Kid-friendly Stacked Lasagna Pizza Bites + Garlic-Herb Infused Oil + "Chinotto" Orange Soft Drink Recipe - Sticky Fingers Cooking
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Family Meal Plan: Stacked Lasagna Pizza Bites + Garlic-Herb Infused Oil + "Chinotto" Orange Soft Drink

Family Meal Plan: Stacked Lasagna Pizza Bites + Garlic-Herb Infused Oil + "Chinotto" Orange Soft Drink

Stacked Lasagna Pizza Bites + Garlic-Herb Infused Oil + "Chinotto" Orange Soft Drink

by Dylan Sabuco
Photo by Dylan Sabuco
prep time
25 minutes
cook time
20 minutes
makes
4-6 servings

Fun Food Story

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Stacked Lasagna Pizza Bites

What do you make when you crave the cheesy, layered goodness of homemade lasagna but find yourself short on time? Stacked Lasagna Pizza Bites! This inventive dish combines the best elements of classic lasagna and pizza, all without the lengthy preparation. The secret? Wonton wrappers replace traditional pasta, allowing you to savor the irresistible flavors of both Italian favorites in no time. The crispy edges of the wonton wrappers mimic the exposed pasta edges you might get in traditional baked lasagna. Get ready for crispy, cheesy, bite-sized marvels—the ideal appetizer for any occasion or a mini meal unto themselves!

Happy & Healthy Cooking,

Chef Erin, Food-Geek-in-Chief
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Shopping List

  • FRESH AND FROZEN
  • 1 Roma tomato **(see allergy subs below)**
  • 1 orange
  • 1/2 C frozen pitted cherries
  • DAIRY
  • 1 C ricotta cheese **(see allergy subs below)**
  • 1/4 C Parmesan cheese **(see allergy subs below)**
  • PANTRY
  • 36 (1 pkg) wonton wrappers **(see allergy subs below)**
  • 2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 2 pinches ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 C olive oil
  • 3 C sparkling water
  • 2 big pinches granulated sugar
  • HAVE ON HAND
  • ice, optional

Fun-Da-Mentals Kitchen Skills

  • bake :

    to cook food with dry heat, as in an oven.

  • dice :

    to cut foods into small pieces of equal size so that the food is cooked evenly or looks uniform and pleasant when used in the recipe.

  • measure :

    to calculate the specific amount of an ingredient required using a measuring tool (like measuring cups or spoons).

  • pour :

    to cause liquid, granules, or powder to stream from one container into another.

  • smash :

    to break up food into smaller pieces or squash food to flatten or soften it.

  • stir :

    to mix together two or more ingredients with a spoon or spatula, usually in a circle pattern, or figure eight, or in whatever direction you like!

Equipment Checklist

  • Liquid measuring cup
  • Measuring spoons
  • Small whisk or spoon for stirring
  • Oven
  • Muffin pan
  • Medium mixing bowl
  • Dry measuring cups
  • Whisk
  • Cutting board
  • Kid-safe knife
  • Wooden spoon
  • Rubber spatula
  • Pitcher
  • Strainer
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Ingredients

Stacked Lasagna Pizza Bites

  • 36 (1 pkg) wonton wrappers **(for EGG/GLUTEN ALLERGY sub zucchini sliced into thin rounds)**
  • 1 C ricotta cheese **(for DAIRY ALLERGY sub dairy-free/nut-free ricotta or cream cheese)**
  • 1 Roma tomato **(for NIGHTSHADE/TOMATO ALLERGY sub 1 small zucchini )**
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 pinch ground black pepper
  • 1/4 C pre-grated or shredded Parmesan cheese **(for DAIRY ALLERGY sub dairy-free/nut-free Parmesan cheese)
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 T olive oil, divided

Garlic-Herb Infused Oil

  • 1/4 C olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 pinch ground black pepper

"Chinotto" Orange Soft Drink

  • 1 orange
  • 3 C sparkling water
  • 2 big pinches granulated sugar
  • 1/2 C frozen pitted cherries
  • ice, optional

Food Allergen Substitutions

Stacked Lasagna Pizza Bites

  • Egg: Substitute Asian rice papers for wonton wrappers and soak them in warm water for 20 seconds—only for egg-free and gluten-free kids, not for the whole class.
  • Gluten/Wheat: Substitute Asian rice papers for wonton wrappers, soaked in warm water for 20 seconds—only for egg-free and gluten-free kids, not for the whole class.
  • Dairy: Substitute dairy-free/nut-free ricotta or cream cheese for ricotta cheese. Substitute dairy-free/nut-free Parmesan cheese.
  • Nightshade/Tomato: For 1 Roma tomato, substitute 1 small zucchini.

