Kids in the Kitchen: Family Pizza Night!

Every once in a while, when the week has been particularly hectic (!), it's fun to have a family cooking night! Try this with some super-simple English Muffin Pizzas!

This is something that you can get your child involved in and they can do just about everything themselves :)

Ingredients are very easy to find:

English Muffins or your choice of "crust"
Pizza or Tomato Sauce
Shredded mozzarella cheese
Toppings (if desired)

Olive oil (optional)

Help your child to split the muffins and place on a cookie sheet, open face up. Have your "chef" spoon a few tablespoons of sauce onto muffins and spread with the back of the spoon. Work in counting and measuring skills as you go! If you want to add any spices - basil, oregano, ... - do this now.

Then sprinkle on a few teaspoons of cheese to cover the top and, if desired, add toppings. Drizzle with a little olive oil and bake in a hot oven (350 degrees) for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted. (Some chefs like to put under the broiler for a few minutes instead - whatever works for you!) Cool a bit and serve.

Kids have fun doing the basic recipe and even more fun making silly faces with the cheese and toppings - might be a great way to get some veggies in, although pepperoni was always a favorite in my house! Even better is the opportunity to spend time with your child, conversing and laughing - and eating!!

You can extend your meal by making look-alike desserts from dessert shells, whipped topping and berries - complete with more silly faces! :)

There's lots of lessons here: math (shapes, counting, measuring), science (changes from heat) and cooperative working together - but, most of all, language development, social skills and family fun!!