Full Tummies Tuesday - Rainbow Pizza

When you have toddlers it's always a challenge to find new and exciting things to eat. My toddler is definitely not a "picky eater", but he does love his favorite foods. So it's easy to get stuck in a rut when it comes to dinner time! 

This pizza is a super fun way to encourage kids to eat their vegetables. It won't take a whole lot of convincing to get them to try out a rainbow pizza, and the cauliflower crust is so yummy and delicious they wont even guess it's made from vegetables!

The key to ANY cauliflower crust is to squeeze ALL the water out of the cauliflower before making the crust. It doesn't seem like it's wet, but once you bake it any moisture left in the cauliflower will just give you a mushy mess. At that point you're basically eating casserole so don't skip this important step!

The best way to squeeze all the water out is using a cheesecloth. Make the pureed up cauliflower into a big ball and squeeze ever last drop of water out using a cheesecloth. Wait until the cauliflower is cooled so that it's not too hot to squeeze! You can also use a thin dishtowel, but it's not ideal.

Anyone knows that the best way to get a toddler to do something, is to make them think it was their idea. So when I try out new recipes I like to get my toddler involved in the process somehow. Maybe he helps to cut something, mix something, or to help measure ingredients. Letting them help you in the kitchen helps them to take ownership for a meal. They will be proud to eat something that they helped create. Especially something that turns out so beautiful!

Here's the how-to:

RAINBOW PIZZA

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INGREDIENTS

1 small to medium sized head of cauliflower ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese ¼ cup mozzarella cheese 1 egg ¼ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon garlic powder ½ teaspoon basil ½ teaspoon oregano

1 cup marinara or pizza sauce 1-2 cups mozzarella cheese 1 cup diced bell peppers (yellow, orange, red, green) ½ cup broccoli florets ½ cup diced red onion ¼ cup canned corn ½ cup tomatoes (I used grape tomatoes cut in half)

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DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 500 degrees F. Remove the stems from the cauliflower and cut into chunks, Pulse cauliflower (uncooked) in a food processor until it looks like rice. Microwave the processed cauliflower uncovered in a microwave safe bowl for approximately 4-5 minutes on high. Remove it from the microwave and allow it to cool for 10 minutes. You want it cool enough to squeeze in your hands. After the cauliflower is cooled, use a cheesecloth to squeeze all the liquid out of it. REALLY SQUEEZE IT! Seriously, don't skip this step you will regret it! Combine the cooked cauliflower, egg, garlic, cheese, and seasonings. Stir until a dough texture forms. Spread the cauliflower mixture out onto lightly greased parchment paper or a pizza pan in the shape of a pizza crust. Bake the crust for approximately 10-15 minutes (depending on your oven), or until the crust is golden and crispy around the edges. After the crust is golden remove it from the oven and top with pizza sauce and cheese. THEN put the veggies on top of the cheese and sauce. Place the pizza back in the oven and bake for another 12-15 minutes.

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  EAT & ENJOY!