Contact – Zaza's Perfect Pie

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What does it mean to love pizza, or any food for t

What does it mean to love pizza, or any food for that matter? Oxford defines love as a feeling of deep affection OR as a great interest or pleasure in something. I’m going to use that definition to describe Zaza’s love for pizza.⁠
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Saying Zaza has a deep affection for pizza would be incorrect. She’s not affectionate with pizza, doesn’t care about how it’s doing on a day to day basis, or what its life goals are. ⁠
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Pizza lights Zaza up because of what it is and its innate potential to be anything Zaza wants.⁠
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How many things in your life can you say that about?⁠
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Let’s take the first part: pizza lights Zaza up because of what it is. Pizza doesn’t need to be anything else. Its basic nature and characteristics are exhilarating to Zaza. The mere idea of a Margherita slice induces delight. If pizza were to be…a pot roast for example, it just wouldn’t be the same. The dough, the sauce, the cheese, the textures and flavors are all elements that make up a pizza and that Zaza wouldn’t change.⁠
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That being said, she also loves pizza’s potential. Every slice Zaza tastes has the potential to be better than the last. While she knows what to expect from a slice, she’s always discovering something new - a new topping, a crispier crust, a better cooking method. The potential of pizza has Zaza on a life-long mission, not to solve a pizza mystery and arrive at an “A-HA” moment, but to completely lose herself in the journey of discovery that will enrich her for a lifetime.⁠
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In this, Zaza is a very lucky girl. I invite you to join Zaza, if only for a moment, to see pizza through her eyes and truly enjoy a slice.⁠
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Recipe for lifelong pizza love:⁠
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A lot of flour (gluten free is fine)⁠
Salt⁠
Water⁠
Olive oil⁠
Your favorite toppings⁠
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Equipment: bowls, ovens, grills, toasters, pizza stones, peels, baking trays and plenty of plates⁠
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Instructions:⁠
Just keep going⁠

I know everyone's wild for cauliflower these days,

I know everyone's wild for cauliflower these days, but admit it, roasted it IS a little stinky! Anyone agree? 🙋🏽‍♀️⁠
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#zazasperfectpie #zazasperfectpizzadreams #kidsbookstagram #picturebooks #harperkids #scholasticbooks #learningbydoing #learningathome #learningthroughplay #childrensillustration #childrensbookillustration #childrensbookstagram #picturebooksofinstagram #readwithyourkids #kidlitart #bookstagram #kidlit #middlegradefiction #middlegradebookstagram⁠
#comics #childrensbooks⁠
#illustrationartist #makereadingfun⁠

I love this time of year because the post-holiday

I love this time of year because the post-holiday wave of health-crazed penitence is so predictable. As is the accompanying food slander. Which food is “bad”, which is “good” and which are “super”! Pizza is almost always smooshed into the “bad” category.

Here’s my unpopular opinion: pizza isn’t a “bad” food.

Pizza is what you make it. And if you’re making it, you can also make better choices.

I love incorporating fruits and veggies onto my pizzas—it’s why I’m writing Zaza’s Perfect Pizza Dreams. Through Zaza’s magical exploration of her dream world, she discovers an array of unexpected, produce-forward pizza toppings that get her excited about trying new flavors.

Join Zaza and dare to be different with your pizza choices! Here's one of her favorite veggie pizza recipes,

Carrot Pesto Pizza:

Ingredients:
Fresh pizza dough
5 carrots, peeled and coarsely chopped
½ cup hazelnuts, chopped plus an extra for topping
1 tbsp chopped fresh ginger
½ tsp salt
½ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
8 oz ricotta cheese
½ cup chopped fresh parsley
sprinkle of pepper flakes for each pizza

Process:
Bring 3 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Place the carrots in the boiling water for just about 3 minutes, to soften them. Drain the carrots and cool.

In the bowl of a food processor, combine the carrots, ½ cup hazelnuts, the ginger, ½ tsp salt and the ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil. Pulse to combine and then process until mostly smooth, but textured.

Remove the pesto from the processor bowl, and store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

If using a pizza stone, heat your oven to 500°F and allow the stone to heat in the oven for 30 minutes before baking on it.

