Play With Your Food #2 – Pizza Night
"Let's put on the yellow toppings first Daddy."
This is an old photo because my toddler has been making mini pizzas since she was about 18 months. Now that she’s almost three, she runs the show when it comes to Friday night pizzas!
I cheat by using bought pizza bases, and I like the mini ones because we can all have our preferred toppings. I do know some other mums though who make their own bases. (If anyone would like to share a recipe, leave a comment!)
As my daughter has become more capable with her fine motor skills and more confident in the kitchen, she has been able to take a bigger role in pizza prep. At 18mths her job was to sprinkle selected toppings from small bowls. These days she spreads the sauce with the back of a spoon, selects toppings according to what each member of the family likes, and constructs the pizzas with limited help. Of course I still do all the cutting, as well as opening and draining tins, and putting toppings into child sized bowls. I try to make sure there are different colours (eg capsicums) and shapes (eg mushrooms) in our toppings. I often find she will try an unfamiliar veggie if she has put it onto a pizza herself!
In a few years time I’ll be able to place my order and enjoy pizza night without lifting a finger. 
Okay then I will.
7g dry yeast
pinch salt
tsp sugar
tlbspn oil
2 cups plain flour (I use 1 cup plain white, 1 cup plain wholemeal)
200mls tepid water (warm to cool)
Place water yeast sugar and salt in a container mix together cover and leave for 7 minutes.
put flour in mixing bowl (I use mix master with kneading hooks, but you can do it by hand)
When the yeast mixture is frothy add oil
add wet mixture to flour. Mix well knead for 4 mins if using mix master or 8 minutes on lightly floured bench. Kids love to have a small bit to do too.
Leave covered for 20 mins (I never do) Roll out to use. This makes 1 very large thin to medium pizza or 2 small pizza bases.
Add toppings and cook for 20mins in a mod-hot oven.
Yum. It takes a few times to get it right so dont give up, this dough is also really nice to fill with ham and cheese or what ever and plat to make a pull apart like at the bakery.
Thanks for the recipe – we’re SO going to give it a go!!!
2 cups SR flour
1 cup soda water
Mix together with a wooden spoon, give a very quick knead and roll out with a rolling pin. Makes 1 medium thickness base.
Will try that one too! Gotta love anything with less than three ingredients…
Hi Cath
This one is out of a Kids Cook book and has the recipe for its own tomato sauce if you would like it as well.
225g self raising flour
55g butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
7-8 tablespoons of milk
Rub the flour, salt and butter together. (Lily would be good at that!)
When the mixture looks like breadcrumbs add the milk and stir everything together into a smooth ball of dough.
Cut the dough into 4 and roll each into a ball, then roll these out into circles about 13cm across.
Add toppings and bake for 15-20mins