Recipe of the Week - Whole Wheat Pizza

Early this week, Molly requested homemade pizza for her birthday dinner. This ended up becoming a meal where the kids could work very independently on their creations! The recipe follows.


Whole Wheat Pizza

Dough:

(Makes two kid-sized pizzas plus four adult servings)

1 Cup Warm Water (90°-100°)
1 ½ tsp. Active Dry Yeast
1 Tbsp. Honey
1 ½ tsp. Salt
1-1 ½ Cups Whole Wheat Flour
1 Cup All Purpose Flour
Olive Oil
Cornmeal

Have Ready: A medium sized bowl, lightly brushed with olive oil (for rising).

Place the water, yeast, and honey in a small glass bowl. Whisk until yeast is fully dissolved and frothy. Set aside for 7-10 minutes to proof. While yeast is proofing, mix flours and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk in yeast mixture until dough is too thick to easily continue. Turn dough out on to floured board and knead for approximately five minutes, adding flour as needed to prevent sticking. Place dough ball in oiled bowl, lightly brush it with more olive oil, and cover with saran wrap. Place in a warm place to rise until doubled in bulk (about one hour). While dough is rising, prepare toppings and preheat oven and pizza stone to 400°.

Suggested Toppings:

Pizza Sauce
Fresh Mozzarella, sliced into thin rounds
Shaved Parmesan
Fresh mushrooms, sliced
Broccoli, cut into small florets
Fresh spinach leaves, washed and stems removed
Roasted Garlic
Red Onion, thinly sliced
Sun-Dried tomatoes, julienned
Fresh basil leaves

Assembly:

On a pizza peel or upside-down sheet pan, sprinkle cornmeal to prevent sticking. Punch down dough, and remove 1/3 of it for the kid-sized pizza. Divide the 1/3 into two equal dough balls, and stretch to a 7-inch round on the peel. Cover with sauce and desired toppings, and slide onto hot pizza stone. Bake approximately 15 minutes, or until cheese is bubbling and crust is lightly browned. While the kid pizzas are baking, divide remaining dough into two portions, and stretch to 12-inch rounds (or ovals, like I prefer). Proceed as for the kid pizzas. Let cool slightly and cut into wedges for serving!

Amelia adding broccoli to her pizza.

How Kids Can Help:
Cutting mushrooms and soft veggies with a butter knife
Measuring Ingredients
Mixing/Kneading Dough
Stretching dough and adding toppings

Ready for the oven. Amelia doesn't like cheese, so her pizza (on left) is baked with a foil round on top,

to keep her veggies from burning.

Voila!