Pizza Surprise!
An easy, cool meal for kids (and grown-ups) to enjoy making & eating!
My children love to cook ~ hmmm, or maybe they just like to make a mess in the kitchen! Finding something that is easy for them to make that everyone will eat though can be a challenge sometimes with their differing tastes. Well, here is their number one meal that they all enjoy making and eating! It is easy to make and very economical for family budgeting. I hope your family will have fun using their creativity to make this delicious dish!
Photo Thanks to PhotoBucket!
Family Friendly Recipe
Pizza Surprise!
How can I make "Pizza Surprise"?
Cooking Ingredients & Directions
One of my kids' favorite meals to prepare and eat is our own version of a meal they love from a local summer camp they have attended! It has some ingredients similar to pizza, but has a little "twist" to it!
Ingredients:
1 pound box of pasta
(We like to use the twisted swirl shaped ones, but you could use any shape you prefer!)
32 ounce jar of spaghetti or pizza sauce
8 ounces of mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese
4 - 8 ounces of pepperoni
Optional Ingredients:
cooked sausage - ham - olives - onions - mushrooms - peppers - your favorite pizza toppings!
Directions: Children: Please get your parent's permission
before ever using the oven or stove. Have an adult helper nearby.
1 - Prepare the pasta as directed on the box.
2 - Drain the pasta, then place into a large casserole dish. (Careful, the steam is very hot.)
3 - Pour the sauce over the pasta and mix thoroughly.
4 - My children disagree about this next step, so I will tell you both and you can decide how you would like yours!
a) Pour all of the cheeses and other toppings into the casserole dish and stir everything. (OR)
b) Layer your toppings on top of the pasta like you would toppings on a pizza.
5 - With your adult helper's assistance, place the dish into the oven and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes (or until the cheese is melted).
6 - Ask your helper to remove your Pizza Surprise meal from the oven and enjoy!
7 - Make a different surprise next time by trying new toppings!
What else can I serve with my meal?
Extras for your dinner!
Side Salad: I give each of my children a night where they can plan a meal of their choice. They easily pick out the main course, but many times conveniently "forget" about including vegetables. Depending on how many veggies you decided to include in your pizza surprise, you may not want an additional vegetable. If you do want more though, a tossed salad is a great compliment to this meal. Young children may "prepare" a salad with one of those lovely pre-made bags of salad. Older children may want to cut up their own veggies, of course, with their adult helper.
Beverage: How about a glass of milk for everyone, or since there is dairy with the cheese, maybe a cool fruit juice? We always drink quite a bit of water with everything, too.
Dessert: Make some jello and serve with a scoop of whipped cream! (Don't forget to make it a few hours before dinner as it takes awhile to set firmly.)
