Crusts

• A simple pizza dough consists of flour, water, yeast, olive oil and salt. This recipe is appropriate for any pizza party, whether for children or adults. For children, consider building a thicker, more "bready" pizza. Children sometimes have a tendency to overeat at parties, and using as much of the cheapest ingredient as possible will help lower your cost. For adults, consider a more refined thin crust, which forms a rich char on the outside and a bit of chewiness in the inside. Brush garlic butter on the crust before serving to add an extra flavor note.

Cheeses

• Mozzarella is the classic pizza cheese, and with good reason; it melts readily and tastes delicious. However, there is a world of difference between fresh mozzarella and the pre-shredded bagged mozzarella usually used for pizza---in taste as well as price. Children tend to love as much cheese as possible, making the bagged version the ideal choice. For adults, give your guests the choice between shredded mozzarella and thinly sliced fresh mozzarella. If you add a selection of other types of cheeses, they can become toppings as much as pepperoni or mushrooms. Try provolone, gorgonzola and cheddar.

Toppings

• As a general rule, all pizza toppings are either classified as meats or non-meats, and a pizza party should have a few items from both categories. For kids, pepperoni is generally popular, as is the combination of ham and pineapple. Kids' tastes in vegetables tend to be more individual, but mushrooms and tomatoes are generally agreeable. Adults love all of the classic pizza toppings as well, but you might consider adding an exotic touch with ingredients such as shrimp and crab, or thin slices of rib eye or sirloin steak. Guests can combine these toppings with cheeses other than the traditional mozzarella to create new tastes they may have never sampled before.