Busy Mom's French Bread Pizza

Years ago when I was a single working mom with two young sons I was always looking for something easy to make that the kids would like and that would seem like a treat and be inexpensive but filling.  That's when I first started making this French Bread Pizza.  I could usually find the French bread already baked for only a dollar a loaf and I would buy the cheese in bulk so I always had it on hand.  As for the sauce, I went with something that I remembered from when I was a little girl, Ragu.  It was a scary time for me then and even something as small as spaghetti sauce and a memory of dinner with my parents was comforting.  

 

French Bread Pizza

1 loaf of French Bread cut into 4 equal parts and then halved (see photo)

Ragu Spaghetti Sauce -any flavor your heart desires!

Mozzarella Cheese

Parmesan Cheese

Toppings (optional) - I added spinach because my strange children like it 😉 

Preheat oven to 375°.

Place bread on cookie sheet (as shown).  Spoon sauce over bread.  

Add toppings and cover with cheese(s).

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.  

Serve! 

In those early days of being a single mom I had no idea that the woman whose recipe started it all, Assunta Cantisano, had been a single mother also and finding a way to provide for her family was her reason for starting the Ragu brand in 1937.   When I found that out, I was pretty impressed.  Not only did she provide for her family but she created something that has thrived since 1937 - she created a legacy, something I strive for to this day.  Find out more of the personal story of Assunta and Ragu here.  

There you have it - one of my favorite recipes that brings back good memories for me and my kids! Do you have any recipes like that? I would love to hear about them.