Smiley-Face Pizzas
Help children create their own pizzas with fewer spills by pouring pizza sauce into two plastic squeeze bottles. Put cheese in bowls big enough for little hands.
Makes two 12-inch pizzas
INGREDIENTS
- 2 (12-inch) thin-style pizza crusts, ready to top
- 2 cups pizza sauce or thick pasta sauce
- 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
- 1 cup cubed Cheddar cheese
Place pizza crusts on a table covered with waxed paper.
Squeeze 1 cup of sauce onto each pizza. Use the back of a spoon to spread the sauce.
Sprinkle half the mozzarella onto each pizza, covering the center completely.
Take a small open-sided metal biscuit cutter and place it in the middle of the top left quarter of one of the pies. Drop a small handful of Cheddar cheese into the circle. Carefully remove the biscuit cutter and place it opposite the Cheddar “eye” on the right top quarter of the pizza. Fill that with Cheddar, then repeat the process on the other pizza.
Use a spoon handle to draw a broad smile across the bottom half of each pizza. Place Cheddar cubes along each smile. Place pizzas on perforated pizza pans.
Bake each pizza at 400° for 12 minutes. Let stand until cool enough to handle. Bring to the table whole, then slice and serve.
Cooking with Kids
Children love to help in the kitchen, even if their participation isn't always exactly helpful. Set aside extra time and plan cooking projects with their height and dexterity in mind. Keep plenty of paper towels and wet wipes around so spills don't have to be a big deal. Aprons are also a good idea; kids love to wear them, and they will help prevent stains on clothes.
