Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.
Pizza is a BIG thing in my house. As a mom of two boys with hollow legs, I’m constantly looking for satisfying meals and snacks that will keep the boys’ hunger at bay. In recent months, I’ve discovered that often, pizza is simply the best option; it’s loaded with protein, is a finger food, and most importantly, can be customized to suit tastes and preferences.
Yet it occurred to me some time ago that my kitchen drawer was littered with delivery flyers. My freezer was overstocked with frozen pizzas – both family-sized and snack portions. A growing fraction of our children’s diet was dedicated to convenience food; surely there had to be a better way?
Yes, I could make pizza myself. And I do! But I am also realistic: I am not the type to make my own pizza dough from scratch on a weekly basis. I choose my battles carefully, and battling with sticky dough is not a war I will ever win. So, I found a wonderful alternative in flatbreads; they’re easy to work with and offer a desirable thin crust. But the equation wasn’t perfect just yet – because making your own pizza also means you have to preheat your oven. And bake it. And watch it. Hmmm… where were those microwaveable pizza snacks?
But just when I thought I had doomed my boys to a childhood of convenience food, the heavens parted… and I was introduced to a game changer. The Hamilton Beach Pizza Maker. YES, a countertop pizza maker! It’s a snazzy, easy-to-use appliance that makes pizza, snacks and appetizers in a flash. Heat up a 12” pre-made frozen pizza or create your own delicious and nutritious pizza from (almost) scratch!
The kicker: It cooks up to 40% faster and is up to 52% more energy efficient than your kitchen oven.
Do the math, friends: in the time it takes to preheat my oven for a frozen or fresh pizza, we could have pizza on the table. And for this mom of boys who say “I’m still hungry” exactly 8.2 times per day, that is very attractive indeed!
Presenting: Five Steps to Five-Minute Pizza. Made possible ONLY with the Hamilton Beach Pizza Maker.
Step One: Get your hands on a Hamilton Beach Pizza Maker, of course! Available at TruServ, Amazon.ca and SHOP.CA, the unit retails for $69.99 and for pizza lovers, is worth every penny. In addition to cooking pizza, you can also warm appetizers, wings, cinnamon rolls and more. Bonus: the gorgeous red colour looks great on your countertop or tabletop.
Step Two: Add your frozen pizza, fresh pizza dough or flat bread to the pizza maker, and load up your toppings. Did you see that? I created my pizza directly in the pizza maker. So, there are less dishes and almost ZERO cleanup! Because my boys can get picky about toppings, I hide them between layers of shredded mozzarella. On this particular pizza, I’ve buried pepperoni and sauteed mushrooms – a classic combination.
Step Three: Close the lid. adjust the heat setting and timer, and you’re done. The wide top window shows off your pizza as it rotates, ensuring even heat. And did you notice that there’s NO preheating? That’s right, you save time and energy. And for precooked pizza crust such as flatbreads, it takes only FIVE MINUTES at heat setting “4″.
Step Four: Open the pizza maker and admire your handiwork. The surface does get rather warm, so be sure to keep curious little hands away both while the appliance is in use and for some time afterward. With the non-stick bottom, your pizza will slide off. Then, simply cool slightly and get ready for the goodness: a crisp, perfectly cooked crust and warm, ooey-gooey toppings. It is perfection pizzafied.
Step Five: Enjoy your five-minute pizza that you completed in five simple steps. With wholesome, fresh ingredients, I feel good about serving pizza to my boys to their hearts’ content. We use our Hamilton Beach Pizza Maker at least 2-3 times per week to create delicious, comforting snacks and meals the whole family loves.
Love what you see? One lucky reader will win a Hamilton Beach Pizza Maker, valued at $69.99! To enter, simply fill the form below with your qualifying entries. Good luck!