What's Your Favorite Topping?

The second week of cooking class the kids got pretty excited about making their very own pizza.  Some were disappointed when I told them our topping for the day was cheese.  "That's it?" some asked.  I let them know that for everyone's sake that would be the best choice but that they could create a special pizza at the end of class.  They were intrigued and at the end of class they found out they got to color their favorite toppings onto a paper pizza.  We have those pictures in their cook books that will be coming home at the end of the semester.  The kids enjoyed rolling out their own pizza dough and even got creative with the shape of the pizzas.  They especially liked tasting them at the end of class and at lunchtime.  I hope you'll have the chance at home to have a pizza night and use what ever your favorite toppings are on your very own mini pizzas.

Mini Pizzas

dough ingredients

2 1/4 white or whole wheat self-rising flour (plus extra for dusting)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 - 2/3 cups milk

4 Tablespoons olive oil

topping ingredients

tomato sauce or marinara sauce

5 - 6 oz ball of mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup cheddar cheese

useful equipment

sieve

large mixing bowl

fork

rolling pin

2 large baking sheets or pizza pans

spoon or rubber spatula

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Sift the flour and salt into a mixing bowl, and then make a well in the center of the mixture.  Pour the milk and oil into the well.  Mix with a fork until the flour and liquids start to come together and form a soft dough.  Lightly dust a work top and your hands with flour.  Tip the dough out of the bowl and knead it for about 1 minute to form a smooth ball.  Dust 2 baking sheets with flour.  Divide the dough in smaller balls (depends on how many mini pizzas are being made).  Using a rolling pin, roll each piece into a circle.  Carefully place the dough circles on each baking sheet.  Top each dough circle with some tomato sauce or marinara sauce.  Using the back of the spoon or a rubber spatula, spread the sauce in an even layer almost to the edge of the pizza dough.  Slice the mozzarella ball into small slices.  Add the mozzarella and any other toppings.  Top with the cheddar cheese.  Bake the pizzas for 10 minutes or until the dough has risen and the top is golden.