Stretch out your dough on a pizza peel dusted with flour to about 8-10” in diameter.

Using a spoon or small spatula, spread the carrot pesto over the top of the pizza dough. Then apply the ricotta cheese in symmetrical dollops over the pesto. Sprinkle a pinch of pepper over the top and drizzle with about a teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil.

Slide your pizza into the oven and onto the peel and bake for 8-10 minutes.

Remove from the oven and garnish with fresh parsley and the extra hazelnuts.

Here's a sneak peek into Zaza's Perfect Pizza Drea

Here's a sneak peek into Zaza's Perfect Pizza Dreams. This is a crop of the "G is for Garlic" spread...of course I don't want to give away the whole thing! I'm wild for a Pecorino-sized, furry vampire 🧛🏻⁠
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#zazasperfectpie #zazasperfectpizzadreams #kidsbookstagram #picturebooks #harperkids #scholasticbooks #learningbydoing #learningathome #learningthroughplay #childrensillustration #childrensbookillustration #childrensbookstagram #picturebooksofinstagram #readwithyourkids #kidlitart #bookstagram #kidlit #middlegradefiction #middlegradebookstagram⁠
#comics #childrensbooks⁠
#illustrationartist #makereadingfun⁠

Zaza was born as a rough sketch in blue ball-point

Zaza was born as a rough sketch in blue ball-point pen. At the time when I was envisioning her, I hadn’t drawn people in a very long time—let alone children! I had no idea how to draw a cartoon character.⁠
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I gave Zaza some wild hair, first with watercolor, then with a combination of torn paper and paint.⁠
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I gave her a bike (because I had one). And for a best friend, I gave her a small, fluffy dog modeled after my own.⁠
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Her outfit had a signature shirt - a baseball tee with a giant tomato on the front. And her pants were an unlikely shade of green.⁠
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I gave up on drawing in ball-point pen, and began using pen and watercolor instead. ⁠
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The lines of her elbows and knees became rounded for a softer, gumbier look. Her hair even got highlights - natural, of course! - for added dimension.⁠
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Her head got larger and her body smaller. I like exaggerating her proportions this way because it helps give her facial expressions more real-estate.⁠
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I still draw Zaza in pencil, but I create the final illustrations on my iPad in Procreate, which allows me the freedom to erase and adjust. I can also add in hand-painted elements to the background and create structure and dimension with shading and brushes.⁠
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#zazasperfectpie #zazasperfectpizzadreams #kidsbookstagram #picturebooks #harperkids #scholasticbooks #learningbydoing #learningathome #learningthroughplay #childrensillustration #childrensbookillustration #childrensbookstagram #picturebooksofinstagram #readwithyourkids #kidlitart #bookstagram #kidlit #middlegradefiction #middlegradebookstagram⁠
#comics #childrensbooks⁠
#illustrationartist #makereadingfun⁠

Need a quick party treat for NYE? This Focaccia Ch

Need a quick party treat for NYE? This Focaccia Charcuterie Board uses store bought pizza dough and all the fun edible knick knacks in your pantry like olives and sun-dried tomatoes along with a few cheeses and cured meats for a pizza adjacent pull-apart appetizer!⁠
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I originally created this video for @colavitausa, so I recommend using their products (especially the olive oil) for the best result!⁠
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#zazasperfectpie #playwithourfood #pizzarecipe #thefeedfeed #food52 #f52gram #pizzalovers #pizzagram #ilovepizza # instapizza #pizzalove #pizzaislife #pizzaforever #pizzanight⁠
#graphicnovelforkids #kidlit

