Pizza – A Recipe for Success as a Stay-at-Home Parent As a stay-at-home parent, there is no greater joy than being able to spend quality time with your children. But, the reality is that the day-to-day responsibilities of parenting can quickly become overwhelming. One way to bring some fun and relaxation into your day is to cook a delicious meal with your family. Pizza is one of the most beloved meals around the world, and is a great way to spend quality time with your kids while still being able to get dinner on the table. This recipe for homemade pizza will have your family begging for more, and it’s easy enough that even the kids can help out. The best part? You don’t need to have any previous experience in the kitchen to make this. All you need are some simple ingredients, some kitchen tools, and a little bit of patience. Ingredients: 1 package of active dry yeast 1 teaspoon of sugar 1 cup of warm water 3 cups of all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons of olive oil 1 teaspoon of salt 2 cups of marinara sauce 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese 1 cup of grated Parmesan cheese Your favorite pizza toppings (such as pepperoni, mushrooms, peppers, etc.) Instructions: 1. In a large bowl, mix together the yeast and sugar with warm water and let sit for about 10 minutes until the mixture starts to bubble. 2. Add in the flour, olive oil and salt and mix together until you have formed a dough. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until it is smooth and elastic (about 5 minutes). Place the dough in an oiled bowl and cover it with a damp towel. Let it rise in a warm place for about an hour or until it has doubled in size. 3. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Once the dough has finished rising, punch it down and roll it out on a lightly floured surface into a large circle or rectangle (depending on what shape you want your pizza). Place the dough onto an oiled baking sheet or pizza stone. 4. Spread the marinara sauce evenly over the dough, then top with mozzarella cheese and your favorite pizza toppings (such as pepperoni, mushrooms, peppers etc.). Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over top if desired. 5. Bake for about 25 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and cheese is melted and bubbly. Cut into slices and serve immediately! Pizza has been an integral part of my life since I was a child growing up in Italy. As soon as I became a stay-at-home parent I knew one way I could bond with my children was by taking them into the kitchen to make pizza together! There’s nothing like rolling out the dough together (the kids love making funny shapes!), adding all our favorite toppings and then sharing our masterpiece as we sit around the dinner table enjoying each other’s company as we enjoy every bite! Sure it takes some time but every minute spent together making memories that will last forever is worth it! It’s just one more way us stay-at-home parents can keep our sanity while having fun with our kids at the same time!