grandma's cookbook - Homemade Mini Pizza!

When you think about cooking with children, choose recipes they can have a real part in  helping to prepare . . . one great recipe is homemade unique mini-pizzas! The recipe is pretty straightforward, but it is one your grandchildren can literally "get their hands into" and really help prepare a meal for the family to enjoy!

All you have to do is mix the dough and then let them shape their own pizza into whatever shape they want. They will be able to add the toppings they want and then, when it is baked, they will be able to enjoy the pizzas they made! This is delicious so be sure to have a camera handy!

You will find the recipe and directions below so you can have fun with your grandchildren making mini pizzas! Enjoy!

Pizza Dough -

• 2 1/2 to 3 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons of active dry yeast
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup arm water
• 2 Tablespoons oil

Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, the yeast and salt; add water and oil and beat with mixer on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on high speed for 3 minutes. Add as much of the remaining flour as you can then kneed six to eight minutes to make a moderately stiff dough which is smooth and elastic. Cover; let rest for 10 minutes. You can easily allow your grandchildren to help measure and add ingredients and give them a turn at kneading! This is a great project for more than one grandchild as they can take turns kneading - children do love playing with dough!

Preheat oven to 425 degrees and grease cookie sheets. Divide dough in half and then divide each half into four portions. Roll and stretch each dough ball into 6-inch circles . . . or allow them to make whatever shape they like for their own, unique pizza! Then prick dough with a fork and bake for eight minutes. This is another part of this recipe you can let your grandchildren help with! They will enjoy flattening the dough balls - just be sure there are no tears or holes in your final portions! Show them how to prick the dough with a fork and let them do this part, too!

Top baked pizza crusts with whatever toppings you like - each grandchild may top their own pizza with their favorite toppings - each one is likely to be unique . . . just like the person who made it! Bake again for about seven minutes and enjoy!

Talk with your grandchildren about how God created each of the ingredients they used to make their pizzas - lead them in thanking God for the good gifts He gives us! Talk with your grandchildren about how God made their hands so they could move and mix and knead and do all the things they did to make the pizzas and how their hands are unique . . . just as each of them are! Allow your grandchildren to hear you thank God for the wonderful gift He gave you when He gave you each of your unique grandchildren!