Cooking with Kids: Pizza Pizza Daddy-O

I haven’t ever met a person under the age of 18 that doesn’t LOVE pizza. Most kids will eat it any day of the week. My kids not only love cheese pizza, but they really enjoy the process of making it with me.

When you have three kids, it’s important to divvy up the work so that everyone gets a job in the pizza making process. I usually let my little one help with the dough. He loves dumping things into the mixer and ‘using his muscles’ for the kneading.

The girls enjoy being on topping patrol. My oldest likes spreading the sauce and my other daughter loves sprinkling the cheese. If your kids are older, and have a taste for other toppings, you can give everyone their own, smaller dough and let them be creative with mushrooms, onions, broccoli, and various meats.

Homemade pizza tastes really great and my kids always seem to eat much more when they had a hand in the process. I love how proud they are of the finished product. Cooking with kids is fun and educational. Roll up your sleeves and give it a try!

Pizza Pizza Daddy-O

Makes

Serves
Prep time: Total time:

1 envelope Active Dry Yeast
1 cup warm tap water
2 cups AP flour
½ cup cake flour
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 cup Sunday Sauce
16 oz shredded mozzarella cheese

In a large cup, empty yeast over warm water and stir vigorously until combined. Allow to sit 5 minutes for yeast to activate. Once it bubbles up, it’s ready.
In a standing mixer, pour in yeasted water, salt, sugar and olive oil. Then, begin to add flour, ½ cup at a time. Once a shaggy dough is formed, remove from bowl to a floured surface and knead for ten minutes. If dough is wet, add more flour, one tablespoon at a time. After ten minutes of kneading, dough should be uniform and smooth.
Form dough into a ball and place in a large, oiled bowl. Cover with saran wrap and a dish towel. Place in a warm spot for at least one hour. (I like putting my dough to rise in the microwave. Just don’t turn it on!) Dough should double in size.
After one hour, punch dough down and place on a 9x13 baking sheet. Allow dough to sit for ten minutes. After ten minutes, begin to pull ends of the dough to the corners of the baking sheet until it fits and becomes thin.
Cover with sauce and cheese.
Bake at 500 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes when cheese is bubbling and edges are golden brown.

Buon Appetito!

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