Lunchbox week: Pizza

Pizza is another thing you can depend on most kids eating. It is really easy to chuck some basic toppings on a pizza base and cook it in the oven. The main issue with making pizza is finding a good base recipe. The bought bases are a waste of money and don't taste that great. I have experimented with making bases in the bread maker, they taste really authentic, but rolling them out thin can be really difficult as the gluten in the bread dough is really springey and just keeps jumping back into a ball!

This base recipe has been around in my family since my childhood. I have no idea where it came from but it is a happy medium as it is very quick to make and easy to roll, but contains yeast so tastes like a proper pizza.

Pizza base recipe (makes an oven tray size pizza):

1 1/4c warm water
3 T sugar
1 T dried yeast granules
1 T oil
3 c flour
1/2 t baking powder

1. Preheat the oven to 200 C fanbake (220 bake).
2. Grease an oven tray.
3. Dissolve the sugar in the water. Sprinkle over the yeast and mix in the oil and leave covered in a warm place for 10 mins for yeast to go bubbly.
4. Mix in flour and baking powder.
5. Turn onto a well floured surface and knead until dough is soft but no sticky.
6. Roll out to fit your oven tray on a floured surface and place on top of the oven tray.
7. Prepare your toppings and place on top of the pizza. (See below for ideas)
8. Bake for 10 - 12 mins until  golden but not burnt around edges.

Topping ideas:

• For this pizza we did a very basic one with tomato paste, chopped onion and capsicum, ham and grated cheese with herbs on top. You can add other veges or use bacon or chicken instead.
• Sliced cooked potato, chopped bacon and onion and cheese and rosemary
• Cranberry jelly, cooked chicken, red onion, pinenuts and cheese
• Pesto instead of tomato paste