What new technologies and recipes have in common

Many of you, better all of you, are for surely asking themselves the following question: what do new technologies and cooking have to do with each other? Well, at first sight, I would say nothing. I could have simply created a blog talking of new technologies (of which I know nothing). Or one discussing about recipes with the purpose of becoming the new Nigella (yeah, right). Nonetheless there is more similarity between new technologies and cooking than what you may think. For some people PCs and IT have no secrets, they can hacker the NASA system in 2 seconds. But then they are barely able to crack an egg and cooking looks like an obscure discipline.
As a matter of fact my understanding and consequent use of information systems related tools is almost equal to zero. Mention me words like firefox, RSS feed, twitter, google docs and my expression will not exactly be that of a smart person. I am barely able to switch on my PC and until 3 weeks ago I did not have a Facebook profile. But when it comes to cooking I am pretty successful.
I am deeply convinced that everybody can learn to cook, even those who think that they are hopeless. It is much easier than what it looks like from the outside, and, above all, funnier. Thus I am sure that the same can be said for new technologies. I could become a geek if only somebody had time and will and passion (yes, passion is mandatory) to explain me how they work in simple terms. In both cases you have different ingredients, you just need to know how to pick and combine them to obtain your delicious dish.

The other reason why I have decided to post recipes while discussing about new technologies is that, since always, it is much better talking in front of a good meal and glass of wine. Thus this blog is going to be a virtual cafe where you can meet other IT geeks like you to discuss about that new browser while deciding what to prepare for dinner.

So, ready, set, go!

Hereby you will find the first recipe of this long journey in the worlds of IT and cookery. The idea has come to me yesterday while listening to my information systems teacher Enrique Dans when he was dropping names about browers, social networks, PC brands. I couldn't help thinking about a Pizza Capricciosa. The thin pasta (your PC) where you start adding the tomato sauce (browser) and all the other ingredients like mozzarella, mushrooms, artichokes, olives (facebook, gmail, twitter, myspace). You look at the pizza and you see all that stuff randomly hanging out on it. This is how I perceive the infomation systems world right now: a mess! So enjoy your pizza and your first contact with new technologies.

Pizza Capricciosa

Ingredients

For the dough
Flour 300 gr.
Yeast 20 gr.
Warm Water 250 ml
Extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons
Salt a pinch

For the topping
Tomato sauce 400gr.
Mozzarella cheese 250gr.
Button mushrooms preserved in oil 60gr.
Small artichokes preserved in oil 60gr.
Black olives 60gr.
Green solives 60gr.
Extra virgin olive oil 3 spoonfuls

Preparation

Put the flour into a wide bowl, add the yeast cut into small pieces and then the warm water, a little at a time. Start mixing the ingredients, then add the oil and the salt. At this point mix again until you obtain a smooth dough. Form a ball and make a cut on the top and cover it with a clean cloth waiting it rise until it's double the size.
At this point roll out the dough with your fingers inside a pizza pie dish previously greased.
You can now start adding the other ingredients: first of all the tomato sauce, spread it on the top using a spoon, add the mozzarella cheese cut in small pieces, then spread the olives, the artichokes, and mushrooms. If you like it, you can add some more olive oil and a pinch of salt.
Bake the pizza in the pre-heated oven at a temperature of 200 degress for about 15 minutes.
Cut it in slices and serve hot.