oiled pan.

Brush the dough generously with the garlic oil mixture.

Arrange tomato slices, overlapping slightly, over the dough. Sprinkle lightly with the coarsely ground pepper and salt, then sprinkle cheese over all.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until lightly browned.