The BBP Pizza

One of my favorite parts of 4-H is that it encourages youth to explore their interests and try new things. My son is in his third year of 4-H and has grown so much through the different projects and events he has participated in. This year one of his projects that will be shown at our county fair next week is his Pizza Food Challenge. He had so much fun going to a pizza workshop and creating his own pizza that I thought I'd share it here on my blog!

My son attend our local Franklin County Extension's pizza making workshop earlier this summer where he learned how to make a whole wheat pizza crust and got to experiment with lots of different pizza toppings. Through his experience at the workshop, he came home with ideas on how to create his own pizza!

He knew he wanted to use pineapple from the very beginning and he really wanted to use cinnamon in the pizza sauce. At the workshop he experimented with cinnamon in the sauce but used WAY TOO MUCH, so at home he started with one teaspoon and decided that was just right. Canadian Bacon is traditionally paired with pineapple on pizzas but he wanted to do something a little unique, so he decided to use bacon and browned, ground brat meat.

He named his pizza the BBP, standing for Brat, Bacon and Pineapple. Our family enjoyed the pizza but some of us still aren't convinced that pineapple belongs on a pizza... I was actually surprised how the cinnamon complemented the other flavors on the pizza and I was impressed with the whole wheat pizza crust.

Try it for yourself and let us know what you think! Introducing my son's 4-H Food Challenge...

The BBP Pizza

For the crust (makes 2 crusts):

1 package (2 1/4 tsp) active dry yeast
1 cup warm water
2 tsp white sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/4 cup all purpose white flour (divided)

Toppings (for 1 pizza):

3/4 cup jarred pizza sauce
1 tsp ground cinnamon
3 slices bacon, crumbled
3/4 cup ground brat meat, browned
3/4 cup pinneapple chunks, drained
2 cups shredded pizza cheese

Start by making your crust. Add yeast and water to a large bowl. Stir to dissolve yeast in water. Allow to rest for 5 minutes.

Stir in sugar, salt and oil. Stir in whole wheat flour and 1 cup white flour. Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup flour onto a clean work surface. Knead until flour is completely mixed in with the dough, about 5 minutes. Form the dough into a ball. Spray the bowl with nonstick cooking spray. Set dough in the bowl. Cover with a towel. Let rise in a warm, draft free place for 15 minutes.

Preheat oven to 425°F. Divide into 2 even balls. Roll or stretch each dough ball to a 12" circle. Place on pizza pan or cookie sheet that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Using a fork, prick each of the crusts 10-15 times. Bake for 6-8 minutes or until it begins to feel firm on top.

Then top it with your toppings! Start by stirring in the cinnamon into your pizza sauce. Then spread the sauce evenly over your crust. Sprinkle your brat meat, bacon crumbles and pineapple chunks over the pizza. Then top with your cheese! Bake an additional 10-12 minutes or until the outer crust is lightly brown.

Are you Yay or Nay for pineapple on pizza? Let us know in the comments and if you try out my son's pizza be sure to share on socials and tag me at Corn, Beans, Pigs and Kids or @PlaggeVal.