Calzones

I was looking for something different for supper and came across this in some recipes Owen's Aunt gave me.

Dough:
2 cups flour
1 tsp yeast
1/2 tsp sugar
3/4 cup warm water
2 tsp oil

Fillings:
Anything you want!
We used - pizza sauce
pepperoni
chopped spinach
chopped onion
chopped green and red pepper
shredded chedder cheese
chopped tomatoes

1. Mix the warm water, yeast and sugar together in a boil. Let the yeast "foam" for 10 minutes.
2. Add in the oil and flour. Mix/knead into a dough.
3. Let rise for 1 hour.
4. Divide into 8 or 4 balls of dough, depending on how large you want the finished calzone to be. Dividing it into 8 balls, roll each ball out into a 3-4inch circle.
5. Onto each circle put in the desired toppings.
6. Fold over and seal using water and pinching the edges together with water.
7. Brush or spray the top of each calzone with oil/butter. Sprinkle with italian spices and parsean cheese.
8. Bake 20 minutes at 350F, if a browner outside is desired broil for 1-2mintues.

Enjoy.


This were delicious and I the batch was big enough that Owen had leftovers for lunch! I look forward to making these again and trying different fillings such as spinach and ricotta cheese!

Ham and Potatoe Soup

It got cold, and I love a good soup when it starts to gets chilly. This recipe by ELLIE11 on allrecipe.com had lots of great reviews, so I though I would give it a try. It was some of the best soup I have had in a long time, our friend and Owen love it! We are planning on making this again this week when we have some friends over for supper. This is fast on it's way to becoming a family favourite.

INGREDIENTS
3 1/2 cups peeled and diced potatoes
1/3 cup diced celery
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
3/4 cup diced cooked ham
3 1/4 cups water
2 tablespoons chicken bouillon granules
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 teaspoon ground white or black pepper, or to taste
5 tablespoons butter
5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups milk

HOW TO
1. Combine the potatoes, celery, onion, ham and water in a stockpot. Bring to a boil, then cook over medium heat until potatoes are tender, about 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the chicken bouillon, salt and pepper.
2. In a separate saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour with a fork, and cook, stirring constantly until thick, about 1 minute. Slowly stir in milk as not to allow lumps to form until all of the milk has been added. Continue stirring over medium-low heat until thick, 4 to 5 minutes.
3. Stir the milk mixture into the stockpot, and cook soup until heated through. Serve immediately.

I didn't change a thing from the original recipe and it was amazing. However next time I may add some shredded carrots to give the soup a little more colour.

Jerk Chicken

I was looking for a tasty new recipe for my chicken breasts when I stumbled across this recipe (faux jerk chicken by BETHMCAFEE. It looked easy enough, so I thought I would try it - with a few substitutions with what I had on hand rather than what they called for. It made the house smell delicious, and turned out great - definatley a keeper.

INGREDIENTS
1/3 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons white vinegar
1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
3/4 teaspoon ground allspice
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1/4 cup finely chopped Hot Jalepanoe Slices (in a jar)
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

HOW TO
1. In a dish large enough to fit all the chicken breasts mix the oil, vinigar, lemon juice, sugar, thyme, allspice, cinnamon, salt and cayenne. Then stir in the Jalepanoes, onion and garlic.
2. Poke the chiken breasts on all sides with a fork before placing them in the marinade. Leave in the fridge for 24 hours.
3. Preheat the grill for med-high heat.
4. Grill until the breasts are cooked.

Note - I used my George Forman grill on medium heat and it was delicious! Review for the recipe says it also turns out well if baked in the oven at 350F for 1 hour.

We all loved this dish, and I look forward to making it again!

Cake - In a Jar!

Apple Cake in a Jar

This Christmas I had decided to do some cookie mixes in jars as presents for some of my friends and I came across this idea - cake that is baked and sealed in a jar. It looked like lots of fun and with Owen starting a new job - I thought these would be interesting to send with his lunchs. I found both recipes here on allrecipes.com, but changed the amounts to use 1/2 pint jars and make smaller batches as I was testing the recipes.

If doing this, remember to boil the jars you will be using for at least 15minutes before adding the batter, and boil the lids before putting them onto the jars. The rims need to be to allow the jars to seal.

