Baking with Kids

I'm "stealing" the title from HHB's blog.

If you've been following my  blog, you will know I like to involve my kids in my bakes, especially in pizza making as they can contribute so much.  They have been helping me out constantly, from household chores to cooking and baking.  In the kitchen, they are constantly seen plucking vegetables or removing roots of bean sprouts (they just love doing these).  When it comes to cake making, I refuse to use the electric mixer (unless I'm making chiffon cakes) and prefers to cream butter and sugar by using a wooden spoon.  And yes, the kids enjoyed that moment too.

Back to pizza making, they have been helping me all along, just that I didn't have a chance to take pictures of those precious moments.  But now, I finally did :-)

I usually assign simple tasks to them, thus minimal supervision is required.

DS2 cutting the canned pineapples into smaller pieces.  DD3 standing beside observing the process.

Now it is DD3's turn to try her hands on it, with her brother assisting her.

Poking the dough with fork, another simple yet enjoyable task for them.

The kids went for their shower while I pre-baked the dough.  I helped them spread the tomato paste as the pan was still hot.  DD3 couldn't resist feeding herself some cheese in the process of helping.  And of course, her brother followed suit.

Spreading some sauteed mushrooms with a spoon but DS2 prefers to use his hand.

Spreading more cheese on top

Placing the ham

Told them no more pinching food else there'll be nothing left for their pizzas.  DS2 decided to smell the pineapple instead *eyes rolling*

The pizza, yum!

It is supposed to be a thick crust pizza but I didn't double the recipe and used a 2 x 10" pizza recipe for a 1 x 10" and a 11" x 14" pan.  Nevertheless, it tasted good.

All time favourite - Hawaiian pizza.

Check out the "cheese pull" effect!  Kids were thrilled to see this everytime they bite into it!

DD1 pretended to use her fingers to "cut" off the cheese.

I managed to capture this shot!  He just bit off the cheese and it came falling down.

Thick Crust Pizza
Recipe  seen here
Source: adapted from 美食新煮张, 手工面包&三明治

Ingredients

(make two 10" pizza dough)
250g bread flour
50g plain flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast
1/2 teaspoon dried mixed herbs (optional)
1 tablespoon olive oil
180ml lukewarm water

Method

1. Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer.  Knead using dough cycle. If the mixture is too dry, add 1 tbsp of water at a time to form dough. 
2. After the kneading cycle is completed, let it proof in machine for 30 - 45 mins or till double in size.
3. Turn out the risen dough onto a lightly floured work surface and knock it down to release the air. Give it a few gentle kneading. Divide dough into 2 equal portions. Shape into two balls, cover loosely with cling wrap and let the doughs rest for about 10mins.
4. Roll or press out each portion to a round, about 12" in size. Place dough on baking tray lined with parchment paper or on a greased pan.
5. Dock with a fork all around the crust.
6. Bake in preheated oven at 180C for 8 - 10 mins. Set aside till further use.
7. Spread some pizza sauce over the dough to within 1 cm (0.5 inch) of the edge. Arrange a layer of grated cheese (I used grated mozzarella), followed by preferred toppings. Sprinkle the top all over with grated cheese.
8. Bake in a preheat oven at 200C for 12 - 15 mins or until the crust has turned golden and the cheese has melted. Serve warm.