9/21/14 ChefElla's Cinnamon Roll Apple Cobbler

Fall is the best time for apples.  Every year my Grandmother takes me to an apple orchard to pick apples from the trees.  The orchard is so fun to visit and you can buy and try so many different apple foods while you are there, fresh apples, dried apples, apple candy, caramel apples, apple cider, and apple pies.  My Grandmother makes so many different kinds of desserts with her apples, pies, cakes, jams, cookies and more.  This year I wanted to make my own apple dessert.  I like apple cobbler.  The dough soaks up the syrup and the juice and everything tastes so good together.  This is my own version of apple cobbler.  I hope you like it as much as my family and friends did.  It is fun to use foods that are in season, and it is even more fun to make up your own recipes with them.

For this recipe you will need to use a knife and the oven.  If you are not allowed to use a knife
or the oven by yourself you can have a grown up help.

1. Wash your hands.

2. For this recipe you will need measuring spoons and cups, a whisk, a knife, a cutting board, a
    large mixing bowl, a small bowl, a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, a cookie sheet, and an 8X8
    baking pan.

Cinnamon Roll Apple Cobbler (This recipe will make 8-10 servings)

Ingredients:
2 Rolls         Refrigerated Cinnamon Dough With Icing, 12.4 oz package

4 -5 ea.         Apples, Cored and Sliced Thin
                      -I used Gala apples for my apple bake, but you can use your favorite kind.
1/4 Cup        Caramel Sauce
1/4 Cup        Light Brown Sugar
1 Tbl              Butter, Melted

1/4 tsp          Cinnamon
1/4 tsp          Apple Pie Spice
2 tsp              Vanilla
1 Tbl              Cornstarch

3. Pre-heat oven to 375F.
4. In your large bowl, whisk together Caramel, Brown Sugar, Melted Butter, Cinnamon, Apple Pie
     Spice, Vanilla, and Cornstarch.
5. Mix sliced apples with caramel mixture.
6. Take 6 pieces of cinnamon dough and flatten with your hands.  Place in the bottom of your pan.
    The rolls should cover the whole bottom of the pan.

7. Add apple mix on top of the cinnamon rolls.

8. Press remaining cinnamon rolls flat and top apples making a crust.

9. Place cobbler on a cookie sheet and bake in the oven for 20 minutes.  The cookie sheet will keep
    any brown sugar mixture that escapes the pan from burning to the bottom of your oven.
10.  Remove cobbler from the oven and cover lightly with aluminum foil.
11.  Return cobbler to the oven and bake for another 30 minutes.
12.  Remove cobbler from the oven and let cool for 10-15 minutes.  Warm frosting and top cobbler.

Serve cobbler with ice cream, caramel, our your favorite topping.

Enjoy

- ChefElla

9/15/14 ChefElla's Good Grains Granola

Last weekend I went to my sisters soccer game.  Everyone played a great game, but soccer games are so long.  As soon as my sister and her friends were done, all they wanted to do was eat.  I felt bad for the team because after playing so hard all they got was the same old snack, juice boxes and fruit snacks.  This week I made homemade granola for my sisters team.  But you can eat it anytime, at the movies, after school, or after soccer practice.  It is so easy to make and you can make as many kinds of granola as you want.

For this recipe you will need to use the oven and stove.  If you are not allowed to use the oven or stove by yourself you can have a grown up help.

1. Wash your hands.

2. For this recipe you will need measuring spoons and cups, a large mixing bowl, a small sauté pan,
    a cookie sheet, and a heat proof spatula or wooden spoon.

ChefElla's Good Grains Granola (This recipe will make 10-12 servings or about 12 cups)

Ingredients:
2 Cups         Rolled Oats

1/2 Cup       Flax Seeds, Raw or Toasted

1/4 Cup       Chia Seeds
1 Cup           Cashew Pieces, Raw or Roasted, No Salt
                     -If you do not like nuts you can substitute your favorite kind.
1/3 Cup       Apple Juice            
2 Tbl.           Vegetable Oil
1/3 Cup       Honey
1/4 Cup       Light Brown Sugar
2 tsp             Vanilla
1/4 tsp         Kosher Salt
1/2 Cup       Dried Cherries
                     -If you do not like dried cherries, you can use dried blueberries, cranberries, apricots,
                      prunes, raisins, golden raisins, or other dried fruit.
1/2 Cup       Dark Chocolate Pieces
                     -If you do not like dark chocolate pieces use your favorite kind.

