Cheese Pizza: Kid-Friendly Food Pairings For A Delicious Meal

There are many foods that can accompany a cheese pizza for kids. For example, carrot sticks and healthy ranch dressing are a great way to get kids to eat their veggies while still enjoying their pizza. Pizza grilled cheese is another fun option, as well as pizza mac, pizza bagels, and pizza pepperoni bites. When making pizza at home, kids can also get creative with their toppings. For example, they can add sun-dried tomatoes, artichokes, roasted red peppers, or even pickles!

Pizza dough: a mixture of warm water, sugar, flour, oil, and salt

Pizza dough is a simple mixture of warm water, sugar, flour, oil, and salt. The dough can be made by hand or with a hand-held or stand mixer. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make pizza dough:

Ingredients

First, gather your ingredients. You will need:

• Warm water (about 100-110°F or 38-43°C)
• Sugar (white or granulated)
• Flour (unbleached all-purpose white flour or bread flour)
• Oil (extra virgin) olive oil
• Salt

You can also add some cornmeal for dusting the pan, and yeast to help the dough rise.

Mixing the Dough

Combine the warm water, sugar, and yeast in a large bowl and let it rest for a few minutes until the yeast becomes bubbly and frothy. Then, add the olive oil, salt, and flour. Mix the ingredients together until a soft dough forms. You can do this by hand or using a mixer with a dough hook attachment.

Kneading the Dough

Knead the dough by hand or with a mixer for about 5 minutes. If the dough becomes too sticky, sprinkle a small amount of flour at a time until it becomes soft and slightly tacky. The dough is ready when you can poke it with your finger and it slowly bounces back.

Rising the Dough

Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl and cover it with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel. Let the dough rise at room temperature for about 60-90 minutes, or until it doubles in size. Alternatively, you can let the dough rise slowly in the refrigerator for 8-12 hours, which will give it a more complex flavor.

Shaping the Dough

Once the dough has risen, punch it down to release any air bubbles and divide it in half if you are making two pizzas. On a lightly floured surface, gently flatten the dough into a disc and stretch it into a circle, about 12 inches wide and 1/2 inch thick. You can use a rolling pin or stretch it with your hands.

Baking the Pizza

Preheat your oven to a high temperature, around 450-500°F (230-260°C). Prepare your baking sheet or pizza pan by greasing it with olive oil and sprinkling cornmeal. Place the shaped dough on the pan and add your desired toppings. Bake the pizza for about 10-20 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted.

Making pizza dough from scratch is a fun and rewarding experience, especially when making it with kids. It may take some time and practice to perfect your dough, but the end result will be a delicious, homemade pizza that everyone can enjoy!

Pizza sauce: a blend of crushed tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, balsamic vinegar, and seasonings

Pizza sauce is an essential component of any pizza, and making it from scratch is a simple and rewarding process. This guide will take you through the ingredients and steps to make a delicious pizza sauce that will impress kids and adults alike.

Ingredients

• Crushed Tomatoes: The base of your pizza sauce. You can use canned crushed tomatoes or blend whole peeled or diced tomatoes in a food processor until you achieve the desired consistency. Avoid tomatoes with added spices, herbs, or flavours.
• Olive Oil: This enhances the overall flavour and texture of the sauce. Extra-virgin olive oil is recommended for its rich flavour.
• Garlic: Fresh garlic adds a bright flavour to the sauce. You can mince, crush, or chop it finely before adding it to the sauce.
• Balsamic Vinegar: An atypical ingredient, but a splash of balsamic vinegar offers subtle complexity to the sauce.
• Seasonings: Salt and pepper are essential for enhancing the flavours of the sauce. You can also add dried oregano for an Italian flair. Additionally, a small amount of sugar (such as coconut or brown sugar) can be used to balance the acidity of the tomatoes.

Instructions

• Prep Time: Gather and prepare your ingredients. Chop or mince the garlic, and if using whole or diced tomatoes, blend them in a food processor until crushed.
• Blend: In a food processor or blender, combine the crushed tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, balsamic vinegar, and seasonings. Process the mixture for 20 to 30 seconds or until it reaches your desired consistency.
• Use: This pizza sauce is ready to use immediately and requires no cooking. Simply spoon it onto your pizza dough and spread it evenly. This sauce is sufficient for 8 to 12 medium pizzas, depending on your preferred sauce-to-pizza ratio.
• Storage: You can refrigerate any unused sauce for up to a week or freeze it for later use. To freeze, spoon the sauce into muffin tins or ice cube trays. Once frozen, pop out the sauce portions and store them in a freezer container for up to 3 months.

