Cheese and Ham Pit-zas
Pitas make a nice crisp base for pizzas—or pit-zas! Try my tomato sauce on page 183 or use a good-quality store-bought sauce. If you only have large pitas, then warm and split one as described in the recipe, and just use one half. Another good pizza base is a split toasted English muffin. For a vegetarian version, omit the ham.
5 minutes
10 minutes
1 small, round pita bread (about 3in diameter)
2 tbsp tomato sauce
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella or Cheddar cheese
1/2 thin slice of ham, cut into thin strips
1 tsp sliced black olives (optional)
2–3 fresh basil leaves for garnish (optional)
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Warm the pita bread in a
microwave for about 10 seconds, then carefully split in half to give two
thin rounds. Place the pita halves on a baking sheet, crumb side up.
Spread tomato sauce over the rounds and scatter on the cheese, ham, and
olives, if using.
Bake until the cheese
has melted and the pita is crisp, 9–10 minutes. Cool slightly before
cutting each pit-za into four. Scatter a little torn basil on top to
garnish, if desired.
NOTE
Toast the pita
halves under the broiler, then add the toppings and continue cooking
under the broiler until the cheese melts. For hungry toddlers or older
children, use whole mini-pitas.
Packed Lunch Ideas
If your child is in a day care facility that requires a packed lunch, or you’re out and about, it can be difficult to come up with ideas. Here are some great lunches that cover all the requirements for a balanced meal.
Lunchbox 1
Lunchbox 2
Cheese slices cut into shapes plus strips of ham packed into containers
Mini-rice cakes or unsalted crackers (lightly butter them first, if you like)
Blueberries or quartered grapes
Oatmeal raisin cookie (or fruit yogurt)
Lunchbox 3
Tuna
mini-sub—fill a split hot dog bun with 2–3 tbsp drained canned tuna, 2
tsp thick plain yogurt, 1/2 tsp ketchup, 2–3 drops of lemon juice, and
1/4 tsp sweet chilli sauce (optional)
Carrot sticks
Cottage cheese and pineapple container (or fruit yogurt)
Lunchbox 4
Cream cheese and
fruit wrap—spread 1–2 tbsp cream cheese over a flour tortilla and
scatter on small pieces of dried apricots or add a thin layer of
good-quality fruit spread. Roll up and cut into 3–4 pieces.
Cucumber sticks
Mini-muffin (or fruit yogurt)
Lunchbox 5
Lunchbox 6
Lunchbox 7
Pasta
salad with chicken, lightly cooked broccoli, and corn, and a dressing
made with 11/2 tbsp light olive oil and 1/2 tbsp each of honey, soy
sauce, and lemon juice
Probiotic yogurt drink
Mini-pack of dried fruit
Fruit and oat bar