In Zaza’s Perfect Pizza Dreams, Zaza explores an

In Zaza’s Perfect Pizza Dreams, Zaza explores an alphabet of fruit and vegetable based pizza toppings.⁠
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To create that storyline, I had to think of a viable fruit, vegetable, or herb for every letter of the alphabet—one that could go on, or in, a pizza, and then obtain them in order to photograph them for the book.⁠
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But getting my hands on some of my selections proved to be quite a challenge.⁠
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The spread titled “Q is for Quince” is brought to life solely by the valiant efforts of my excellent and resourceful friend Kaz who shook down a quince tree in California, collected her efforts, and Fedexed them to me in New Jersey (where I have never seen a quince tree).⁠
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Once I received my quince delivery, I had to get shooting, as I didn’t want the quince to rot! ⁠
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My idea for the quince spread was to slice them in half and arrange them as to show off their likeness to owls. I sat them in rosemary branches to highlight the effect.⁠
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Sadly, quince are not edible raw. They’re very hard and you could chip a tooth if you attempted to eat them like an apple or pear. The best thing you can do is poach them in spices and sugar. This makes them wonderfully soft and great additions to pies, atop ice cream, and yes, even on pizza.⁠
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So I poached my quince, not wanting to waste even one. And then I took it one step further and made quince paste. I’m sure you’ve seen quince paste as an addition to a cheese plate. It looks like a reddish, orange solid block of Jell-O. It’s incredibly sweet and pairs well with cheeses, nuts, crackers….and yes, I DO think it would work well on a pizza...recipe to come in #ZazasPerfectPizzaDreams⁠
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#zazasperfectpie #playwithyourfood #kidsbookstagram #picturebooks #harperkids #scholasticbooks #learningbydoing #learningathome #learningthroughplay #childrensillustration #childrensbookillustration #childrensbookstagram #picturebooksofinstagram #readwithyourkids #kidlitart #bookstagram #kidlit #middlegradefiction #middlegradebookstagram⁠
#comics #childrensbooks⁠
#illustrationartist #makereadingfun

Zaza doesn't leave 🍪 for Santa, she leaves 🍕

Zaza doesn't leave 🍪 for Santa, she leaves 🍕, of course!⁠
Merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone! Zaza, Pecorino and @just.elana send you the warmest, meltiest, most delicious wishes for the season 🎄⁠
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#zazasperfectpie #zazasperfectpizzadreams #kidsbookstagram #picturebooks #harperkids #scholasticbooks #learningbydoing #learningathome #learningthroughplay #childrensillustration #childrensbookillustration #childrensbookstagram #picturebooksofinstagram #readwithyourkids #kidlitart #bookstagram #kidlit #middlegradefiction #middlegradebookstagram⁠
#comics #childrensbooks⁠
#illustrationartist #makereadingfun⁠

I hope everyone has their trees in place... tomorr

I hope everyone has their trees in place... tomorrow is Christmas Eve and neither Zaza, Pecorino, nor I can believe it!⁠
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#zazasperfectpie #zazasperfectpizzadreams #kidsbookstagram #picturebooks #harperkids #scholasticbooks #learningbydoing #learningathome #learningthroughplay #childrensillustration #childrensbookillustration #childrensbookstagram #picturebooksofinstagram #readwithyourkids #kidlitart #bookstagram #kidlit #middlegradefiction #middlegradebookstagram⁠
#comics #childrensbooks⁠
#illustrationartist #makereadingfun⁠

Based on the color palette alone, I was convinced

Based on the color palette alone, I was convinced a Margherita pizza should be my decorating theme for the season. However, I might struggle with the display. And who really wants to display a pizza anyway?⁠
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Pizza is meant to be eaten. Immediately. So I don’t recommend wrapping, either - too much condensation.⁠
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All jokes and color coincidences aside, I’m taking a specific Margherita pizza message with me as my theme for the holiday season: SIMPLICITY.⁠
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A Margherita is pizza in its simplest form: dough, tomatoes, cheese, and basil. What surprises me EVERY time I take a bite is how these basic ingredients combine to form what is one of the best tastes, hands down (actually, don’t put your hands down, you need those to eat pizza).⁠
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The tomatoes are tangy.⁠
The mozzarella is gooey and salty.⁠
The basil is peppery.⁠
The dough is crispy and pillowy at the same time - a veritable Christmas miracle!⁠
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This holiday season, I invite you to reduce the extras and get back to basics. Abundance isn’t about how much you can pile on top of a round of dough, but rather the perfect combination of high quality ingredients that work together for perfection. ⁠
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Now that leaves a great taste in my mouth.⁠

Classic Margherita Pizza

Ingredients:
Pizza dough - homemade or store bought
fresh basil
14 oz Crushed Tomatoes
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 lb low moisture mozzarella cheese

Process:
Heat your oven to 500°F . If using a pizza stone, allow the stone to heat up along with the oven for at least a half hour before baking on it. If you're not using a pizza peel, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and drizzle the paper with olive oil.