Instructions

Stacked Lasagna Pizza Bites

1.
intro

Lasagna and pizza are both classic Italian dishes! This Sticky Fingers Cooking spin on these classics is crispy, cheesy, and the perfect appetizer for any party. You will use wonton wrappers instead of pasta for a simple and quick substitution. Switching these ingredients will help us finish this recipe in half the time of a typical lasagna recipe, and the result will be crunchy on all the edges.

2.
measure + mix

In a medium mixing bowl, measure 1 cup ricotta cheese, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 pinch of black pepper, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Whisk to combine. Set aside for later.

3.
chop + season

Chop 1 Roma tomato into a small dice and add that to the cheese mixture. Stir a few times to combine.

4.
shape

Divide 1 tablespoon of olive oil into all the wells of a muffin pan. Place 1 wonton wrapper into each well of the muffin pan. Then, scoop 1 to 2 teaspoons of the cheese and tomato mixture into the wonton wrapper. After that, lay another wonton wrapper over the cheese and tomato mixture and press down gently. Now repeat one more time. Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of the cheese and tomato mixture over the wonton. Finally, place one more wonton on top and press down gently. You should have 3 wontons in each well of the muffin pan.

5.
preheat + bake

Preheat your oven to 350 F. Once the oven is preheated, slide the muffin pan into the oven and bake for 20 minutes or until the edges of the wontons are golden brown. Carefully remove the Stacked Lasagna Pizza Bites with a rubber spatula. These snacks are perfect for a party or potluck! Dunk them into Garlic-Herb Infused Oil for an even tastier bite! Enjoy!

Garlic-Herb Infused Oil

1.
measure + stir

Measure and stir the following ingredients in a liquid measuring cup: 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1 pinch of salt, and 1 pinch of black pepper. Set aside for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to blend. Pour into a serving dish and dunk your favorite bread or our Stacked Lasagna Pizza Bites.

2.
scrumptious science

It is always a good idea to add dried herbs and spices towards the beginning of any recipe you are cooking. Dried herbs and spices derive their flavor from the oil that is deep inside. Those oils become less potent over time, sitting in jars in our cabinets. Heating the dried herbs and spices gently with oil will help make the flavor stronger in the end.

"Chinotto" Orange Soft Drink

1.
measure + smash

Measure 1/2 cup frozen pitted cherries, 2 big pinches of sugar, and 1 unpeeled orange (sliced in half) and place them in a pitcher. Smash the ingredients together with a wooden spoon. Mix, mash, and smash for about 2 minutes. Count to 10 in Italian while you smash: 1 uno (OO-noh), 2 due (DOO-eh), 3 tre (treh), 4 quattro (KWAHT-troh), 5 cinque (CHEEN-kweh), 6 sei (SEH-ee), 7 sette (SET-teh), 8 otto (OHT-toh), 9 nove (NOH-veh), 10 dieci (dee-EH-chee).

2.
strain + pour

Strain the cherry and orange mixture through a strainer to remove all the pulp and seeds. Divide the cherry and orange syrup into cups. Add ice and sparkling water to fill all the cups. "Salute" or "Cheers'' in Italian!

Surprise Ingredient: Wonton Wrapper!

back to recipe
Photo by leungchopan/Shutterstock.com

Hi! I'm a Wonton Wrapper!

"I'm a small, tasty container that can hold even more yummy food packed inside. You can fill me and add me to soup or fry me up for a crisp snack!"

  • Chinese wonton (or won ton) wrappers may have existed for about 2,000 years. They are square, thin wrappers made from a dough of flour, eggs, water, and salt. The dough is rolled out by hand or using a pasta machine into paper-thin sheets and cut into three-inch squares.
  • Their name comes from the Chinese dumplings called "wonton," which are made with the wrappers and often served as appetizers. A savory filling, like seasoned ground pork and shrimp, is wrapped in one of the squares, shaped in various ways, and then sealed. They are cooked by steaming or boiling in a hot liquid, typically soup. The outer wonton wrapper takes on the quality of a tender noodle when cooked. 
  • Wonton wrappers can be made at home or purchased in a grocery store. If homemade wrappers are not used right away, the individual squares are lightly sprinkled with cornstarch to keep them from sticking together, stacked, wrapped in plastic wrap, and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for no more than two days.
  • You can make crisps by cutting wonton wrappers into strips or triangles and frying them in oil. They can be added to salads or soups and are great dipped in hot mustard or a Chinese sweet-and-sour sauce!

History of Lasagna!

