First Lady Michelle Obama and White House Chefs join children from Bancroft and Tubman Elementary Schools to harvest vegetables during the third annual White House kitchen garden fall harvest Oct. 5, 2011. Mrs. Obama planted the White House kitchen garden to help connect kids with the food they eat – an essential component of her Let’s Move! initiative. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

Today, First Lady Michelle Obama was joined by a big group of helpers for the third annual White House kitchen garden fall harvest. Students from Bancroft and Tubman Elementary Schools got their hands dirty picking produce from the garden and then had a chance to try some of the vegetables that they picked on grilled garden pizza.

White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford shared the recipe for grilled garden pizza:

Serves 4 1 12 inch pizza dough, can use freezer dough

2 tbsp olive oil

1 eggplant, cut into coins, ½ inch thick

1 sweet potato, peeled, sliced thinly

1 red pepper, sliced, ¼ inch thick

salt and pepper to taste

6 oz. tomato sauce, your favorite brand

6 oz. shredded mozzarella, lowfat

chopped fresh basil, for garnish. Toss the vegetables in olive oil and salt and pepper. Grill until softened but still a bit crunchy. Set aside. Flatten the pizza dough until about 1/8 inch thick. Brush with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Grill on both sides for about 2 minutes on each side. Top with the tomato sauce, mozzarella and grilled veggies. Garnish with basil. Serve immediately.

The food from the harvest didn't all go to grilled garden pizza, it will also be used in the upcoming State Dinner and will be donated to Miriam's Kitchen in Washington, D.C.

Some of the vegetables harvested when First Lady Michelle Obama and White House Chefs joined children from Bancroft and Tubman Elementary Schools to harvest vegetables during the third annual White House kitchen garden fall harvest Oct. 5, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

Check out Inside the White House: The Kitchen Garden for the story of how the garden got started:

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