Read, Discuss, Bake: Books about bread!

  One of my favorite memories from my childhood was my dad’s baking. He’d often bake a simple white bread, which we would use for sandwiches or snacking. He’d sometimes turn some of it into cinnamon rolls, which came in second only to my mom’s chocolate chip cookies. On special occasions he’d whip up a batch of Orange Cinnamon Swirl, a loaf of mildly orange flavored bread with a swirl of cinnamon and sugar in the center, glazed with an orangey icing. In my mind, there was no better treat. And it wasn’t just the eating of the bread that was enjoyable, but the anticipation. And the smells. Is there any better smell than bread baking in the oven? My dad taught me how to bake bread, and I still have the copy of  Bernard Clayton’s New Complete Book of Breads  that he gave me nearly 30 years ago. I bake from it often. Bread is a staple all around the world. And bread, like books, can do wonders to foster human connection. So our hope with this list today is that it will inspire...

Read, Discuss, Do Snack and Story: Tortilla Pizzas


by Rebecca J. Gomez

When my kids were younger, tortilla pizzas were a favorite light lunch at our house, and we still have them on occasion. They are quick and easy, totally customizable, and we almost always have the ingredients on hand. It's a simple, fun, delicious meal to share together on a Saturday afternoon. And when you pair this with story time, that's all the better!

What better book to pair this treat with than A Pizza With Everything On It? When a young boy and his father decide to make a pizza with everything on it (Everything? Everything!), they end up with an enormous pizza that is much more than they bargained for. This is a colorful, creative, over-the-top story that is sure to elicit some laughs (and maybe a few hunger pangs). Enjoy the story, then make some delicious pizzas of your own! 

READ: A Pizza With Everything On It by Kyle Scheele, illustrated by Andy J. Pizza (yes, you read that right) 

DISCUSS:

  • What are your favorite pizza toppings?
  • What is the strangest pizza topping you've ever heard of?
  • What do you think would really happen if someone tried to put everything on a pizza?
  • Pretend you're going to make a pizza with items from your house as toppings. What would you include?
  • Have you ever worked on a project that got a little out of hand? Share what happened.
DO: Make tortilla pizzas for a hearty snack or a light lunch. 

Tortilla Pizzas

You will need: 
  • 4 to 6 flour tortillas - fajita size
  • 1 8oz can tomato sauce (or puree for thicker pizza sauce)
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • a pinch of garlic powder
  • a pinch of onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp sugar
  • mozzarella cheese (or a pizza cheese blend)
  • your favorite pizza toppings 
  • a large baking sheet, greased lightly with shortening
Note: You can use store bought pizza sauce if you prefer.

To make the pizzas:
  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Make the sauce. Mix together tomato sauce or puree, spices, and sugar. Set aside for about ten minutes.
  3. Prepare your toppings, if desired. 
  4. Place tortillas on greased baking sheet. Use a spoon to spread the sauce almost to the edge of each tortilla. 
  5. Add your cheese and toppings. 
  6. Bake pizzas about ten minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly and the edges of the tortillas start to crisp. 
  7. Enjoy!

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