!. Chocolate Cake - This was supposed to make 2 regular jam jars (1/2 pint) but I had enough batter to make 3.
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons butter
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon and 1-1/2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons milk
1/2 egg, beaten
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

HOW TO
1. Sterilize 3 (1/2 pint) straight sided wide mouth canning jars, lids and rings by boiling for 10 minutes. Keep the lids and rings in the hot water until needed. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C)
2. In a small bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking soda and cinnamon. Set aside.
3. In a medium saucepan, combine butter, water and cocoa powder. Heat and stir until butter is melted and mixture is well blended. Pour into a large bowl.
4. Stir in Flour mixture and blend. Add milk, egg and vanilla and beat by hand until smooth.
5. Distribute evenly into the 3 prepared canning jars(Be sure not to fill the jars more than 1/2 full or the cake will rise above the rim).
6. Place the jars on a cookie sheet and bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 35 to 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted deep into center of cake comes out clean.
7. Using heavy oven mitts, remove cakes from oven one at a time. Place a lid, then a ring onto the jars and screw them down tightly. Place the jars on the counter and listen for them to "ping" as they seal. If you miss the "ping", wait until they are completely cool and press on the top of the lid. If it doesn't move at all, it's sealed.

Thanks to Holly and allrecipes.com for this recipe - It was delicious.

2. Apple Cake - This makes 4 regular jam jars (1/2 pint)
INGREDIENTS
2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons butter
2/3 cup white sugar
1 eggs
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons water
3/4 cup grated apple
2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons raisins

HOW TO:
1.Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C), sterilize the jars by boiling them in water.
2. Sift together flour, baking soda, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon. Set aside.
3.Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and beat in well. Add flour alternately with water and mix until smooth. Fold in apples, raisins.
3.Fill jars 1/2 full of batter, being careful to keep the rims clean. Wipe off any batter that gets on the rims. Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 30 minutes. While the cake is baking sterilize the lids and rings in boiling water.
4. As soon as cake is done, remove from oven one at a time, wipe rims of jars and put on lid and ring. Jars will seal as cakes cool. Place the jars on the counter and listen for them to "ping" as they seal. If you miss the "ping", wait until they are completely cool and press on the top of the lid. If it doesn't move at all, it's sealed. Jars that do not seal should be kept in the fridge and eaten within a few days.

Jars should be eaten or kept in refrigerator for up to a week.

Thanks to Julie Wayment and allrecipes.com for this yummy creation.

Homemade "Oreo" Cookies

I have no idea were I got this recipe from or if I have tweaked it over the years, but it is a friend favourite and I am always getting asked for them. So goes this "recpie"

Ingredients:
1 chocolate (devils food) cake mix
eggs (the nmber required for the cake mix, usually 2 or 3)
Oil (the amount specified on the cake mix box)
Your favourite icing

How to:
1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Place the cake mix in a bowl and use a fork to remove all the clumps from the mix.
3. Add the eggs and oil to the mix and mix into a batter, trying to get out as many of the clumps of mix as possible.
4. Drop batter onto a cookie sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes (the cookies will be poofy, but a toothpick will come out clean).
5. Let cool on a wire rack.
6. Once cool match the cookies to cookies that are of a simular size. Put icing on one half and top with the other cookie.

These cookies are super good and they never last long. My BIL always hids any he gets to keep them away from his brothers, and now it is starting to become a "tradition" that we make these cookies together when we see each other. Below is my BIL putting the icing on the cookies we made over the holidays - this entire batch disapeared into his room shortly after this.

Christmas Fun

So, it has been a while since I updated, due to the fact that I just came back from 3 weeks of holidays. Before leaving Owen and I finished our gingerbread house. This is my first attempt at making a gingerbread house from scratch. My cutters were a little bent so it was fun trying to get the house together with minimal gaps, but I would say it didn't turn out too bad.

After that adventure was a dinner with friends followed with frantic cleaning and leaving for BC at 4am the next the morning. BC was great and it was either snowing or sunny the entire time we were there! It was the perfect while christmas with all the snow, and I felt like a little kid again. In true small child mode, I decided it was time to make a snowman, and after shovelling the driveway Owen decided he had enough snow to make a snowcave.

And finally - presents. I recieved a number of cookbooks this year and am really excited to start trying the recipes. But the best present this year was the t-shirt that I recieved from Owen - it really does suit me!

I love it, and the material is super soft. It was definately one of my favourite gifts this year. I hope everyone had a good holidays and a happy New Year.