| My eight year old son, Blake, always comes home | | | | recipes. If you can't find this flour in your supermarket |
| from school ravenous! The go-to snack I prefer to | | | | check a natural foods store such as Whole Foods |
| make for him is usually some sort of smoothie (these | | | | Market. You can also order online from King Arthur |
| are super fast, they fill him up and I can sneak in all | | | | Flour. |
| sorts of good stuff like flax, fruit, hemp seeds, chia | | | | Ingredients (Serves: 2) |
| seeds, etc). Anyway, the other day Blake came home | | | | 1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour |
| from school starving as usual and also very excited | | | | 1 teaspoon quick-rising yeast |
| about a children's cookbook he had picked up from the | | | | 1/2 teaspoon sea salt |
| library (I'll admit I am not normally a huge fan of | | | | 1/2 cup warm water |
| children's do-it-themselves cookbooks as usually the | | | | 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil |
| recipes are sort of junky and or overly complicated.) | | | | 6 tablespoons organic tomato sauce (such as Amy's |
| Blake was especially thrilled about the pizza recipe that | | | | "Family Marinara") |
| he supposedly could "make all by himself." | | | | 1/2 cup grated organic mozzarella cheese |
| I was very skeptical about trying the pizza as all I could | | | | 1. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, yeast and salt. |
| think of was the gigormous mess it was going to | | | | Make a well in the middle of the mix. |
| create in my kitchen. Still, Blake's enthusiasm was so | | | | 2. Check the temperature of the water (it should feel |
| high I just didn't have the heart to say "no." I decided if | | | | warm, but not hot). Pour the water into the well and |
| we were going to make the pizza and going to make | | | | add the oil. Stir together to make a soft dough. |
| a huge mess anyway I might as well video tape it and | | | | 3. Sprinkle a little flour on your work surface, then put |
| put it on the blog. Turns out, the little rascal did not | | | | the dough on top. Sprinkle a little more flour on top of |
| make a mess after all! And, the pizza was surprisingly | | | | the dough, then knead it for about 10 minutes, of until it |
| tasty (I couldn't help but made a few healthy tweaks.) | | | | is smooth and elastic. Note: If the dough is sticky, |
| The recipe below is for a classic cheese and tomato | | | | continue sprinkling a little more flour on it as you work. |
| pizza called a Margarita. It's a fun healthy kids snack | | | | 4. Wash your hands and then rub a little oil inside a |
| that's easy to make =) We've actually made this pizza | | | | clean bowl. Put the dough inside and pat your oily |
| about four times so far-for the adult version I load it up | | | | hands on the dough. Cover the bowl with a damp cloth |
| with all sorts of veggies & herbs; shredded carrots, | | | | and put it in a warm place for about 30 minutes or until |
| fresh basil, sliced mushrooms, black olives, dollops of | | | | the dough has doubled in size. |
| grass-fed ricotta (I learned about ricotta on pizza from | | | | 5. About 15 minutes before the end of the rising time, |
| a good Italian friend of mine), dried oregano and sun | | | | preheat the oven to 425 degrees. |
| dried tomatoes. Yum's the word! =) If you try this | | | | 6. Sprinkle a little flour on the work surface and |
| recipe, please let us know. Blake would love to know | | | | transfer the dough to it. Press down on the dough to |
| how you like it!! | | | | get rid of some of the air. Cut the dough into two |
| Little Chef's Note: the white whole wheat flour I use for | | | | equal pieces. Roll the dough with a rolling pin (or your |
| this recipe is every bit as nutritious as it's brown | | | | hands). Shape into two circles. |
| colored "whole wheat" flour cousin. White whole | | | | 7. Arrange the rounds on baking sheets. Spread about |
| wheat flour still contains the nutrient rich germ and the | | | | 3 tablespoons of sauce on each. Sprinkle cheese on |
| fiber rich bran found within the whole grain. In | | | | top. |
| comparison to regular whole-wheat flour that is made | | | | 8. With the help of an adult, put the baking sheets in |
| from red wheat, white whole-wheat flour is lighter in | | | | the oven and bake for about 10-12 minutes, or until |
| color and has a sweeter, milder flavor (making it | | | | pizzas are golden and crisp on the edges. Remove |
| fabulous for making pizza!!) And, because white whole | | | | pizza from the oven. Set aside to cool for several |
| wheat flour is less heavy than regular whole wheat | | | | minutes before eating. |
| flour it can replace all-purpose white flour one to one in | | | | |