pizza pockets

These are a staple in our house.  My husband takes one to school nearly every day and eats it for lunch.  I try to change up the toppings (filling) so that he doesn't get bored with them.  And sometimes, when I find myself in a situation in which I need to feed my family in 3 minutes or less, these come in really handy.


Here's what you need: (pizza leftovers)
cornmeal
pizza dough
pizza sauce
cheese
toppings



Sprinkle your pan with cornmeal.  Preheat your oven to about 425 degrees.  Roll your pizza dough into a personal sized pizza shape.



Cut it in half.



Smear a little pizza sauce on one half of the dough.



Add a small mound of  toppings.  Season your veggies with salt and pepper.



Give it a generous sprinkling of shredded cheese.  (I love you, Mozzarella!  Thanks for all that you do.  Thank you especially for holding our pizza pockets together so nicely.)



Fold over the dough,



and start pinching the edges closed.



Pinch it closed, nice and tight, all the way around the edges of the dough (you don't want your pizza sauce making a break for it or anything.)



Cut some air vents into the top,



and place it on your prepared pan.  Bake it in the oven at 425 until the edges and bottom of the crust are golden brown.


When they are cool, put them in individual bags and put them in the freezer.  I promise that you will be glad that you did.  Sometime they will save your evening.  Sometimes my husband will say, "Let's go to Disneyland."
I say, "When?"
And he says, "Right now."
I say "That sounds great," as I throw 4 pizza pockets in the microwave and gather up the water bottles. And in a flash, we are on the road.

"funny face" pizzas

You probably already make these on a weekly basis like my family does.  If not, you should start.  You are really missing out.  Call it a "pizza party" and your kids will do flip-ups.
Here is what you need:
cornmeal

*pizza dough

pizza sauce

shredded cheese

toppings (pepperoni, veggies, ham, pineapple, etc.)

*I usually make my own pizza dough, ((but you can buy it fresh at Trader Joe's (they even have a whole wheat version,) for a little more than a dollar.))  I use the recipe for pizza dough found in the Barefoot Contessa Parties! book and substitute whole wheat flour for the regular flour.

Let the kids make silly faces with the toppings on their own personal pizzas.  Having a variety of veggies available might encourage them to make a healthier pizza.

I especially recommend a pile of fresh spinach chiffonade for details like hair.  Directions follow for spinach chiffonade (also great for fresh basil too):

Stack a pile of fresh leaves,

Roll them up tight, (I let me niece paint my nails.  Check out her awesome fingernail painting skills in these pictures.  She is wonderful.  Posting this makes me miss her horribly.)

Hold on to the end of the roll and start slicing.  I did these slices pretty thick.  You can adjust as you want.

Continue slicing until you reach the stems.  Discard the stems.  Now take your pile of spinach ribbons and fluff them up.  Your kids are going to love this...

I always use lots of veggies.

Ok, we are ready to start.  Preheat your oven to hot.  Really hot.  At least 400 degrees.  Hotter if your oven is clean enough to handle it and not get too smokey.  Mine isn't.  :)
Sprinkle cornmeal all over your pan. (This way you don't have to grease your pan.  And it turns "home made" pizza into "gormet" pizza.  It makes your crust crispy, and less greasy, with delectable little crunchy cornmeal kernels in every bite.  Try it.  I think you'll like it.)

Roll out the dough, on your counter.  (There she is, my little niece, Lucy.  Doing a great job as usual.)  When it is nice and thin, transfer it to your prepared pizza pan (or cookie sheet).  

Spread a little sauce on your dough, and sprinkle a little cheese on it.

Now make your face with the toppings.  I love his little crooked smile and his noseless moustache.

A striking likeness, I think.

Then throw a little more cheese on top.  Don't forget the salt and pepper!  You want to flavor those veggies up.  (That is your secret weapon.)

Don't be sad little pizza.  This won't hurt a bit.  Now throw that little guy in your hot oven until the cheese is nice and melted and the bottom of the crust is nice and golden brown.  I always check after 10 minutes and go from there.