Stretch out your dough on a flour-dusted peel to about 10-12” in diameter. If using the baking sheet, stretch your dough directly onto the prepared baking sheet.

Using a spoon, dollop the crushed tomatoes directly from the can onto the dough.

Place the mozzarella over the tomatoes, distributing evenly around the pizza surface.

Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and season with salt.

Slide your pizza into the oven and onto the stone and bake for 8-10 minutes.

Remove from the oven and garnish with fresh basil. Serve!

💭 Since Zaza is a graphic novel, I have both re

💭 Since Zaza is a graphic novel, I have both regular text and word bubbles in the manuscript. I wanted the fonts for these thought bubbles to be my own writing, so I hand-wrote each of them for Zaza, Pecorino, and Zaza’s teacher.⁠
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For Zaza, I use an upper and lower case writing style. Instead of writing right side up, I write her lines upside down! This is a skill I developed in my high school Chemistry class. My best friend and I sat across from each other and we spent the entirety of each class writing notes on each other’s books. We got quite good at it, so good, in fact, that it’s still something I can do quite quickly.⁠
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Pecorino doesn’t speak much in this book (and likely never writes…) but it was important to convey his mood along with his speech bubbles, which are usually just dog noises like “Grrrrr”, “yip!” or “sniff!” Unlike some cartoon animals, I have not anthropomorphized Pecorino to speak like a human. I like him being an actual dog and I use that challenge to show his emotions and thoughts with facial expressions and a few noises.⁠
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Zaza’s teacher’s word bubbles use a bold and confident font. Since she’s teacher, I thought it was appropriate that she use sentence case properly. I use a thicker pencil width for her font, and I’ve also changed her color to blue (Zaza’s and Pecorino’s are gray) as a point of differentiation.⁠
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#zazasperfectpie #playwithyourfood #zazasperfectpizzadreams #kidsbookstagram #picturebooks #harperkids #scholasticbooks #learningbydoing #learningathome #learningthroughplay #childrensillustration #childrensbookillustration #childrensbookstagram #picturebooksofinstagram #readwithyourkids #kidlitart #bookstagram #kidlit #middlegradefiction #middlegradebookstagram⁠
#comics #childrensbooks⁠
#illustrationartist #makereadingfun

Getting excited 🤩 for Christmas🎄? Zaza's Per

Getting excited 🤩 for Christmas🎄? Zaza's Perfect Pie is every pizza-loving kid's dream! Kids will follow Zaza on her quest to make "the perfect pie" and be inspired to cook along! The book also features pizza making tips and recipes to guide young chefs on their way to being a pizzaiolo (that means "pizza maker in Italian)!⁠
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Grab yours on Amazon at the link in bio!⁠
⁠
#zazasperfectpie #playwithyourfood #zazasperfectpizzadreams #kidsbookstagram #picturebooks #harperkids #scholasticbooks #learningbydoing #learningathome #learningthroughplay #childrensillustration #childrensbookillustration #childrensbookstagram #picturebooksofinstagram #readwithyourkids #kidlitart #bookstagram #kidlit #middlegradefiction #middlegradebookstagram⁠
#comics #childrensbooks⁠
#illustrationartist #makereadingfun⁠
#giftideas #christmasshopping #perfectgift #holidaywishlist

Looking for a kooky pizza? Or do you prefer spooky

Looking for a kooky pizza? Or do you prefer spooky? Zaza’s got you covered with this #wednesdayaddams inspired Spicy Chorizo, Jalapeño and Pepper Jack Pizza! The dough uses squid ink for Wednesday’s signature black color, and word has it that jalapeño are @jennaortega ‘s favorite pizza topping. Don’t forget to use killer products like @colavitausa olive oil, @kingarthurbaking flour and @cabotcheese ! And of course a @bakingsteel to bake on!
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#addamsfamily #wednesday #thing #mysteriousandspooky #netflix #wednesdaynetflix #timburton #wednesdayseries #pizzapizzapizza

