It is hard for this Grandma to realize that I have been sharing “grandma lessons” since September 2011, almost ten years. What is harder to believe is that the impetus for this blog, the birth of my first grandchild, my oldest grandson, is heading off for college!
When his mother, our oldest daughter, told us she was pregnant I was headed for a conference with the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Florida Section, with hundreds of other family lawyers. As soon as I arrived, I cornered every lawyer that I knew was a grandparent to pick their brains about being a grandparent. All my grandparents were murdered in the Holocaust, so I never experienced having a grandparent, and wanted to learn all I could about being the best grandparent I could be. I went up to each and asked for “grandma lessons.” Hence this blog to share experiences of being a Boomer grandparent, navigating this new stage of life.
After I had garnered dozens of recommendations, I bumped into a friend and her nine year old twins. I asked them to evaluate the tips that I had accumulated. They responded, “would you be our grandma?” I knew I hit the jackpot.
One of my first blog posts was about some of the best tips I received, “Pizza for Breakfast and Dessert First.”
As I searched the archives for this post, I realized I did follow-up posts when studies came out confirming one of the best grandma lessons to serve grandchildren pizza for breakfast.
“This Grandma’s Case For a Breakfast Feast Grandchildren Would Want For Breakfast, Part I”
“Pizza For Breakfast Is Finally Getting the Respect It Deserves and This Grandma’s Case For a Breakfast Feast Grandchildren Would Want For Breakfast, Part II”
One of my dear, long (we never say old) friends who has been a grandma mentor over the years is an amazing Italian chef. Each Christmas Eve, she used to invite all of her relatives and friends for a feast, from soup to nuts, all of which she prepared herself. All the recipes were family recipes. We all rolled out of her house, after devouring all the delicacies. Now that we are (AV) after vaccination, we had the opportunity to reconnect. Of course, we shared an Italian dinner. She shared that she appeared on a television program cooking some of her recipes. You can watch her share her family’s history and wonderful Italian stuffed peppers and also pasta with peas on Italian America Long Island.
Then I realized I could share some pizza recipes with her that I found online! No, not Italian ones. Grandchildren dessert pizzas! The recipes call for using refrigerated pizza dough or refrigerated sugar cookie dough as a crust, or being creative and even using watermelon as a base. See all the recipe choices at this link or consider this grandma’s three favorites below that are perfect for this spring and summer when we can again spend time with our grandchildren, and follow this Grandma’s rule of simple and easy when cooking or baking with grandchildren.
BIRTHDAY CAKE WATERMELON PIZZA (just 4 ingredients)
Ingredients:
1 center-cut slice of watermelon, 1 to 2 inches thick
½ cup chocolate chips (or more for those of us who love chocolate—then adjust cream amount)
2 tablespoons half-and-half or heavy cream
1 tablespoon multicolored candy sprinkles, or as needed (much more when having grandchildren sprinkle!)
Directions
Cut a round watermelon slice into 8 wedges and keep them together. Place on a serving dish.
Combine chocolate chips and half-and-half in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Heat in a microwave oven for 25 seconds, then remove and stir until chocolate chips are fully melted into the cream. Continue heating in the microwave in 5- to 10-second intervals if necessary.
Spoon melted chocolate evenly over the watermelon, stopping before the rind. Top with lots of sprinkles.
Serve it right away when the chocolate is still warm, or refrigerate for 30 minutes to an hour to let the chocolate set.
GRILLED S’MORES PIZZA
Ingredients:
1 pound refrigerated pizza dough
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, divided
2 cups chocolate chunks or chocolate chips
2 cups miniature marshmallows
3 honey graham crackers, crushed
¼ teaspoon flaky sea salt (Optional)
Directions:
Rest dough on a floured work surface for 20 minutes.
Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat and lightly oil the grate. Line a baking sheet with a layer of aluminum foil. Brush a 14-inch circle on the foil using 1 tablespoon butter.
Roll out dough to 1/4-inch thickness on the work surface. Lay onto the buttered area of the aluminum foil. Brush the top with the remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Sprinkle chocolate evenly on top. Spread marshmallows, graham crackers (honey or cinnamon), and salt over the chocolate.
Slide the foil onto the grill over indirect heat. Grill, lid closed, until crust is golden and marshmallows are toasted, 8 to 10 minutes.
Cut pizza into pieces. Cool before serving, about 5 minutes.
FRUIT PIZZA
Ingredients:
one package of ready made sugar cookie dough rolled out to fit a pizza pan.
an assortment of grandchildren’s favorite fresh fruit such as bananas, peaches, blueberries, kiwi, pineapple, and strawberries.
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
½ cup white sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Directions:
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Press dough into an ungreased pizza pan.
Bake in preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cool.
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with 1/2 cup sugar and vanilla until light. Spread on cooled crust.
Arrange desired fruit on top of filling, and chill for one hour.
What a wonderful and delicious activity to do with grandchildren now that we can be with them again. Yes, dessert first and pizza for breakfast – even dessert pizza.
Joy,
Mema
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