- Sep 26, 2023

Apple Pizzas! Cooking with Our Littles!

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Hello, Friends!

As hard as it is to bid goodbye to summer,

we are equally excited to welcome autumn…

the weather,

the landscapes,

the clothes,

the food,

the celebrations!

Bring it all on!

Last week we shared a favorite fall activity,

one we always looked forward to each year…

with our students and our own young children!

Nowadays, we are excited to visit the pumpkin patch and/or the apple orchard

with our grandchildren,

our Littles,

as we create new memories to share together!

Today Laura is sharing an easy and tasty cooking activity

you can do with your Littles,

as a follow up to an apple orchard visit

or simply as a yummy fall treat you prepare together!

Cooking with Littles can be such an adventure!

Did you know that it provides learning opportunities for your Littles

as well as loads of delicious fun?

Cooking encourages children's thinking, problem-solving, and creativity!

It also provides needed opportunities to use the knowledge they have and apply it

by counting, measuring, following a sequence and following directions!

So… let’s get cookin!

Last weekend, Little L and her mommy and daddy (and pup-sister, Alli)

came for a visit!

I (Laura) had picked up some honeycrisp apples at the farmer’s market

and was ready to do some baking with my favorite toddler!

The fun began when I pulled out my trusty apple peeler/corer/slicer.

Here's a link to a similar one!

Little L was enthralled, just as her mommy and auntie had been so many years ago!

I remember back to past years as a teacher, too,

when I’d bring this gadget to school

the day after our field trip to the orchard.

My first graders and then my kindergartners loved to take turns peeling the apples,

as they’d nibble their collection of peelings, too!

Little L was no different!!!

DELICIOUS!!!

A Grand Tip!

At Gramma & Grampa’s house we do not have a Toddler Tower

Little L used a two-step stepping stool!

This worked perfectly, especially since she is now old enough

to balance all by herself… BIG GIRL!

And Now… Back to Cooking…

Once the apples had been peeled, cored, sliced

and… dare we say, sampled,

Little L and I got busy cooking!

😋

For many years,

these Apple Pizzas were made in my kindergarten classroom

to culminate our Apple Week activities!

We’d prepare the pizzas in our classroom and then we’d march them down

to the cafeteria where our lunchroom staff

would graciously bake them for us!

The smells of cinnamon, sugar and apples would fill the school hallways

as we anticipated what was to come!

Read on for our recipe…

And, remember… your Littles (toddler and older) can help

with most every step along the way!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 tube Grands original refrigerated biscuits

• 1⁄2 cup packed brown sugar (you can make more if you use more apples)

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 2 or 3 medium apples - peeled, cored and chopped

• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

• melted butter

DIRECTIONS

1) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place parchment paper on a large sheet pan. Lightly add cooking spray.

2) Cut each biscuit in half or into thirds, depending on your preferred size. Pat the dough or roll it out into thin 2 or 3 inch circles (these will puff up while baking).

3) If you have not done so already, peel, core, slice/chop apples into bite size pieces.

A Grand Tip!

Older Littles (preschool and up)

can use a plastic knife to help you cut sliced apples

into smaller chunks!

4) In a bowl, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon. Add the apples and mix well.

5). Spoon the apple mixture onto each biscuit.

A Grand Tip!

This was Little L’s favorite step,

but be on the lookout!

Little L wanted to put as much in her mouth as on the biscuit…

I had a tough time keeping up! YUM!

6). Sprinkle cheese over each pizza. (We know some of you are wondering about this step, but, trust us, it’s truly delicious!)

7). Bake the pizzas for about 12-15 minutes or until the edges begin to brown.

8). Remove the pan from the oven. Brush melted butter over the top of each pizza.

Ready to Serve & Enjoy!

We hope you and your Littles

enjoy making and eating these special pizzas

as much as Laura’s family (and students) have over the years!

If you give these a try, we’d love to hear what you think!

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this post

or email us directly at ourgrandlives@gmail.com.

Here’s links to three more of our favorite apple treats to make with and for

the Littles in your lives!

No Bake Apple Donuts

From Beyond Cereal

Fresh, crisp, and delicious apple slices topped with your favorite spreads and toppings like granola, sprinkles, chocolate, or fruit, make these no bake apple donuts an irresistible treat.