| Just about any time is a good time for kids to make | | | | toppings onto the saucy crust. Your child can sprinkle |
| pizza, don't you think? Here are some steps to help | | | | mozzarella, or experiment with provolone, feta, |
| create a positive pizza-making experience for you and | | | | gorgonzola, or parmesan. |
| your children. | | | | Don't forget the all-important toppings. Kids have their |
| Plan it out ahead of time and talk it over with your kids. | | | | standard favorites but let them know there are more |
| Give them options - kids love choices. What exactly | | | | toppings available and they can taste pretty good! |
| do they want their pizza to be? What do they want | | | | Again, they can use their wonderful imaginations. |
| on it? Do they want it baked on a cookie sheet and | | | | Here are some ideas for toppings: |
| cut in squares? There's no one type of pizza, and they | | | | Vegetablesgreen onions, garlic, red peppers, potato |
| may even want to make a couple of different ones. | | | | chunks, asparagus tips, red onion slices, broccoli, cherry |
| Maybe they'll invent their own signature pizza! | | | | tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh spinach, red onion |
| Start with the crust. There are simple recipes for | | | | slices |
| crusts in your favorite cookbook that kids can easily | | | | Herbsoregano, basil, rosemary, cilantro, dill, parsley, |
| do, but if that seems like too much, grab a ready-made | | | | sage, thyme |
| crust from the supermarket. Help may be needed to | | | | Meatshamburger, sausage, pepperoni, grilled chicken, |
| get the dough spread out evenly with the homemade | | | | Canadian bacon, breakfast bacon, ham, taco meat |
| crusts. The kids will get better at it the more they do it. | | | | Help your child be successful with the pizza-making |
| There are some tricks to help them such as greasing | | | | process by assembling all the ingredients before they |
| or flouring their hands first, and letting the dough rest | | | | start. Depending on their abilities in the kitchen, plan on |
| halfway through the stretching-it-out process. | | | | helping with the washing, chopping, and cheese |
| The next step is the sauce. It doesn't have to be from | | | | shredding. |
| scratch, nor does it have to be traditional pizza sauce. | | | | Before they know it, the pizza will be out of the oven |
| It can be a bottled pizza sauce, alfredo sauce, | | | | and on the table ready to be devoured. Your kids will |
| barbeque sauce, pesto sauce, or olive oil glaze. Let | | | | be proud to serve up their signature creations. Maybe |
| your child decide. | | | | every other Friday will become pizza night at your |
| Third in line is the cheese. It's like the glue that holds the | | | | house. |