Tasty Tips for Toddlers
Haley Vanderveer
Welsh "Rabbits"
1/3 cup grated Cheddar
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon cream or milk
2 or 3 drops Worcestershire sauce (or to taste)
Pepper, to season
1 English muffin, split and lightly toasted
Peas, thin slices of carrot or snow peas, 1 black olive (pitted and halved), a few fresh chives and scallion, to garnish
Preheat the broiler to high. Put the cheese, egg yolk, cream and Worcestershire sauce into a bowl and mash together. Season to taste with pepper. Spread the cheese mixture on the cut sides of the toasted muffin, spreading right to the edges. Place the cheese-topped muffin halves about 3 inches away from the heat source (one rack down from normal broiling position) -- don't have them too close, as the egg in the mixture can make them brown very quickly. Broil for 3 to 4 minutes, until the cheese has melted and is golden and bubbling. Decorate the cooked muffin halves with peas for eyes and strips of carrot or snow peas for ears, half an olive for a nose, chives for whiskers, and scallion for teeth. Serve immediately
Prosciutto and Taleggio Panini
1 slice prosciutto or Parma ham
1 hot dog bun, split down the side
2 ounces Taleggio, orange rind removed, thinly sliced
olive oil, for greasing
Preheat a ridged grill pan, heavy-bottomed frying pan, or panini press. Lay the prosciutto on the base of the hot dog bun, folding it in to fit. Set the cheese on top of the prosciutto and sandwich with the top half of the bun, pressing down well.
Grease the pan with a little olive oil and set the filled bun, top side down, in the hot pan. Press down firmly with a spatula and cook for 2 minutes, until the top of the bun is crisp and golden. Carefully turn the bun over and cook for 2 to 3 minutes more, until the base of the bun is crisp and the cheese has melted.
Krispie Fish "Fingers" with Lemon Mayo Dip
½ pound skinless flounder or sole fillets
1 ½ cup Rice Krispies
3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan
¼ teaspoon paprika
salt and pepper, to season
1 teaspoon sesame seeds (optional)
1 egg
2 tablespoons flour
2 to 3 tablespoons canola oil, for frying
For the dip
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 tablespoons Greek-style yogurt
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
a pinch of salt, to season (optional)
1. Cut the fish into pieces the size of a little finger. Cover and set aside in the fridge. Put the Rice Krispies, Parmesan, and paprika in a food processor and whiz to fine crumbs. Transfer to a plate, and stir in salt and pepper to taste and the sesame seeds, is using. Beat the egg in a bowl with a pinch of salt. Spread the flour on a separate plate.
2. Toss 3 or 4 of the fish pieces in the flour, dunk in the egg, and roll in the crumbs until well coated. Set aside on a clean plate and continue with the remaining fish. Cook immediately or freeze according to the instructions on the left.
Whole Wheat Pepperoni Pizza
3.6 ounces whole-wheat flour (about 3/4 cup)
3.4 ounces all-purpose flour (about 3/4 cup)
1 package quick-rise yeast (about 2 1/4 teaspoons)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar
2/3 cup very warm water
1 tablespoon olive oil
Cooking spray
2/3 cup tomato-basil pasta sauce
24 slices turkey pepperoni
1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) part-skim mozzarella cheese
Preparation
1. Weigh or lightly spoon flours into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Place flours, yeast, salt, and sugar in a food processor; process until blended. Combine very warm water and oil in a 1-cup glass measure. Slowly pour water mixture through food chute with processor on; process until mixture forms a ball. Process an additional 1 minute.
2. Turn dough out onto a floured surface; coat dough with cooking spray. Let rest 15 minutes.
3. Preheat oven to 500°.
4. Roll dough into a 12-inch circle. Place dough on an inverted large baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Crimp edges of dough to form a rim. Spread sauce over surface of dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border; sprinkle sauce with pepperoni and cheese.
5. Bake at 500° for 11 minutes or until cheese melts and crust is golden. Cut into 6 wedges.
kitchen tip
Let your food processor prepare the dough for this recipe, or purchase a prebaked whole-wheat thin-crust pizza shell from the grocery store. Substitute your favorite pizza veggies for the pepperoni for a vegetarian option.