Nina took her apron out of her backpack. Miss Shelly had asked all the Kids Central kids to bring aprons today.
Nina's apron was purple. It was a present from Aunt Sujong in Korea. Aunt Sujong visited the United States once a year.
"Hey, Bobby. Nice apron," Jason teased. Bobby was wearing a pink apron with ruffles.
"It's my sister's," Bobby grumbled. "What are you wearing?"
"My old pajamas," Jason said. "It's also my smock for art class."
"Buon giorno!" Miss Shelly called. She was wearing a chef's hat. "That's Italian for 'hello.' Today we're going to make my favorite Italian food—pizza! But we're going to make small snack pizzas called pizza bagels!"
"I've eaten bagels. And I've eaten pizza. But I've never eaten pizza bagels before!" Nina said.
"First you can each take six bagel halves from the basket," Miss Shelly told them.
"Whoa! We each get six?" Bobby cried.
"Yep. What's next, Bobby?" Miss Shelly asked.
"Spread pizza sauce on the bagels," Bobby read.
Nina spread the sauce in a circle on her bagels.
"Wait, I need more." Jason leaned over the table to take the jar from Nina. His bagels slipped off his dish.
"Ah!" Nina jumped out of the way of the sliding bagels.
Splat. Jason's bagels landed sauce-side down on the gym floor.
"Oh!" Jason moaned. "Now what, Miss Shelly?"
"Sorry. We only had enough for six each. Someone will have to share with you," Miss Shelly answered.
"I'll share mine," Bobby said.
"Thank you, Bobby," said Miss Shelly. "That's very kind."
"Now sprinkle shredded cheese on the bagels. Not too much," Nina read out loud.
"Yum, I love cheese!" Izzie cried.
"Then choose a topping. Sprinkle it over the cheese," Izzie read. "I pick bacon."
"I pick olives," Nina said.
"Look! I'm making a pizza pie!" The girls turned around. Bobby was tossing two bagels in the air. He was pretending to make pizza dough. Jason was laughing.
"Boys, do not play with food," Miss Shelly warned.
"Whoa!" Bobby tripped and bumped into Jason. Their plate went flying into the air. Jason leaped to catch it. But it was too late.
"Six more pizza bagels gone." Miss Shelly sighed. "Well, let's put yours in the toaster oven, girls."
"Something is burning!" Miss Shelly ran to the toaster oven.
"My pizza bagels!" Izzie cried.
"Too much cheese," Jason said. The cheese had dripped off the bagels. It was burned onto the bottom of the oven.
"But there are still six good pizza bagels here." Miss Shelly pulled Nina's bagels out of the oven.
"Enough for all of us." Nina smiled. "Dig in, everyone."
"Thanks. Hooray for Nina!" everyone cheered.
Miss Shelly took off her chef's hat and put it on Nina's head.
Nina beamed. She couldn't wait to make pizza bagels for Aunt Sujong.
Things You'll Need:
- small (or regular) bagels sliced in half or thickly sliced bread
- pizza sauce (or tomato sauce)
- shredded cheese
- a topping such as chopped vegetables or meat
Do It Yourself:
1) Ask an adult to slice the bagels in half.
2) Spread pizza sauce over each bagel half.
3) Sprinkle cheese on top of the sauce.
4) Sprinkle your favorite topping on the cheese.
5) Place in the toaster oven and bake at 180˚ C for 5 minutes.
6) Enjoy!