Kids' Food Pairings for Cheese Pizza

Now that you have a delicious pizza sauce ready, it's time to think about toppings and side dishes to create a kid-friendly meal. Here are some ideas to make your cheese pizza a hit with the little ones:

• Veggie Toppings: Bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, and olives are classic choices. You can also sneak in some extra veggies like blanched broccoli or cauliflower florets, artichokes, or sun-dried tomatoes.
• Meat Toppings: Pepperoni, bacon, chicken, or sausage can add some extra protein to the pizza. Just be mindful of any dietary restrictions or allergies.
• Personalisation: Let the kids get creative and make their own mini pizzas. Provide a variety of toppings and let them build their unique creations. This is a great way to encourage them to try new foods and develop their culinary skills.
• Side Dishes: Serve the cheese pizza with some ranch dressing, hot sauce, or other dipping options on the side. You can also offer some crudités or a simple salad to round out the meal.
• Pizza Variations: If you're feeling adventurous, try some fun variations like pizza bagels, pizza grilled cheese, or pizza mac and cheese. These creative twists on the classic can make mealtime more exciting for kids.

Cheese: mozzarella, provolone, and parmesan are popular choices

Mozzarella, provolone, and parmesan are all popular cheese choices for pizza. Each has its own distinct characteristics and can elevate the taste of the pizza.

Mozzarella is the classic, go-to choice for pizza. It has a milky, tangy flavour and is known for its ooey-gooey, stretchy texture. Fresh milk mozzarella, which comes packaged in plastic, has a rich, milky flavour and is a popular choice for those seeking an "artisan" taste. Low-moisture whole-milk mozzarella, on the other hand, has a salty, tangy flavour similar to salted butter. Both types of mozzarella can be used together, with shredded low-moisture mozzarella acting as the "glue" and fresh mozzarella adding extra gooeyness.

Provolone is another popular pizza cheese, often used in combination with mozzarella. It has a milder flavour and is commonly associated with the classic taste of a "run-of-the-mill pizzeria pizza." Provolone also offers good stretchability, forming those delightful, dangling, thin, elastic stripes of cheese.

Parmesan, while not as commonly used as the previous two, can be a great addition to a pizza. Grated parmesan acts as a barrier between the crust and the sauce, protecting the crust from getting soggy. It also adds a nice, savoury, salty touch to the pie. A blend of aged Parmesan, Asiago, and sharp cheddar can be an excellent choice, resulting in a soft, sliceable, and highly meltable cheese topping.

When making pizza for kids, it is essential to consider their preferences and taste buds. The mild, stretchy, and gooey characteristics of mozzarella make it a safe and popular choice. Provolone's mild flavour and good stretchability can also be a good option. Parmesan, with its salty and tangy notes, can add an interesting twist, especially when combined with other cheeses.

Remember, you are not limited to just one type of cheese. Feel free to experiment with different combinations to find the perfect blend of flavours and textures that appeal to kids' palates.

Toppings: vegetables, cured meats, and herbs can be added

When making pizza with kids, it's a great idea to let them choose their own toppings. This is a fun way to get them involved in the cooking process and can help them develop their palates. Here are some ideas for vegetables, cured meats, and herbs that can be added to a kid's cheese pizza:

Vegetables

• Bell peppers – red, green, or yellow
• Onions – sliced thinly
• Mushrooms
• Olives
• Roasted red peppers
• Sun-dried tomatoes
• Artichokes
• Pickles
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower

Cured Meats

• Pepperoni – a classic choice that offers equal meat distribution and textural contrast
• Hot soppressata – similar to pepperoni but with a deeper flavour profile and a moister texture
• Sausage – even better when removed from its casing and crumbled over the pizza
• Bacon – for an irresistible crunch
• Prosciutto – a rich and complex flavour developed through months of curing
• Meatballs – usually a blend of beef and pork, sliced thinly for pizza

Herbs

• Basil
• Oregano
• Parsley
• Garlic
• Rosemary

Kids can also get involved in growing these herbs and vegetables, creating a "pizza garden" to encourage an interest in gardening and healthy eating.

Sides: carrot sticks, salads, and dips can accompany the pizza

When serving pizza to kids, it's a good idea to offer some sides to go with it. Carrot sticks, salads, and dips are all great options that can be easily prepared and will appeal to young taste buds.

Carrot sticks are a healthy, crunchy option that can be paired with a dip of your choice. You can cut the carrots into thin or thick sticks, depending on what kids prefer.

Salads are another healthy side dish that can accompany pizza. A simple arugula salad with no dressing is easy to prepare and goes well with pizza. For something a little more substantial, a spinach apple salad with glazed pecans and apple and pear slices is a tasty option that can be prepared in just a few minutes.

Dips can also be a fun addition to pizza night. A healthy ranch dressing served with veggie sticks is a good option, or you could try something different like a homemade Italian dressing for dipping.

When serving pizza to kids, it's important to remember that they may be more interested in the taste and fun of eating than in a perfectly balanced meal. So, offering a variety of sides and letting them choose what they want to eat is a great way to ensure they get some nutrients while also enjoying their meal.

Additionally, getting kids involved in the kitchen can make mealtimes more engaging and encourage them to try new foods. They can help prepare the sides, or even make their own personal pizzas with their choice of toppings.

Frequently asked questions