3 Lunchbox Basics Kids Can Bake Themselves (continued)

Pizza has it all - fun to make, fun to eat, and you can customize it with your favorite toppings. I made this one half pepperoni, half veggies. Which side would you choose?

Ingredients:

• 3 1/4 cups bread flour
• 1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 1/3 cups water, the temperature of a warm bath
• another splash of olive oil, about 1 tablespoon
• 2 to 3 cups tomato sauce
• 3 to 4 cups grated mozzarella cheese
• your choice of toppings (meat toppings must be precooked)

1. Stir the flour, yeast, and salt together in the mixing bowl. Add the arm water and olive oil. Mic until you have shaggy dough. Dump the dough onto the pastry board and knead 4 to 5 minutes, until it is a smooth, springy ball.
2. Put a splash of olive oil in the second mixing bowl. Put the dough in the bowl, slop it around, flip it over, and slop it around some more, so the dough is lightly coated with olive oil. Cover the dough in the bowl with a kitchen towel, and let it rise until doubled in size, about one hour.
3. Preheat the over to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Punch the dough down and shape it into a flat disc. Make two fists and put the dough on top of them. Move your fists in little up-and-down circles. The dough will rotate over your fists and stretch out into a larger circle. It's easy, and it doesn't have to look perfect.
4. Place the dough in the pizza pan and use your fingers to push it all the way to the edges of the pan. Spread the tomato sauce on the pizza with the rubber spatula. Scatter your toppings on the sauce. Sprinkle cheese over the whole shebang. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the crust is golden brown. Let the pizza cool off some before you slice and eat it - pizza burn on the roof of your mouth is horrible.

Want more easy lunchbox recipes? Check out our top snacks, soups, and salads!