Recipe: Flower Power Pizza

Pizza night for the littles doesn't always have to mean getting a greasy pie delivered. And a homemade pizza doesn't always have to mean an elaborate, expensive, and messy fiasco that hardly anyone has time for. In less than the time it takes for that pizza to be delivered, you could throw together a delicious, nutritious personal pizza for you, your toddler, and anyone else who has a seat at your kitchen table. The Flower Power Pizza has healthy cauliflower and broccoli as toppings, ensuring your tot gets a double helping of their daily veggies. Plus, they'll barely notice the veggies with the yummy red sauce and sprinkled cheese to distract them.

Depending on your toddler's taste, you can easily add in or swap out other veggies and even meat, as long as it's fully cooked before it goes into the oven. The same can be said for the cheese; just adjust the cooking time to when the cheese in the center of the pizza is melted. With a recipe as simple and customizable as this, pizza night may never be the same.

Recipe and Quick Steps

Flower Power Pizza

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 5 7 mins

Recipe Yields: 2 Toddler Servings

Ingredients:

• tbsp. olive oil

• 1 whole wheat Naan bread

• cup Marinara or pasta sauce

• cup shredded cheddar cheese

• 1 frozen microwave steam bag of broccoli/cauliflower florets

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

1. Steam the broccoli and cauliflower mix in the microwave per the package instructions and let cool when done cooking.

1. Drizzle the olive oil on the top of the Naan bread, spreading it around to cover.

1. Spread the pizza sauce or marinara on the naan bread.

1. Sprinkle half the cheese on top of the pasta sauce.

1. Chop the cooled broccoli/cauliflower mix into tiny pieces and sprinkle a cup's worth on top of the cheese.

1. Top the vegetables with the remaining cheese.

1. Place in oven on a baking sheet and cook for 5 7 minutes or until center cheese is melted.

1. Let cool and serve warm.

Storing Leftovers:

Store in refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat in oven before serving

Step-by-Step Instructions

First thing's first: Preheat that oven so it's ready to roll by the time you get done prepping. Next, get your bag of frozen veggies from the freezer and microwave it per package instructions. As that's steaming, place the Naan bread on a plate and drizzle the oil and spread so that the entire surface is covered. Next, pour the pasta sauce on the Naan bread from the center, using the bottom of a spoon to spread it out. Leave at least a half-inch or so uncovered so you have a bit of crust.



After the sauce comes the cheese. Sprinkle half of the shredded cheese on top of the sauce and set the rest to the side. At about this time, your steamed veggies should be done and cool enough to not burn your fingers on the bag. Dump out the veggies on a cutting board and cut into very small pieces. Depending on your child's age, make sure the pieces are small enough to swallow without being a choking hazard. You can put the rest of the veggies in a storage container and use it as a side for another meal.



You won't need the entire bag of veggies to cover the pizza, so chop about one cup's worth, and sprinkle it on top of the sauce until it's covering most of the saucy area. If needed, chop some more, about a quarter cup at a time. Next, grab your baking sheet. You can cover it with a sheet of parchment paper to minimize clean-up, but with a non-stick baking sheet, you don't have to spray it to prevent sticking. For baking sheets without the non-stick, use some parchment paper or non-stick cooking spray.



Top the veggies with the remaining cheese and place it in the oven. Set the timer for about 5 - 7 minutes, or until the cheese in the center of the pizza is fully melted. When it's done, take it out and let it cool for at least five minutes. Make sure to test the temperature, particularly of the sauce, in several places before cutting and serving.

And, suddenly, it's dinner time! Enjoy!