Pizza!

Last night, my daughter helped me make dinner. She looked in her children's cookbook and chose individual pizzas. I made my own favorite pizza dough, which is a yummy and easy whole-wheat one. I divided the dough into 5 pieces for 5 smaller pizzas. I've been making this pizza dough for a few years now. My four-year-old son also got involved in making dinner. They each chose a ball of dough and patted it out with their hands. They made happy faces on their pizzas out of turkey pepperoni and olives. Both of them made their pizzas very large, and I was suprised at how much they ate! It really does help when children are involved in the dinner-making process; they are more likely to eat and enjoy the food. My daughter helped with everything, from proofing the yeast, rolling the dough, doing the toppings, and baking. (I used my Kitchenaid to knead the dough).

Amazing Whole Wheat Pizza Crust from Allrecipes.com

1 teaspoon white sugar
1 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
1 tablespoon active dry yeast
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1. In a large bowl, dissolve sugar in warm water. Sprinkle yeast over the top, and let stand for about 10 minutes, until foamy.

2. Stir the olive oil and salt into the yeast mixture, then mix in the whole wheat flour and 1 cup of the all-purpose flour until dough starts to come together. Tip dough out onto a surface floured with the remaining all-purpose flour, and knead until all of the flour has been absorbed, and the ball of dough becomes smooth, about 10 minutes. Place dough in an oiled bowl, and turn to coat the surface. Cover loosely with a towel, and let stand in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

3. When the dough is doubled, tip the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and divide into 2 pieces for 2 crusts. Form into tight balls, cover. Let rise for about 45 minutes, until doubled.

4. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Roll a ball of dough with a rolling pin until it will not stretch any further. Then, drape it over both of your fists, and gently pull the edges outward, while rotating the crust. When the circle has reached the desired size, place on a well oiled pizza pan. Top pizza with your favorite toppings, such as sauce, cheese, meats, or vegetables.

5. Bake for 16 to 20 minutes (depending on thickness) in the preheated oven, until the crust is crisp and golden at the edges, and cheese is melted on the top.