It's a Miracle! (and a great recipe for fruit pizza)

I, Suzie Eller, noncook, nonfoodie, married into a family who came out of the womb knowing how to bake sweet bread, turn out perfect pie crusts, and with a pinch of this and a pinch of that create delicious dishes. When the holidays come around I don't have a chance of competing with the rows of deserts and side dishes that fill the table. And then last year, the miracle happened.

Richard's family is large. In my family it was me, my parents, and siblings. I had cousins and grandparents. We just didn't see them, and to this day I don't know many of their names. Richard's dad had 10 brothers and sisters, who had birthed children, who had birthed more children, who were now birthing children. And they all live in a 60-mile radius. They were are a loud, lively, fun and warm family who love each other and who look at holidays as a time to eat, play cards, and catch up on old times.

It was overwhelming the first time I met all of them, to say the least. But I loved them. And now, after giving birth to three children of my own, I am grateful to be one of the family.

I did learn to cook and I'm not bad at it. Richard's better; it's in his genes after all. But holidays are a time when most of the women in this family shine. It's not a competition, but when 150 people get together and most of them are amazing cooks, I can't help but admire the creativity and deliciousness of some of the dishes, especially the deserts. Every year I brought my baked from a recipe or mixed from a box desert, not even trying. My best from scratch wouldn't stand up the worst stirred in their sleep from this group of women. So I happily ate what was offered and then brought my desert home (usually with one slice missing -- a sympathy slice from my husband or one of my children).

Until last year. That's when the miracle happened. I brought a favorite dish of my children's. Fruit Pizza. It's easy to make. They love it. And Leslie asked if I would bring it.

When it was time for desert I walked to the tables. There was a clamor around one dish. Whose was it? Had Darlene made something new? Had Saundra made "better than sex" pie again?

And then I realized that it was my dish. People were cutting small slices so the person next to them could have one too. By the time my children and I got to it, it was gone.

This year I've been requested to bring two, and to actually make three, leaving one at home for the kiddos when we get home.

It only took 28 years of marriage to finally be considered an Eller cook, and if you follow the recipe you'll see that I'm a fraud. This doesn't take skill or an inborn gift of cooking. But it's pretty, and it tastes amazing, and it might just be your miracle on the Thanksgiving table this year.

Fruit Pizza

one sugar cookie roll dough

one strawberry glaze (produce department)

one cream cheese (do not use light)

one marshmellow cream

fruit (seasonal, not frozen strawberries, kiwi, blueberries, bananas (dip in sugarfree lemonlime drink to keep from browing, etc.)

spread cookie dough on round pizza pan, cook until done, cool

mix marshmellow cream and cream cheese together (yes, I know it's fattening, but it's SO good!) and spread on cooled cookie dough crust

spread strawberry glaze over mc/cc topping

arrange cut fruit on top - strawberries, peaches, kiwi, blueberries, rasberries, bananas (dip in diet Sprite to keep from bananas from browning), and any other fresh fruit you like

Eat!