As a food photographer, I have photographed all ki

As a food photographer, I have photographed all kinds of dishes: from elaborate table spreads featuring multiple appetizers, to imposing racks of lamb, shining glazed bundt cakes, soups, stews, burgers, sando’s, and yes, about one million (give or take) pizzas.⁠
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But one of my favorite food photography subjects is actually the raw materials: the ingredients. ⁠
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For Zaza’s Perfect Pizza Dreams, I get to play around with 26 different fruits, vegetables and herbs. In addition to the "main composition", I also create supporting patterns with the fruit, veggies and herbs to use on the other pages.⁠
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I envision these looking fantastic, framed in a kitchen space, but even better as an A through Z gallery exhibit!⁠
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#zazasperfectpie #playwithyourfood #zazasperfectpizzadreams #kidsbookstagram #picturebooks #harperkids #scholasticbooks #learningbydoing #learningathome #learningthroughplay #childrensillustration #childrensbookillustration #childrensbookstagram #picturebooksofinstagram #readwithyourkids #kidlitart #bookstagram #kidlit #middlegradefiction #middlegradebookstagram⁠
#comics #childrensbooks⁠
#illustrationartist #makereadingfun

I really like working hand-drawn ✏️ elements i

I really like working hand-drawn ✏️ elements into my designs. My background is in graphic design, but whenever I can, I paint or draw something to include in my design work.⁠
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With Zaza, I already have the hand drawn illustrations, but I wanted to add in some painted backgrounds to give the overall look and feel some texture.⁠
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In my first book, Zaza’s Perfect Pie, I used watercolor for this purpose.⁠
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But I didn’t feel like watercolor was a good fit for Zaza’s Perfect Pizza Dreams. Since this is a graphic novel, I needed more structure overall. So I chose acrylic as the medium. ⁠
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I haven’t painted a different background for every page - that would be madness! But I have a rotation of 3 favorites, plus a few extras that I use in special circumstances.⁠
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The painting process is so relaxing…just putting colors on paper with no other goal in mind is very freeing. It also delights me to be able to add more hand-painted elements to this book, making it uniquely my own.⁠
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#bookstagram #kidlit #middlegradefiction #middlegradebookstagram⁠
#comics #childrensbooks⁠
#illustrationartist #makereadingfun

Wracking your 🧠 to find the perfect Christmas g

Wracking your 🧠 to find the perfect Christmas gift? Zaza's Perfect Pie is every pizza-loving kid's dream! Kids will follow Zaza on her quest to make "the perfect pie" and be inspired to cook along! The book also features pizza making tips and recipes to guide young chefs on their way to being a pizzaiolo (that means "pizza maker in Italian)!⁠
⁠
Grab yours on Amazon at the link in bio!⁠
⁠
#zazasperfectpie #playwithyourfood #zazasperfectpizzadreams #kidsbookstagram #picturebooks #harperkids #scholasticbooks #learningbydoing #learningathome #learningthroughplay #childrensillustration #childrensbookillustration #childrensbookstagram #picturebooksofinstagram #readwithyourkids #kidlitart #bookstagram #kidlit #middlegradefiction #middlegradebookstagram⁠
#comics #childrensbooks⁠
#illustrationartist #makereadingfun⁠
#giftideas #christmasshopping #perfectgift #holidaywishlist

Time lapse of sketch in #procreate on my iPad! Thi

Time lapse of sketch in #procreate on my iPad! This is “C is for Cauliflower” for Zaza’s Perfect Pizza Dreams.
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#graphicnovelart #illustration #kidlitart #kidlitillustration #kidlitartist #bookstagram

Need a scary delicious pizza?? Try this Roasted Bu

Need a scary delicious pizza?? Try this Roasted Butternut Squash, Pesto and Pecan Sheet Pan Pie! Skeleton gloves optional!

Spooky season is in the air! This is a project I w

Spooky season is in the air! This is a project I worked on with Colavita Olive Oil: Jack-o-lantern Pizza Pockets! Give 'em a try, they're a hoot!

This is Zaza's furry best friend, Pecorino. He's n

This is Zaza's furry best friend, Pecorino. He's named after Zaza's favorite pizza cheese. He's a bit timid and not fond of loud noises, but he goes willingly with Zaza anywhere.