9/25/12 ChefElla's Hot Breakfast Calzone

CHEFELLA'S HOT BREAKFAST CALZONE

When my Dad make our lunch for school, he gets everything ready the night before.  This gave me an idea.  I could get breakfast ready the night before.  But what would I make?  If I made eggs, they would just get cold and hard, and if I made bacon or sausage, it would just be soggy, so what could I make?
I had just the right recipe.  I would take my calzone (pizza pocket) recipe and make it with breakfast foods.  My sister and I like eggs, turkey sausage, cheese, and potatoes, so I knew these would be perfect for our filling.  If you do not eat these ingredients, then don't be afraid to substitute foods you like in your own breakfast calzone like bacon, beans, tomatoes, peppers, or even tempeh (soybean cake).  This is your breakfast and you should use the ingredients that you like.  For this recipe you will need to use the stove and the oven.  If you are not allowed to use the stove or oven by yourself you can have your mom or dad help.

1.  Wash your hands.

2.  Get a small sauté pan, a heat proof spatula or wooden spoon, a large mixing bowl, a small mixing bowl, a small whisk or fork, a cookie sheet, measuring spoons, wax paper or aluminum foil, and a 1/2 cup.

Ingredients: (This recipe will make four calzones)

1/4 lb.         Turkey Sausage
                   -If you are using pre-cooked sausage, just chop it up into little pieces and put it in your
                   mixing bowl.

3                  Large Eggs
1 Tbl.          Milk

1/2 Cup       Shredded, Cheddar Cheese
                   -Or you can use any other kind of cheese you want.

1/2 Cup       Shredded, Frozen Potatoes (hashbrowns)               

1 tsp.          Salt, Kosher or Sea Salt

1/4 tsp.       Black Pepper
1 tube         Refrigerated, raw pizza dough.
                  -I use Pillsbury brand, Pizza Crust, Thin Crust.
Flour as needed.

3.  First, heat your small pan, on the stove on medium heat. 

4.  While your pan is heating crack your eggs into your small bowl, add your milk, and mix with a
     whisk or fork until blended (when the mixture is all the same light yellow color it is blended).

5.  Wash your hands.  Raw eggs can make you sick if you eat them, so you want to wash your hands
     after you touch raw eggs.

6.  Spray your pan with cooking spray, and add your sausage.  Mix your sausage and chop into little
     pieces with your spatula while it cooks.  When it is cooked, not pink anymore, add it to your large
     bowl

7.  Put your pan back on the stove and spray with a little more cooking spray.  Add your eggs to the
    pan.  Gently mix the eggs while they are cooking.  The eggs will begin to stick together.  This is
    normal.  Keep mixing the eggs gently, do not let them stick to the pan.  When the eggs are not liquid
    anymore they will be done.  Add your eggs to the bowl and mix in with your sausage.
8.  Pre-heat your oven to 400F.

9.  Sprinkle a little flour on your countertop.  Gently open the pizza dough and roll it out over the
     flour.  The dough should be stretched a little so it is an even thickness, and rectangle in shape.

10.  Cut the dough in half and then cut each half in half.  You will have four rectangles when done.

11.  Mix cheddar cheese and frozen potatoes into your eggs and sausage mixture.
12.  Line your sheet pan with wax paper or aluminum foil and spray with pan spray.
13.  Scoop 1/2 cup of egg mixture into each rectangle of dough.  Fold dough in half and crimp edges.
       make 2 or 3 small cuts in the top of the calzone.  This will let the steam out and keep them crisp.
14.  Place each calzone onto the sheet pan and place pan in the oven on the middle rack.
15.  Bake each calzone for 10 - 12 minutes, or until they start to brown.  If they are for tomorrows

       breakfast put the pan on counter and let them cool.  When cool, cover with plastic wrap and put

       them into the refrigerator.  If you plan on eating them right away cook for 15 -20 minutes or until
       they are golden brown.
16. To reheat in the morning, pre-heat oven to 425F, and bake calzones for 8-10 minutes.  Or wrap
      your calzone in a paper towel and microwave for 2 - 3 minutes.
17.  Enjoy your calzone as they are, or eat them with salsa, ketchup or whatever other toppings you
      like.

There is nothing like a hot breakfast before school or sports, so enjoy.

-ChefElla

9/11/12 Chefella's Chilly Sunday Turkey Chili

CHEFELLA'S CHILLY SUNDAY TURKEY CHILI
School started last week, it is starting to get cold outside, and I have the perfect recipe.  Even though I like fall it seems that we all get so busy around the house.  Mom and Dad are always making dinner, helping us with homework, and packing us lunches for school.  While I like to help in the kitchen sometimes I want to make something special by myself.  My chili is just the right thing.  We can all eat it for dinner, my sister can take it to school for lunch, and my Dad can eat it on Sunday while he watches football.  If you are not allowed to use the stove by yourself you can still help by getting all of the ingredients ready.  This recipe is simple, easy, and very quick to make.

