I love to cook, but increasingly, with the craziness of child-rearing and all that it entails, I find myself looking for shortcuts and easy options in trying to ensure a delicious and nutritious home-cooked meal enjoyable for all without me losing my mind in the process. And I present to you, the DIY pizza, which as an added bonus combines a relatively quick and painless but nonetheless super fun activity and the making of a meal whilst they’re at it. Win-win. Smug-smug.
I used to always make a dough base from scratch, after all, I’d tell myself, it’s only mixing a bit of flour and water …. Indeed it is, and when we have excess time and energy (ha!) a good old knead can be an extra special treat, however, times have most certainly changed and with an open packet of flour tortillas hanging around that just happen to make the perfect child-friendly base (other fake pizza bases are available- pittas and English muffins both make excellent alternatives), all the prep that’s required, is pouring a few of your choice of toppings into bowls and standing back whilst the little darlings create.
This is also an excellent playdate-and-lunch/tea activity, in the summer especially, when doing it outside means you don’t even have to sweep the floor!
All hands on deck
DIY Pizzas
- 1 tortilla per child
- Passatta/1/2 tin of chopped tomatoes, blitzed
- Mozzarella, torn or cheddar, grated
- Your choice of: chopped ham/salami, olives, roasted peppers, capers, sweetcorn, whatever else you fancy
Place tortilla on a baking tray. Spread tomatoes over tortilla, leaving a rim of a couple of centimetres. Add other toppings of choice. Sprinkle cheese over the top
Place under a medium grill for a couple of minutes until cheese is melted and pizza has warmed through.
Cut in to slices and put your feet up.
Ooh those cold plain tortillas, so tempting!
Ma Hart's Kitchen 