8/28/12 ChefElla's Healthy Parmesan Fries

CHEFELLA'S HEALTHY PARMESAN FRIES
Sometimes when I go out to eat with my parents my dinner comes with fries.  My Mother always reminds me that it is important to eat the rest of my food, but it is so hard to remember because fries taste so good.  I know that fries are just not that good for you, so I came up with my own recipe so that I  can eat them whenever I want.  Well not whenever I want, but more often, than I normally would.
I use parmesan cheese on my potatoes because I like cheese and because if I use cheese I do not need to use salt on my potatoes.

This recipe uses potatoes cut into sticks.  If you are not allowed to use a knife yet, your parents can help you cut up the potatoes.

1.  Wash your hands.

2.  Wash your potatoes.

    -You want to wash potatoes because they grow in the ground, and you do not want to eat

    dirt with your potatoes so washing them is important.

3.  Get a large bowl, a cutting board, a 1/4 cup, a knife, and some measuring spoons.  You will also
     need a cookie sheet, aluminum foil, and pan spray.
4.  Have your parents help you pre-heat the over to 425F.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lbs.        Yukon Gold Potatoes, skin on, cut into sticks
                      -You can use other types of potatoes and even sweet potatoes if you like.

3 Tbl              Extra Virgin Olive Oil

                      -They get the oil out of the olives by crushing them.  Extra virgin oil comes from the first
                      crushing of the olives.  When they crush the olives later to get more oil out
                      that is just regular olive oil.
1/2 tsp            Black Pepper, ground

1/4 tsp            Granulated Garlic

1/4 cup           Parmesan Cheese, grated

4.  Add the potatoes to the bowl.  Cover with the olive oil and mix well.

5.  Sprinkle the potatoes with the pepper and garlic and mix well.

6.  Add the parmesan cheese and mix well.

7.  Line your cookie sheet with aluminum foil.  Lining is a cooking word for covering.

8.  Spray the aluminum foil with pan spray so your potatoes won't stick to the pan when they bake.

9.  Place potatoes in the oven and bake for 40-45 minutes.  They will be nice and brown when done.

10.  Serve your fries with any sauces that you eat fries with.

These fries will be good for lunch, diner and if you can convince your parents, they are even good as a snack.

-ChefElla

8/21/12 ChefElla's Super Easy Salsa

CHEFELLA'S SUPER EASY SALSA
I like summertime.  Everything is so fresh and colorful.  Last summer my mother took me to the farmers market.  While we were there we met a woman who sells fresh salsa.  I did not think I would like it, but the rule in our house is, you have to try everything at least once.
I loved it.  So this year instead of buying salsa my mother took me to the farmers market so that I could buy all of the ingredients to make my own fresh salsa.  Of course they did not have everything we needed, but we bought what we could.
This recipe is easy to make, and you can share it for days.  If you are not allowed to use a knife yet, your parents can help you cut up the vegetables.

1.  Wash your hands.

2.  Wash all of your fresh vegetables.

     -You want to wash vegetables because they grow in the ground, and you do not want to eat

      dirt with your salsa so washing them is important.

3.  Get a large bowl, a strainer, a cutting board, a 1/4 cup, a knife, and a spatula or large spoon.

Ingredients:

15oz (1 can)   Black Beans, drained and rinsed

3/4 cup           Sweet Corn

                       -You can use fresh corn cut off the cob and cooked, or frozen corn thawed

1 1/2 cup        Tomatoes, diced

1/2 cup           Red Onion, small diced

2 Tbl               Cilantro Leaves, chopped

1 Tbl               Lime Juice, fresh squeezed is best

1/2 tsp           Tabasco Sauce, or any other hot sauce your like

1 tsp               Kosher Salt

1/2 tsp            Black Pepper

1 each            Avocado (optional)
4.  Open the can of beans and pour into the strainer over the sink.  Rinse the beans with cold water
      and pour them into the bowl.
5.  Cut the corn off of the cob, and cook for 30 seconds in boiling water.  Pour the
      corn into the strainer and run cold water over the corn to cool it down.
     -If you want to use thawed frozen sweet corn that is just fine.  Fresh sweet corn might not be
       available where you live, and it is only available in the summer.
6.  Core and dice the tomatoes, then add them to your bowl.
     -Coring is when you cut off the part of the tomato that was attached to the plant.
     -Dice is another name for cutting your food into square pieces.
7.  Dice the onion.  Take the dry paper like skin off of your onion.  Then cut off the root and plant
      ends.  Onions are round and they can roll so be very careful.  Place the onion on one of the flat
      sides and then cut it in half.  Cut your onion into small diced pieces.  Add to the bowl.
8.  Pick your cilantro leaves.  Take all of the leaves off of the stems.  Fill up a 1/4 cup with the leaves.
      Wash the leaves in your strainer and pat dry with a towel.  Put them in a pile on your cutting board
      and chop them into little pieces.  If you like big pieces of cilantro do not chop them as much then
      add them to your bowl.
9.  Cut your lime in half and squeeze one half into your tablespoon then add them to the bowl.
10. Measure our your salt, pepper and Tabasco into your bowl.
11.  Mix well and chill in the refrigerator before serving.  If you like avocado you can add some before
      serving your salsa.
12.  Get your favorite chips, your friends and family, and enjoy.

You can also serve your salsa with other foods.

Try it over tacos.
Serve it with rice.
Or put it in a salad.

-ChefElla

8/7/12 ChefElla's Mom's Super Strawberry Smoothie

CHEFELLA'S MOM'S SUPER STRAWBERRY SMOOTHIE
Hi everyone, and welcome to my blog.
Everyday I try to eat healthy, and lucky for me my Mom is a big help.
She makes great food for me and my sister, but sometimes eating fruit just is not as fun as eating other things.  But one thing that makes eating fruit more fun is using one of my secret recipes to make something good for you.
If you have not had a smoothie before, I think you will really like it.
This recipe makes two smoothies.  One for you and a friend.

1.  Have your parents get out the blender.
2.  Wash your hands.
3.  Get out all of your ingredients.
Ingredients:
     4 large      Strawberries, cleaned
                      -Cleaned, means washing the strawberries, and taking the green tops off.
     1/2           Banana, ripe
     1/4 cup     Orange juice
     4 TBL       Protein Powder, Vanilla
     8             Ice Cubes
4.  Add all of the ingredients to the blender.
     -Remember to put the top on the blender or you will be cleaning the kitchen for the rest of the day.
5.  Blend until smooth.
     -You will know when it is ready because you will not hear the ice cubes crunching anymore.
6.  Get out your favorite cup, and drink your smoothie.
7.  Remember to help your parents clean up.  This recipe is easy because usually you can put all of your utensils in the dishwasher.

The fun thing about this recipe is you can experiment with so many flavors.  Try blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, apples, grapes, peaches, mango or any other fruits or juices that you like.
Enjoy your smoothie.
-ChefElla