Today I made three types of pizza to satisfy all of the family members’ different requests. I came up with these three varieties; bacon-cheeseburger and ham, bacon, onion, and basil for the meat lovers, and ratatouille for the veggie lover.

I woke up this morning trying to decide what to make today and pizza came to mind. What’s not to love about this dish? When you take it out of the oven it screams “eat me!!” Usually, everyone is happy to have pizza, so it satisfies all palates.

Most people think that making a bread dough is a very difficult undertaking. In fact, it’s a few ingredients that come together quickly into a lovely sticky dough. When you leave it to rest for half an hour, the yeast goes to work and does its magic.

I would suggest that you mix up your dough about 1 -2 hrs before dinner. It will give it ample time to rise, and you can prepare the toppings and sauce before putting it all together.

Pizza making is a great family activity. I remember it was one of the first cooking activities my kids helped me with in the kitchen when they were younger. One would spread the sauce on the base, another would help grate the cheese and everyone fought over where to put which toppings! I encourage you to include your kids in cooking at home. This is one activity which encourages creativity, a love of food, and a great respect for where our food comes from and how it is prepared. Later in life, they will know the joy and satisfaction of making family memories and meals together.

Pizza dough

Makes 2 10″ pizzas

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 pack rapid rise yeast or 1 tsp yeast

3/4 cup warm water

1 tsp sugar

3/4 tsp salt

3 tbs olive oil
Heat the water for the yeast. (You should be able to stick your finger in without being burnt. If too hot, the yeast will die.)pour in yeast and dissolve. Leave for about 5 mins to develop.

Oil a large bowl with some oil. Using a food processor, mix together  2 cups flour, reserving the other half for mixing later. Add the sugar and salt and blend.

Add the yeast and olive oil. Mix together to form a sticky dough. Add remaining flour and mix together until dough firms up and pulls away from the sides of the bowl.

Transfer dough to an oiled bowl and cover with a towel or plastic wrap. Leave in a warm place for at least half an hour while it rises and doubles the volume.

Punch down dough and divide into 2 balls. Roll according to the size of pizza pan.
Brush with some olive oil and crush a clove of garlic over the base. Sprinkle lightly with fresh ground pepper and as a dash of salt. Bake for 10 mins in a 400-degree oven. Remove and top with your favorite toppings and cheese. Put back into the oven and bake 12-15 minutes longer until cheese is bubbling and lightly browned.