OKLA-Homemade: Pizza Party
Pizza: The Common Denominator
Feeding a family is always a challenge. Finding common ground among three, four or five people can be next to impossible. Pizza has the ability to unite nearly all of us. With a little creativity, there is a pizza option for everyone: kids, adults, veggie lovers, meat lovers, dairy free, gluten free—whatever your tastes and dietary needs may be.
My kids love to help in the cooking process. I like to do a little prep work (make the dough, lay out the sauce and toppings) and then pull out the stools and let the kids climb up and get to work. Let your kids really get their hands in there and get messy—you cannot mess up pizza!—and they will be so proud of something they created themselves.
I always encourage my kids to try one new addition on their pizzas, whether that is a new sauce, a different cheese or an innovative vegetable. But if red sauce and mozzarella is what they choose, that is OK too because I can create my own exactly the way I want it. And this is what makes our entire family happy.
Recently we have experimented with alternative doughs like cauliflower and yucca. Cauliflower crust is gluten free and vegetarian. It has a mild flavor, which allows for a variety of toppings and is a great way to introduce your kids to a new vegetable they might not be willing to try on its own. You can also skip the sauce and toppings and use the crust as a base for cheese sticks with a little warm red sauce for dipping.
My favorite alternative dough is made from yucca root. This starchy, mild-flavored vegetable makes an incredible base for any topping you choose to add. It also happens to be vegan and gluten free, allowing you to serve it to all of your guests.
Our Pizza Party
Sauces:
Red (tomato) sauce, pesto, olive oil
Cheeses:
Fresh and shredded mozzarella, blue, goat, ricotta
Toppings:
Cherry tomatoes
Sautéed mushrooms
Peppers
Pepperoni
Sausage
Prosciutto
Bacon
Figs
Asparagus
Lemon zest
Balsamic vinegar
Kids’ favorite combo
Red sauce, shredded mozzarella, pepperoni eyes, mushroom nose, sausage smile (on traditional or yucca crust).
Adult favorite combos
• Pesto, mozzarella, halved cherry tomatoes on yucca crust
• Chicago-style stuffed pizza with whole-wheat crust and sausage
• Olive oil, mozzarella, blue cheese, figs on yucca crust with balsamic drizzle
• Red sauce, mozzarella, sautéed mushrooms on cauliflower crust with mushroom butter
