Best Bites: Pita Pizza Time!

By Donna Erickson

It's Pita Pizza Time!

I took an informal poll in my neighborhood with the question, "What do kids like to eat most?" I noted responses from both adults and kids like mac and cheese, burgers, tacos, and chicken fingers. But, to no surprise, pizza dominated. Maybe it's because it offers something for all tastes.

PHOTO CREDIT: Donna Erickson

If pizza reigns in your house, throw an informal Halloween pizza party or another get-together with family and friends this school year. Planning and hosting can be creative and easy to cater for all tastes when you keep it simple.

Instead of preparing and shaping pizza dough in advance, here's the shortcut: Make personal pizzas using pita bread available at a bakery or grocery store. Provide the toppings so that guests can enjoy putting their pita pizzas together in an assembly-line fashion, letting everyone choose their favorites as they go for unique combos. It's an ideal set-up for picky pizza eaters who prefer their favorite toppings.

FAMILY-STYLE PERSONAL PITA PIZZAS

Tomato Sauce

The pizza-making begins with a good tomato sauce. Purchase your favorite sauce, or make this homemade recipe that goes together in minutes. Enlist your school-aged child to measure and stir the chunky sauce.

For 2 1/2 cups, mix together in a bowl: a 14-ounce can diced tomatoes, a 6-ounce can tomato paste, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil. (For a smooth sauce, whirl in a blender.)

Toppings

Classic kid-pleasing toppings include bowls of shredded mozzarella cheese, sliced pepperoni, red onion that is thinly sliced into rings, sliced mushrooms, chopped bell peppers, and pitted olives. For variety and to accommodate adult tastes, you might include marinated artichoke hearts and drained, oil-packed, sun-dried tomato slices.

For a seasonal option, skip the tomato sauce and layer your pita pizza with Italian shredded cheeses, sauteed onionm and slices of an apple or pear. Sprinkle with crumbled gorgonzola and fresh thyme.

Setup

At one end of a counter or table, stack pita bread and small plates. Continue assembly-line fashion with the bowls of sauce, toppings, and baking sheets.

Assemble

Invite guests to place a pita bread on a plate. Spread with sauce, if using, then add toppings according to taste. When complete, remove from plate and set on baking sheet.

Bake

Bake in a preheated oven set to 400 F for 10-15 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and pita is crisp.

***

Donna Erickson creates relationships and community through food and fun. Find more to nourish and delight you at www.donnaerickson.com.

(c) 2025 Donna Erickson

Distributed by King Features Synd.