1.  Wash your hands.

2.  Get a big soup pot, a can opener, a big colander (pasta strainer), and a wooden or heat proof spoon to cook with.

Ingredients:

1.25 lb.         Raw ground turkey breast.  

2 packs        Chili Spice (not chili powder).
                   -I prefer McCormick's low sodium, mild chili spice. 

                   -There are many different kinds of chili spice you can buy.  Whatever kind you use, you
                  should have 70 grams of chili spice total.
1 Tbl.           Cumin, ground

1- 15oz can  Pinto/ Red Beans                  

1- 15oz can  Great Northern Beans/ White Beans  

2- 15oz can  Black Beans 

1- 28oz can  Tomato Sauce
1- 28oz can  Petit Diced Tomatoes
1- 4oz can    Mild green chilis, diced.

3.  First open all of you cans with the can opener.  Be careful when they are open, because the lids can
     be very sharp.

4.  Put your colander in the sink and pour all of you beans into the colander.  Rinse (wash) your beans
     with cold water.When the water runs clear they are ready.  Let the beans sit in the colander until you
     are ready for them.

5.  Heat your soup pot.  When it is hot add your ground turkey.  Stir and chop your turkey with your
     spoon.  Continue to cook until the meat is not pink anymore, and until it is all chopped into little
     pieces

6.  Add your chili spice and cumin and mix it into the meat.  Let the meat and spices cook for 30
     seconds.

7.  Slowly add your tomato sauce and tomatoes.
     -Add them slowly so that you do not get splashed with tomato sauce.  Tomato sauce will not come
      out of your clothes and then you will have to explain to everyone why you have one little red dot
      on your shirt.

8.  Slowly add your beans and your green chilis.

9.  Mix everything together and turn the stove down to medium-low.
10.  Stir your chili every few minutes so that it does not burn in the pan.  When the chili is bubbling
       turn it off and serve.

This chili is really good topped with sour cream, shredded cheese, and served with your favorite chips.
This chili is also good served over a nice hot dog.
You can freeze your leftovers or take them for lunch at school if your Dad does not eat it all while watching football.

-ChefElla

9/4/12 ChefElla's Super Pesto Chicken Sandwich

CHEFELLA'S SUPER PESTO CHICKEN SANDWICH
My Dad has a rule at the dinner table, you do not have to eat everything, but you do have to try everything.  This is a hard rule for me to follow because not all of the foods we eat look good to me.  Sometimes I even say things like, "Oh gross!" out loud.  When I do this I get into big trouble because my little sister hears me, and then she does not want to try the food either, and my Dad gets really angry.  The good thing about our try everything rule, is that sometimes, the gross looking food ends up tasting really good.  One night, my Dad made us try pesto pizza and I really liked it, even though pesto is green and looks gross it turned out to be really good.  Now I use pesto on my super pesto chicken sandwiches .  I know pesto looks funny, but you should try it like I did.

1.  Wash your hands.

2.  Get a mixing board, a cutting board, a table spoon, a knife, a serrated (bread) knife, a butter knife,
     and a ruler.

3.  The chicken for this recipe will be grilled.  You should have your Mom or Dad pre-heat the grill to
     get it ready for cooking.

Ingredients:

1 lb.               Raw fresh boneless chicken breast.  

                    -You can use pre-cooked grilled chicken breast, or a pre-cooked roasted chicken if it is
                    easier for you.

1 1/2 Tbl       Extra Virgin Olive Oil

                    -If you are using pre-cooked chicken you will not need any oil.

1 loaf            Parmesan Cheese Baguette, or any other type of bread covered with cheese or
                   seasonings, cut into 4 inch long pieces using your bread knife.           

                   -Baguette is a french work for a loaf of bread that looks like a skinny baseball bat.
1 Jar            Pesto
                   -Pesto is a sauce made from garlic, parmesan cheese, oil, pine nuts, and basil.  The sauce
                    is blended and looks green and kind of gross, but it tastes really good.
4 Pieces        Provolone cheese, sliced thin.
                    -You can substitute mozzarella cheese if you like that better.

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

5.  Grill your chicken.  You will need your parents for this part, but grilling is fun because you get to
     cook outside.

6.  When the chicken is done let it sit on a plate to cool.

7.  Cut your pieces of baguette in half with your serrated knife and warm in a microwave for 15-20
     seconds or in a toaster until the bread is nice and warm.

8.  When the bread comes out put a piece of your cheese on the bottom half of the bread.  Use your
     butter knife to spread about 1 tablespoon of pesto on the top half of your bread.

9.  With your parents help cut the chicken in thin strips and put on top of your cheese.

10.  Put the top on your sandwich and serve with fruit, chips, or pasta salad.

Optional: If you like other vegetables like your parents do, you can put fresh cut tomatoes and fresh basil leaves on your sandwich also.

-ChefElla