Photo by OlgaBombologna/Shutterstock.com
  • Lasagna is both a noodle and a dish! Lasagna noodles are long, flat, and broad, perfect for layering on top of one another. Lasagna, the dish, traditionally layers noodles with meats, cheeses, and a marinara or tomato sauce.
  • There are a few theories about the origin of the Italian word "lasagna." One view is that it actually comes from the Greek "lasanon," which means…"chamber pot?!" The Romans borrowed from the Greek word for the Latin "lasanum," for "cooking pot," because of the similar shape. The noodle and the dish eventually took on the name of the pot it was cooked in. 
  • Lasagna in Italy might look slightly different, depending on where you go in the country! Naples lasagna is made with sausage, little meatballs, ricotta, mozzarella, a meat ragu sauce, and sometimes even hard-boiled eggs. In northern Italy, the layers are often green because spinach and other vegetables are mixed in. 
  • Lasagna came to America in the 1900s with Italian immigrants. Lasagna was not often made in Italy because the meat there was expensive. However, meat was cheaper in America, so families could afford to make this tasty dish more often! However, good-quality olive oil and cheese were more challenging to find. 
  • Lasagna became more popular in the US as the dish was simplified, with ground beef and canned tomatoes and sauces replacing traditional and fresher ingredients. 
  • Our SFC recipe, Melty Cheesy Zucchini Polenta Lasagna In a Mug, uses polenta instead of noodles and zucchini instead of meat.

Let's Learn About Italy!

Photo by Marina Andrejchenko/Shutterstock.com
  • Italy became a unified country in 1861, only 150 years ago. It is sometimes called "bel paese" or "beautiful country."  
  • Italians invented the piano and the thermometer! 
  • In ancient Roman mythology, two twin brothers named Romulus and Remus founded Rome, Italy's capital city. The myth says the twins were abandoned and then discovered by a she-wolf before being found and raised by a shepherd and his wife. Eventually (and after many exciting adventures), they found themselves at the location of Palatine Hill, where Romulus built "Roma." The Italian wolf became Italy's unofficial national animal. 
  • In the 1930s and 40s, Mussolini, Italy's prime minister, and dictator tried to eliminate all foreign words from the Italian language. How did he do that? He just changed them! For example, in soccer, "goal" became "meta." Disney character names changed, too: Donald Duck became "Paperino;" Mickey Mouse became "Topolino;" and Goofy became "Pippo." Although they're not banned anymore, these words and names have stuck. So now if you go to the Italian Disneyland, called Gardaland Park, you will see Topolino and Pippo! 
  • About 60 million people call Italy home, and it is 116,350 square miles, slightly larger than the US state of Arizona. If you compare that to the United Kingdom, 67 million people live there, and it is about 94,350 square miles. So, the UK is smaller than Italy but has a bigger population! 
  • The Italian flag is green, white, and red. These colors represent hope, faith, and charity.
  • The average Italian eats close to 55 pounds of pasta annually. If you think about how light pasta is, that is a considerable amount! There are more than 500 different types of pasta eaten in Italy today. 

What's It Like to Be a Kid in Italy?

  • Kids begin school at 6 years old. They grow up speaking Italian, but they learn English in school, so many become bilingual in Italian and English.
  • The most popular sport for kids is football (soccer). The Italian word for soccer is "calcio," the same word they use for "kick." A favorite of younger kids is "Rody, the bouncing horse," a plastic horse that a small child can hop onto and bounce around the room. Rody was invented in Italy in 1984.  
  • The family ("la famiglia") is a central characteristic of Italian life. Children have great respect for their older relatives. It is traditional to name the first male child after the grandfather and the first female child after the grandmother.
  • If kids live close to school, they can go home and have lunch with their families! Lunch at school might be pasta, meat with vegetables, a sandwich, or a salad with lots of ingredients. Families typically eat dinner later (7 to 8 pm), so kids end up staying up later, too!
  • Between lunch and dinner, kids often enjoy "merenda," which is an afternoon snack that translates to "something that is deserved." It is really a mini-meal that can include both savory and sweet foods. Examples of savory foods are a salami or mortadella sandwich, a slice of rustic bread rubbed with a cut, raw tomato, or "pizza bianca" (white pizza without tomato sauce). Types of sweet foods eaten during merenda are "gelato" (a lower-fat type of ice cream), any kind of cake, or biscotti dipped in warm milk.

That's Berry Funny

What is an ice cream cone's favorite vegetable? 

Gar-LICK!

The Yolk's On You

Want to hear a joke about pizza? 

Never mind, it's too cheesy!

That's Berry Funny

I’d like to tell my lasagna joke here... 

…but it’s multi-layered and way too cheesy!

The Yolk's On You

If someone asks you to help in their herb garden, …

… you can certainly provide sage advice if you have the thyme.

The Yolk's On You

Mother: "Where's the olive oil?"

Son: "I drank it."

Mother: "You drank an entire bottle of olive oil?"

Son: "Yes, olive it."

That's Berry Funny

Why did the orange stop at the top of the hill?

Because it ran out of juice!

The Yolk's On You

Why do oranges wear suntan lotion? 

Because they peel.

The Yolk's On You

What did Arthur the aardvark order on his pizza?

Ant-chovies!

THYME for a Laugh

What do you call lasagna made with polenta? 

An impasta!

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