Zucchini Pesto Pizza! Paired with milk, this pizza is a nutritious and delicious way to feed spinach and other vegetables to your family. Make the pizzas at home together! It’s amazing how much children love the meal more when they have helped to prepare it!
The day has finally arrived. My children go back to school tomorrow!
There has been so much anticipation and anxiety for this upcoming school year. My oldest will be in 4th grade, her last year of elementary school, and my youngest will be starting kindergarten. I’m grateful that they will be at the same school for one year.
How did the last six years go by so fast?
My daughters have grown so much! Physically, mentally and intellectually. I love how they take care of each other and look out for each other. Like most siblings, they still bicker and get into arguments but when it comes down to it, they have each other’s backs. Always.
When I look back over the years and think about my oldest daughter, Phoebe, and how she’s grown into a beautiful, young, caring and loving little lady, I get swelled up with emotion. She is there to encourage, lead by example and teach her little sister, Madeline. Madeline will always follow along and loves and looks up to her big sister so much.
My oldest has taken some time to grow into her skin and as I watch her grow into a beautiful little lady, I am in awe and filled with so much pride and joy. She isn’t the most athletic kid, and we’re still trying to find the activity that she loves but she’s determined, and when she sets her mind to something, she gets it done.
Phoebe has always been the artist in our family, great with colors and has such a great sense of design, already at her young age. Art and reading have always been fun for her and we’ve loved watching her grow into a budding artist. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for her for 4th grade. As long as she tries her best and uses her imagination and dreams big, we know the skies the limit!
Phoebe has always been the biggest milk drinker in our family. She drinks milk at every meal and almost always asks for a second glass. I wholeheartedly believe that milk, and eating well, has helped her grow and has helped give her energy and nutrition she needs to accomplish everything she sets out to do.
In my mind, milk is essential for my children. Milk has 9 essential nutrients, including 8 grams of protein in every 8 ounce glass. It’s simple, wholesome, affordable and naturally nutrient-rich. Milk has nutrition that every kid needs.
Along with drinking milk, children need to be eating a balanced diet and nutritious foods. Both help to fuel the dreams and imaginations of our children.
Pizza night is a staple at our house. We’ve been doing this for years and my kids have the pizza making (and dough rolling) down to a science! We mix up the toppings and because I introduced pesto to my kids at a young age, they love it and devour it and especially love it on their pizza.
Use this spinach pesto, or a simple tomato sauce, either works great! When we’ve planned for it and are prepped with homemade pizza ingredients, pizza night is always a hit. The kids get involved and make their own and love that sense of accomplishment and helping out with dinner.
On nights where we are strapped for time, we simply use store bought flatbread or naan bread. It’s so easy and your pizza is ready to go into the oven in no time! Meals like this, paired with milk, will get my family and I through this next school year for sure!
Here’s to a fabulous new school year for us all!
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Zucchini Pesto Pizza
Ingredients
For the spinach pesto:
- 2 to 3 cups packed fresh baby spinach
- 1/2 cup arugula or fresh parsley
- 2 cloves garlic; whole or minced
- ¼ cup almonds
- ½ cup good quality extra-virgin olive oil + more if needed
- ¼ cup freshly grated or chunks of Parmesan
- Kosher salt to taste
- crushed red pepper flakes if desired
For the pizza:
- 3 slices naan bread or flatbread
- 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese + more if desired
- 1 zucchini sliced thin crosswise
- 1/2 small yellow summer squash sliced thin crosswise
- avocado oil
- fresh parsley finely diced
Instructions
For the pesto:
- Combine the spinach, greens, parsley, garlic, and almonds in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. With the processor running, slowly pour the olive oil into the bowl through the feed tube and process until the pesto is thoroughly combined. Add the Parmesan and pulse until well combined. Season with salt and add the crushed red pepper flakes (if using), pulse one more time and then set aside.
For the pizza:
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
- Spread pesto (starting with 1/4 cup) onto each piece of naan bread. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese over the top. Top each pizza with slices of the zucchini and yellow summer squash; all in one layer and bake for about 10 to 12 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the naan bread is slightly crispy.
- Remove pizza from the oven and very lightly drizzle some avocado oil over the top and sprinkle on some fresh parsley if desired. Enjoy immediately.
