National Pizza Month and Interactive Cooking with Kids - #HormelFamily

Did you know that October is National Pizza Month?!  First observed in the United States in 1984, October was designated as National Pizza Month by Gerry Durnell, the founder of Pizza Today Magazine, who chose that month because the first issue of his magazine debuted in October of that year.

According to Pizza.com, people don't really need a special month for pizza in a country where there are an estimated 63,000 pizzerias and 94% of Americans eat pizza at least once a month.  Though there are pizza restaurants in almost every city across the country, National Pizza Month offers the perfect opportunity to get the family together and create your own homemade pizza dishes.  Getting creative in the kitchen is a great way to bring together all members of the family and have a little bit of fun.

More often than not, mom and dad are stuck in the kitchen while the kids are occupied elsewhere during meal time preparation.  Make the kids a part of the Pizza Month mealtime experience and it can be a fun and educational journey!

*Start off the experience by shopping for ingredients together.  Let your kids write out their own lists with their favorite toppings and allow everyone to make an individual pie.  Make the food preparation process fun.  Let the kids cut their dough and toppings into fun shapes; encourage creativity while cooking.

*Put a theme to your family pizza night.  Do you want to pretend you are having a meal in the streets of Italy?  Can your kid's design in the kitchen match their favorite pizza restaurant?  Put up decorations and set the table to round out the experience.

*Cooking can be an educational experience.  Use cooking to educate your children on family history and recipes.  Cooking also teaches kids about kitchen safety and proper handling of measuring and cooking tools.

Everyone has their favorite pizza toppings and dishes, but to get you started, Hormel.com features an interactive video that includes tips and several unique recipes that help you to create a delicious pizza.  Check out the "Pizza Party" video for some inspiration.  Did you know Hormel also has a line of pizza toppings, including pepperoni, italian sausage crumbles, and beef crumbles?  Check out the varieties at http://www.hormelfoods.com/brands/hormel/HormelPepperoni.aspx.

A few Hormel pizza recipes include:

Chicken Pesto Pizza:  take your dish to the next level and impress the rest of your family with this gourmet pizza featuring Hormel Chunk Breast of Chicken, pesto, and your favorite cheeses.

Peppy Three Cheese Pizza:  microwave your favorite pizza crust or tortilla with a mixture of cheeses and Hormel Pepperoni for one minute and instantly enjoy a quick snack or meal.

For a smaller, bite-size pizza meal or tasty appetizer, serve your family or guests Hawaiian-Style Pizza Bites, which are deliciously topped with chopped Hormel Canadian Style Bacon and crushed pineapples.

What's your favorite topping combo for your pizza?  Have you tried the Hormel line of pizza toppings?

I wrote this post as a part of the Hormel Extended Family Blogger program and received products.  The opinions within this post are of my own.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.