Pizza party 101

Make-your-own pizza is fun for everyone, not just the kids.
Having something creative and interactive to do at your New
Year’s Eve party can add to the festivities and accommodates
a variety of food preferences or dietary restrictions. Have a
pie or two baking when guests
arrive, then let everyone make
their pizza when they want.

If you’re on
a gluten-free diet? Try our gluten-free pizza dough recipe.

Menu:

Breadsticks
Assorted pizzas and flatbreads
Cheesecake in a jar
Nutella calzone
Sparkling winter sangria

To-Do list

Day before:

• make and freeze fruity ice
  ring for the sparkling winter sangria
• make and refrigerate
  cheesecakes in jars 
• if planning a games night
  pull out
  games and replenish items
  such as sharpened pencils,
  clean score cards, working
  white board markers, full
  decks of cards and dice

Morning of the party:

• prepare toppings (ie. chop
  pineapple, sauté mushrooms);
  cover and refrigerate
• set a buffet table with small
  plates, napkins, cutting
  boards and a pizza wheel 
• make and refrigerate pizza dough

Afternoon of the party:

• grate cheese, cover
  and refrigerate
• make and bake Nutella calzone 
• mix punch (leaving out
  the carbonated beverages)
  and chill

Before guests arrive:

• remove pizza dough from the
  fridge
• make a batch of breadsticks 
• set out cheese and bowls of
  toppings 
• set out parchment, extra
  flour or cornmeal and cutting
  boards 
• preheat the oven 
• toss a salad 
• add the ice ring and
  bubbles to the sangria

Shopping list

Produce
fresh rosemary

garlic

pineapple

mushrooms

arugula

fresh basil

kale, chard or spinach
spring greens (for salad)
fresh tomatoes

roasted red peppers

apples, oranges, lemons
and/or fresh cranberries
berries

Baking
all-purpose flour

cornmeal

icing sugar

graham cracker crumbs

parchment paper

Sauces & oils

olive oil

Nutella

tomato sauce

basil or sun-dried
tomato pesto

preserves

caramel or
chocolate sauce

Cheese and deli
1 8-oz (250 g) pkg
cream cheese

250 mL whipping cream

Parmesan cheese

Gouda

goat cheese

feta

mozzarella (regular and
balls of fresh mozzarella)

ham or prosciutto

Juices/soft drinks
1 L apple juice or cider

1 can frozen lemonade
concentrate

1 L white cranberry juice

1 L ginger ale

Wine and spirits
1 bottle dry white wine

1 L sparkling wine, such as
Prosecco

Party supplies
noisemakers and sparklers

paper plates and napkins

plastic cups

Originally published in ParentsCanada magazine, December 2012.