Disclosure: This is a paid, sponsored post written in partnership with the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board’s Milk Life Campaign. All opinions here are 100% my own.
Laura | Tutti Dolci says
August 31, 2016 at 12:40 amLove, love, love this pizza! That pesto looks so good!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
August 31, 2016 at 2:14 amI just can’t believe that it is back to school time already – but at least they are going to be at the same school.
I am sure a delicious pizza like this makes going back to school that little bit easier.
Mir says
August 31, 2016 at 5:42 amIs that Color Me Mine where Phoebe is painting ? I love that place!
I hope your school year starts off great. Always a little nerve-wracking in week one! This pizza would help a lot. I’m already falling apart on dinners!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
August 31, 2016 at 6:25 amYour daughters are just the cutest, Alice! What a beautiful tribute to them. And congrats on starting another successful school year! This pizza looks like the perfect way to celebrate. I love the combination of zucchini and pesto!
Ashley - The Recipe Rebel says
August 31, 2016 at 9:35 amJust seeing this makes me all emotional! Lol. I’m not ready for my girls to be that big and be in school all day! I’ll admit, there are days I think it would sure be all right, but mostly I think I’d miss them! This pizza is the best of both worlds — a healthy version of a childhood favorite!
Dawn @ Girl Heart Food says
August 31, 2016 at 10:59 amYour girls are just the cutest and sounds like they are just beautiful people and the best of buds. So nice they will be attending the same school and can look out for each other! Can’t believe the school year has started already! Around here, schools typically start back up next week after the long weekend.
Love your spinach pesto! I enjoy all kinds of pesto so it’s great tasting different varieties and pesto on pizza is always a winner! Such a healthy recipe. Yum!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
August 31, 2016 at 1:42 pmAwwwwww! Both your girls are just so gawsh darn cute, Alice!! I can’t even handle it! I know you are such a proud mom! Thanks for sharing your love and family with us! I am loving this pizza, girlfriend! Zucchini and pesto are both my jam, so pile those high on some pizza and I’m in love!! I could definitely eat this daily! Cheers!
P.S. Now I’ll never look at a glass of milk without thinking of you guys! 😉
Stefanie says
August 31, 2016 at 2:14 pmIt’s fun to learn about your daughters as I have two myself. Madison has elementary school ending in 4th grade? That is certainly unique. In SF, it’s the typical 5th grade. Here in the east bay we end in 6th but that is slowly changing by converting junior highs to middle schools. My oldest started 7th grade today; my youngest who will always be my baby is in 4th. Your two kids are really good eaters. I like how they’re so open to your recipes.
hipfoodiemom says
September 1, 2016 at 6:10 amHi Stefanie, yes, our elementary goes to 4th grade. Thank you!!! They are open to my recipes most of the time and like I said, I think it’s because I’ve exposed them to different things (like pesto) at a young age. . wishing all of our kiddos a great school year! Thank you for the comment! 🙂
Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven says
September 1, 2016 at 6:42 amAww, your girls are SUCH sweeties. I always love seeing pictures of them on your blog and on FB. Love how you include them in nearly all your posts, Alice! And I mean, this pizza? SO up my alley with all that beautiful green!!
Cathy | whatshouldimakefor.com says
September 1, 2016 at 10:23 pmhope your girls had a great first day! my boys are big milk drinkers too and i love that they eschew juice and soda in favor of a cold glass of milk. this pizza is a perfect meal for school nights…easy, healthy and delicious. definitely softens the return to reality.
Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine says
September 6, 2016 at 1:34 pmI love this post 🙂 This pizza looks great– I have watched my son grow up so much (13 months!). I would love to see him with a sibling, but am not sure another child is in the cards for my husband and I.. kids are SO amazing, but SO much work, and our travel/work schedules have been extremely stressful this past year!
hipfoodiemom says
September 6, 2016 at 2:07 pmhi Michelle, thanks so much for your visit to my blog and comment. . yes, having children is so much work. . people ask me all the time if we want more .. but I am happy with just two! You have to do what is right for your family!!! Every family is different! As long as your house is filled with love, the number of kids doesn’t matter! 🙂