Sometime around when I was 16 - 17 years old, was when I probably had my first Pizza ever in my life. It used to an exotic and a premium food to look out for. When my parents relocated to Chennai - a place in the South of India, just after my 10th Std was when my exploration began. The peer group makes a lot of transformation in a person that one totally learns to adapt the new ways - Good and Bad. Exploring new food in different cuisines has just begun. Each birthday party since then was hanging out either at the theatre or treat at one of the muti cuisine restaurants. There was so much beyond Nan with Paneer Butter Masala and Masala Dosa !!! But kids of today begin their exploration from Pizza and Pasta straight away. In fact, understanding and enjoying the traditional food is kind of becoming a rare affair. Talk to them about the Italian joints and the available delicacies, it will be in their fingertips as to what toppings goes best and what dip to accompany. Sometimes I am stunned. It was yesterday I asked my Lil missy, who just turned three - “What would you like for breakfast ?” She takes a little pause and replies - " Amma, feed me anything you want me to have “. It took me a little while to understand and acknowledge to her.. All that I told her was " I am going to feed you with Tickles and Kisses!! “. This is such an adorable age where they know a lot of things but do not as well. As a mother, I prefer to give the kids at least 2 positive choices in their meals and other activities so they could decide between them. This gives them a sense of decision making, rather than thrusting my choices on them.
The kids love their pizza’s as much as anything and the moment they realised we are going to have it made from scratch, they were overjoyed. They kept monitoring every stage, right from dough making to resting, doubling and baking them in a Pizza Stone. Missy just walked up to me saying - " I want lots of Pineapples on my Pizza - Ok? " Mummy at their disposal made topping just as they would enjoy with some ketchup and a drink of their choice to pair. Thoroughly enjoyed the simple flavours from home and the fact that there is no synthetics in the whole process adds more delight. The Pizza dough has a slightly crispy pizza base, just like the Domino’s Pizza. This is achieved by using Semolina to roll, apart from adding in the dough. Here’s a simple recipe to the delicious Pizza Margherita.
