Cooking with kids can be a fun and exciting time.  It is also a great way to spend quality time with your family or friends, watching your friends' children, or when hosting a kid's party at your house.  Two of the most favored foods among children (and adults) are ice cream and pizza.  Both of these are easy to make from scratch or with machines.  No matter which method you choose - you and your kids will have lots of fun not only making the food, but eating it too!  

Pizza

To make a pizza, you need to start by making the pizza dough.  You can buy premade pizza dough at most grocery stores in the frozen food section.   However, if you want to make your own, all you need are a few ingredients:  

1 and a quarter cups of water

1 tsp sea salt

3  tbsp extra virgin olive oil

2 tsp yeast

3 1/3 cups flour

Instructions

1.    Begin by heating the water until it is slightly warm.  This can be done in the microwave.  Make sure the water is not hot.  Pour into a large bowl.

2.    Add in the salt and let dissolve along with the yeast.  

3.    Let sit for approximately 3 to 5 minutes until the yeast begins to foam.  

4.    Using your dough mixer with the dough blade attached, add in the flour, salt, and 2 teaspoons of the olive oil.  

5.    While the machine is mixing, slowly add the liquid by pouring it through the feeding tube of your processor.  Do not pour it in all at once, but instead in a slow steady stream - allowing the flour to absorb it evenly.  

6.    Continue processing until the sides of the bowl are worked clean as the dough in it forms a nice ball.

7.    Knead the dough using the machine for approximately 30 seconds.  The dough should be slightly sticky. Some processors, such as Cuisinart Prep 11 Plus have a special button specifically for mixing dough.  

8.    Remove the dough and brush lightly with oil and cover with plastic wrap.  

9.    Let it rise for about 45 minutes in a warm location.  This is a good time to prepare the pizza toppings.

If you do not own a dough machine, simply use your hands to knead the dough.  This can take from 8 to 10 minutes until the dough is the right consistency.

TIP:  A great time saving tip when making pizza for children is to have the pizza dough already made beforehand.  Divide the dough into smaller balls for individual pizzas and keep in the freezer until needed.  Remember to allow adequate time for the dough to thaw - typically overnight is sufficient.

Allow each child to select the toppings of their choice while the dough is rising.  Prepare a table where you can display all the various toppings.  Once the dough is ready, allow each child to roll out their own ball of dough to make their own pizza.  Then let them top their pizza with any toppings they desire such as pepperoni slices, vegetables, sauce, cheese, or anything else they want.

To bake the pizza, place on a cookie sheet covered with cornmeal and place in the oven which is preheated to 500° F.  Bake for approximately 8 to 10 minutes or until the pizza begins to form bubbles and the edges turn a nice crisp golden brown.  It is a good idea to rotate your pizza halfway through in order to ensure even baking on all sides.

Gelato Or Fun Ice Cream Sundaes for Dessert

To top off your day of cooking, what better way than to make homemade Italian ice cream which is called gelato.  Gelato is best made by using Italian ice cream makers also called gelato makers.  These allow for easy mixing and blending of the ingredients.  If the maker has a self containing refrigerant, then there is no need to prefreeze the mixing bowl.  Your gelato will be ready in just 25 to 30 minutes.  

If you do not have a gelato maker, or an ice cream maker, you can still have fun by purchasing a big tub of regular vanilla ice cream.  Then like the pizza, provide a wide range of toppings from crushed nuts, chocolate chips, M&M's, Oreo cookies, or any other requested treat for the children to create their own ice cream sundaes.  

Spending time with children in the kitchen is a wonderful way to strengthen relationships between you and the kids, as well as for the children to build self confidence while participating in these projects.

Author Credit:  Article provided by SimpleItalianCooking.com, a resource for recipes and Italian pasta bowls.

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