Major Benjy, Georgie and Two Pizzas

"I always knew the man was a milliner."

When I started making hats twenty years ago a big source of my inspiration were the characters in a series of books by E.F. Benson called "Make Way For Lucia".

The two lead females, Lucia and Miss Mapp were always competing for the top spot in Tilling society, the small village where they lived.  Lucia's best friend was Georgie and Miss Mapp ends up married to Major Benjy.  These two also had plenty to say to each other.

Major Benjy was a man's man, he drank whiskey, played golf and generally looked down upon Georgie's more feminine nature.  Georgie loved to embroider, play piano duets with Lucia and dress to the nines.  Hence the comment about Georgie, made by Major Benjy.

I recommend both the books and the PBS series called "Mapp and Lucia".  It is set in the 1920's with clothes and hats to match.

Yesterday I made two pizzas and as my husband pointed out, one was more masculine and one more feminine.

Dough for Two Pizzas

Makes 2 9" pizzas

Make a sponge by mixing together:
1/4 cup lukewarm water
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/4 cup Zazu & Violets' all-purpose gluten free flour mix

Let rise in a warm place 20-30 minutes, then add:
1/2 cup lukewarm water 
1 tbs. milk
2 tbs. olive oil
1 tsp. salt
1 3/4 cups Zazu & Violets' all-purpose gluten free flour mix
4 tsp. xanthan gum

Mix the dough with a wooden spoon, then turn out onto a floured board.  Knead until smooth adding a little more flour if it gets too sticky.  Normally you would knead to develop the gluten, but in this case you just want a dough where all the ingredients are well incorporated.  Put the dough in an oiled bowl and rub with a little olive oil to keep it from drying out.  Cover with a towel and put in a warm place to rise for 1 1/2 hours.  It doesn't rise as much as a wheat dough, but the end result is surprisingly similar.

While the dough is rising, prepare your toppings.

Masculine Pizza Toppings


1 big red bell pepper, cut into chunks, sauteed in olive oil (cover while cooking so it steams a bit to become very tender), then puree.
1 big handful of broccolini, peel and dice the stems, cut the florets in half if they are big.  Cook the same as the bell pepper, but don't puree.
1/2 cup sharp English cheddar
1 cup fresh mozzarella, cut into matchstick size pieces.
4 slices prosciutto, torn into pieces


Feminine Pizza Toppings


1/2 of a sweet potato, peeled and sliced thin on a mandolin, sauteed in olive oil on both sides until golden, but not too crispy.
1/2 fennel bulb, sliced thin and sauteed in olive oil until tender.
4 ounces goat cheese, mixed with 1 tbs. chopped thyme, zest and juice of 1 small lemon, and 1 tbs. olive oil.
1/2 cup grated Parmagiano-Reggiano.
1 tbs. chopped fennel fronds

Put a pizza stone in the oven, pre-heat the oven to 500 degrees.

Divide the dough in half, keeping one half covered while you make the first pizza.  On a floured board, roll the dough into a 9" circle, the edges will be a little uneven due to no gluten in the dough, it just looks more rustic.  For the masculine pizza, layer the pureed bell pepper, then the cheddar cheese, the broccolini, the Parmagiano-Reggiano and finish with the prosciutto.  Slide the pizza onto the stone and bake for 12 minutes until the cheese is golden and the crust is browned.  I form my pizzas on a small pizza paddle.

For the feminine pizza, roll out the remaining dough and layer on the sweet potato slices, cooked fennel, dot with the goat cheese mix, and sprinkle with the parmagiano.  Slide onto the stone and bake for 10 minutes, until the goat cheese is lightly browned.  Sprinkle with the fennel fronds before serving.

We were going to have a baby lettuce salad alongside, but we ate too much delicious pizza!

To see the latest collection of Zazu & Violets' hats, please visit our on-line Etsy shop.