Family Movie Night: Inside Out
Cozy Family Friday: Emotions, Broccoli & a Slice of Fun
This week’s Cozy Family Friday brought all the feels. We cozied up with Disney Pixar’s Inside Out—and let’s just say... we went on an emotional rollercoaster.
Joy? Check.
Sadness? Oh, she got us good.
Anger? Relatable.
Disgust? Low-key our dinner muse.
Fear? Mostly centered around whether the broccoli pizza would actually be edible.
In honor of Riley’s big move to San Francisco (and that iconic food moment), we made—you guessed it—broccoli pizza. And before you give me the Disgust face, hear me out: it was so good, we may have sparked a tiny green revolution.
We started with pizza dough from Central Market (because we’re fancy-ish), brushed it with garlicky olive oil, and topped it with dollops of creamy ricotta, melty mozzarella, and crispy little broccoli florets that roasted to perfection. The whole thing came out golden, bubbly, and honestly? Joy-level delicious.
AG channeled her inner Disgust and took one look before saying nope. She pivoted to making a pepperoni pizza “for Anger.” Fair. Meanwhile, Erik added chili flakes and declared it “amazing,” and we all ended up going back for seconds (and low-key debating thirds).
This is one of AG & I’s favorite Pixar movies, so sharing it with Erik was extra special. It does such a beautiful job of helping kids name their emotions—and helping adults remember it’s okay to feel all of them, sometimes all at once.
The vibe was very pajamas-on, plates-in-laps, snuggled-on-the-couch kind of cozy. And honestly? Those are the best kinds of nights. Movie magic, meaningful moments, and a pizza that even Disgust could respect? That’s a family win.
Ricotta & Broccoli Pizza 🥦🍕
When your kid turns their nose up at regular pizza and says, “Do we have any ricotta?”—you make this.
Ingredients
For the crust:
1 ball of pizza dough (12 oz, store-bought or homemade—zero judgment)
For the toppings:
1 cup ricotta cheese
2 tbsp olive oil, divided
1–2 garlic cloves, minced
2½ cups broccoli florets (bite-sized, because we’re civilized)
1½ cups shredded mozzarella
¼ cup grated Parmesan
2 tsp lemon zest (for that zippy finish)
Salt & pepper to taste
Red pepper flakes (optional—for spice lovers and brave kids)
Instructions
1. Preheat & prep:
Crank the oven to 450°F. If you’ve got a pizza stone, throw it in. If not, a baking sheet works just fine—just line it with parchment or give it a little flour or cornmeal dusting.
2. Broccoli time:
Lightly steam or blanch your broccoli for 2–3 minutes until it’s tender but still vibrant. Toss with 1 tbsp olive oil and red pepper flakes if you’re feelin’ bold.
3. Roll it out:
Roll or stretch the dough into a 10–12" shape of your choice (circles are nice, but we don’t discriminate against ovals). Place it on your prepared baking surface and brush the edges with olive oil for that bakery-worthy finish.
4. Make it creamy:
Mix ricotta with minced garlic, 1 tbsp olive oil, salt, and pepper. Taste it. Try not to eat it all with a spoon.
5. Top it like a pro:
Brush the dough with a little more olive oil. Sprinkle on half the mozzarella, then scatter the broccoli. Dollop the ricotta mixture all over, then finish with the rest of the mozzarella and a little lemon zest for sparkle. Want to go extra? Drizzle a touch more olive oil on top or finish with red pepper flakes and cracked black pepper.
6. Bake to bubbly perfection:
Slide it into the oven and bake for 15–20 minutes, until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbling like it’s living its best life.
7. Serve it hot:
Slice it up and watch your kid either devour something green without a bribe or turn their nose up with full-on sass. Either way, you win dinner.