As Needed   Pan Spray (Pam, etc.)

3. Pre-heat oven to 250F.
4. In your large bowl mix rolled oats, flax seeds, chia seeds, kosher salt, and cashews.
5. In your sauté pan mix apple juice, vegetable oil, honey, light brown sugar, and vanilla.
6. Heat your pan over low heat.  Mix with a heat proof spatula or wooden spoon.  Let the mixture
    cook for 3-4 minutes but do not let it come to a boil.  Mix liquid into your dry ingredients.
    Mix well.

7. Spray cookie sheet with pan spray.  Spread mixture evenly over the cookie sheet.

8. Bake for 1 hour stirring every 15 minutes.
9.  Let granola cool down for 20-30 minutes.  Mix in dried fruit and dark chocolate pieces.

Remember to share with your friends.

Enjoy

- ChefElla

9/7/14 ChefElla's Mini-Pizza Pockets

I don't know about you, but when I get home from school I am soooo hungry.  There are so many good choices for snacks after school, apples, grapes, cheese and crackers, fruit and nuts, and smoothies.  There are also the afternoon snacks that are good, but not so good for you, chips, pizza rolls, cookies, candy, and many other options.  At my house we try to stick with the healthy snacks, but sometimes you want the snacks that are not so good for you.  I know that the not so good snacks are o.k. to eat every once in a while, but I would like to have them a little more often, so I made my own version of one of my favorites mini-pizza pockets.  I know they are better for me because I can use healthier ingredients in my recipe and because I bake my pizza pockets.  These pizza pockets are good for after school and for a friday night when you have your friends over to watch a movie.  If you don't like the ingredients I use you can substitute your favorite ingredients.

For this recipe you will need to use a knife and the oven.  If you are not allowed to use a knife
or the oven by yourself you can have a grown up help.

1. Wash your hands.

2. For this recipe you will need measuring cups, a knife, a cutting board, a medium mixing bowl,
    two small spoons, a small bowl or coffee cup, aluminum foil, and a cookie sheet.

ChefElla's Back To School Quiche Sandwiches (This recipe will make 48 pieces)

Ingredients:
1 pkg.           Wonton Wrappers

5 oz              Turkey Pepperoni (1 package is 5 oz.)
2 Cups          Pizza Cheese, Shredded
                     -If you do not want to buy pizza cheese you can make your own mix of cheese.
                      Good cheeses for making pizza include parmesan, mozzarella, fontina, and cheddar.

1 1/2 Cups    Pizza Sauce or Spaghetti Sauce
As Needed   Pan Spray (Pam, etc.)

3. Pre-heat oven to 425F.
4. Dice up your Turkey Pepperoni.  Make a small pile of pepperoni.  Slice pepperoni into strips.
    Turn strips 90 degrees and cut into small squares.
5. In your medium bowl mix pepperoni, cheese, and pizza sauce.
6. Line your cookie sheet with aluminum foil.  Spray foil with pan spray.

7. Lay out 4-6 wontons on your cutting board.  Make sure you keep your other wontons covered with
    a damp cloth or plastic so that they do not dry out while making your 4-6 pizza pockets.

8. With one spoon scoop up some of the mixture.  Using your other spoon scrape the mixture onto
     your wonton skin.

9.  Pour cold water into your small bowl.  Using your finger wipe water along the top two sides.

10.  Fold the wonton in half.  Make sure you keep the mix in the center.  Squeeze the sides of the
       wonton together.  Place wonton on your cookie sheet.
     

11.  Continue to make your pizza pockets until you fill up your cookie sheet.
12.  Spray the pizza pockets with pan spray.  Bake in the oven for 8-10 minutes or until the edges
       brown.
13.  Repeat the process until all of your mix and wontons are gone.
14.  Serve warm with warm pizza sauce.

If you want some for later let the pockets cool and put in a freezer bag and store in your freezer
until you are ready to eat them.  Reheat in the oven until pockets are crispy.

The fun thing about this recipe is that you can make as many different flavors of pizza pockets as you want.  Try different sauces, meats, cheeses, or vegetables in your pizza pockets.

Enjoy

- ChefElla