Monday, July 12, 2010

Cheesy Spinach Calzones

Cheesy Spinach Calzones
My modifications below recipe

1 package (10-ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1 8-ounce package cream cheese or Neufchatel cheese
4 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 chopped green onion
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 13.8-ounce package refrigerated pizza dough
1 egg white
1 Tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

Method: Grease a large cookie sheet and set aside. For filling, combine spinach, cream cheese, 2 Tablespoons Parmesan cheese, green onion and pepper. Set aside.

Unroll pizza dough on lightly floured surface. Using a pizza cutter or sharp knive, cut into four even pieces. Spoon filling (divided evenly) onto one side of each piece of dough and fold over, carefully pinching the edges. (You can use a fork and a Tablespoon of water to seal the edges if needed.) Brush tops with egg white and remaining Parmesan cheese.

Place on cookie sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until nice and golden brown.

You can also divide the dough into 25 three-inch squares for appetizers, fill and bake.

My modifications: I use Wildtree's Quick and Easy Whole Wheat Pizza Crust Mix and add 1/4 cup of Wildtree's Alfredo Mix to the filling. It makes it extra cheesy and gives it gourmet flare. Instead of brushing the tops with egg white, I use Wildtree's Roasted Garlic Grapeseed Oil.

English Carrots

I will post the recipe from the cookbook then add my Wildtree modifications.

English Carrots

4&1/2 cups (1&1/2 pounds) sliced carrots
1/2 cup Mayonnaise
2 Tablespoons chopped onion
2 Tablespoons prepared horseradish
1/4 teaspoon salt
dash of pepper
1/4 cup crushed Saltine crackers (about 7)
2 teaspoons melted butter

Method: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook carrots in boiling, salted water until tender. Drain. Place in 1-quart casserole dish. Combine mayonnaise, onion, horseradish, salt and pepper. Mix with carrots. Mix cracker crumbs with melted butter and sprinkle on top. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes until hot. Serves 4-6.

My Modifications:
I use 1 Tablespoon chopped onion and 1 Tablespoon Wildtree's Onion and Chive Blend and 1 Tablespoon horseradish and 1 Tablespoon Wildtree's Cranberry and Horseradish Blend. It just spiffs the dish up a little bit. I often use whole wheat Saltines.

How NOT to make dinner

So this evening was one of those disasters, but not because the food didn't taste good. I had hamburger browning on the stove top for hamburger gravy (you know, that old-fashioned dish that could feed an army for real cheap,) and I placed a big pot of potatoes on the back burner. I turned the burner on high to get the potatoes boiling because the intent was to have mashed potatoes and hamburger gravy for supper.

Well... I walked upstairs for a minute, came back down and was standing next to the stove when an empty 9X13 glass pan (also on the stove top) exploded right next to me. It sounded like a gun shot. I almost crumpled to the floor, but there was glass everywhere so I refrained. Of course our 22-month-old son and the family dog came running to see what was up. I had turned on the wrong burner for the potatoes and instead turned on the one under the empty glass dish.

I ended up throwing out the food because there were glass shards in everything. Instead of hamburger gravy and mashed potatoes, we had egg and cheese sandwiches with fresh garden tomatoes on homemade whole wheat bread with homemade basil pesto mayo. Not bad for not even having a plan B.

Next time I'll think twice about which bottom I'm lighting a fire under!