Who doesn’t love pizza? It’s fun to order a pie or go out for a slice, but what about making your own? The kids will love helping out in the kitchen and concocting their own tasty recipes. You don’t even have to be a master at making dough. You can use sliced English Muffins, pita rounds, puff pastry or even thick toasted bread. Pizza night will never be the same again!
Four Cheese Gooey Delight
Mmmmm… cheese! Cheese lovers, rejoice. This four cheese recipe can be altered to suit your taste and favorite cheese combos. You can even swap in low-fat cheeses for a less fattening option, but remember, a little cheese goes a long way, especially for little mouths. You can use tomato sauce if you like, but on the four cheese blend, I like to leave off the sauce so the cheesy flavors shine. Your best bet for melting is to use shredded or finely sliced cheese. Go for mozzarella, Monterey Jack, Swiss, and ricotta for an all-white pizza. Or make it a “Tex-Mex” with cheddar, peppered cheese, nacho cheese sauce, and American. This one would taste great with a dollop of salsa on top. Any combo you like can be arranged on the bread type of your choosing and heated in the oven or toaster oven until the cheese melts and the pizza looks golden brown.
Very Veggie
If you can’t get your kids to eat their vegetables, they sure will love them when they’re on top of a pizza they made themselves. Top the bread of your choice with a thin layer of tomato sauce. You can even blend pureed veggies into the sauce to make this veggie pizza even more nutritious. Dice up some green peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, zucchini, and other veggies you and the kids would like to try and arrange them on top of the sauce. Sprinkle on some shredded mozzarella and add some Parmesan if you’re looking for a bolder flavor. Again, heat in the oven or toaster oven until golden brown and you’ve got a healthy pizza the kids will devour. Veggies are back on the menu!
Sweet as Pie
While pizza is usually a savory dish, who said you can’t make a sweeter version? This sweet pizza is great for breakfast or an after-school snack. I like to use an English Muffin for the sweet pizzas, but you can use whatever type of bread you like best. Mini cinnamon raisin bagels would make for a delicious base too. Top each side with your favorite jelly or jam, or spread a thin layer of honey over each slice. Top that with a thin layer of ricotta or cream cheese. Thinly slice some strawberries, bananas, peaches, or other favorite fruits (I don’t recommend citrus fruits for this recipe) and lay them over the cheese. Pop into the oven or toaster oven until golden brown. Sprinkle with some cinnamon sugar or brown sugar right before serving. Sounds pretty sweet to me!
BBQ Chicken Pizzas
Is your mouth already watering? I like to use a thick, crusty bread for this recipe to hold the weight of the chicken, but feel free to use whatever you like the best. Top your bread with BBQ sauce, thinly sliced tomatoes and red peppers, sautéed onions, and pre-cooked, shredded chicken tossed in BBQ sauce. Top the chicken with a dash of parsley, black pepper and some crushed garlic. Pop the pizza in the oven or toaster oven until fully heated and golden brown. This pizza would go well with a side of cole slaw or corn-on-the-cob to make for a full meal.
With all these tasty pizza options you can make at home, you can lose the number to your local pizzeria today! Do you make your own pizza? What’s your favorite recipe?
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By: Melissa A. Kay