Saute Pan Pizza Scrolls/Swirls

Vary this easy recipe however you like it.  Make cheese and Vegemite scrolls, vegetarian scrolls or ham and pineapple scrolls.  Once they’re made, simply separate, wrap individually and freeze.  Every day, grab one out of the freezer for your child’s school lunch box.  These are a guaranteed playground hit!

• 1 1/2 cups (225g) self-raising flour
• 1 1/2 cups (225g) plain flour
• 2 teaspoons (1 sachet) dried yeast
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 1 cup (250ml) lukewarm water
• pinch salt
• 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 Tablespoon BBQ sauce
• 1 Teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 150g leg ham, chopped or cooked bacon, chopped
• 1 cup (125g) Tasty cheese
• 1 Tablespoon Milk 

1. In a large bowl; combine flours, yeast, salt, honey and water.
2. Combine all dough ingredients in a medium bowl and mix well.
3. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead until smooth. Use a lightly floured rolling pin to roll out the dough into a 30 x 40cm rectangle.
4. Combine the tomato paste, BBQ and Worcestershire sauces in a small bowl.  Spread the sauce onto the dough taking it as close to the edge as possible. Sprinkle with cheese and ham.
5. Starting from a long side, roll up firmly to form a log.
6. Brush the edge with a little extra milk and press down firmly to seal the log.
7. Cut 3 cm thick slices using bread knife into 12 equal portions.
8. Place scrolls in a circular pattern in the sauté pan, cover with vents closed and place over medium heat.
9. Cook for 10 minutes or until lid is hot.
10. Invert onto chopping board, slide scrolls back into sauté pan. Reduce heat slightly and cook for a further 5-10 minutes.

The top 10 reasons to host a Chef’s Toolbox cooking party

Imagine calling a few friends together, cooking up a couple of delicious recipes, heartily devouring them and then scoring lots of free stuff and half price, top quality cookware!  That’s a Chef’s Toolbox cooking party for ya!

Cook up paella at your cooking party!

Why hold a Chef’s Toolbox cooking party?

1. You get to try before you buy.
2. Revive your enthusiasm for cooking.
3. Share cooking tips with friends and family.
4. Learn a couple of easy, delicious new recipes.
5. Treat yourself to some top quality cookware.
6. Start building your collection, piece by piece.
7. Receive free cookware.
8. Do some half price shopping.
9. Introduce your friends/family to something new.
10. Have a heap of fun, with very little effort!

The Chef’s Toolbox mantra is “cooking is fun”.  Whenever I say that, I see a few raised eyebrows in the room, but hey, you have to do it so you might as well enjoy it, right?  Frankly, there’s nothing fun about a sink full of baked-on, greasy, daggy looking pots and pans.  At a Chef’s Toolbox cooking party, you’ll be introduced to our gorgeous, practical cookware that enables you to cook more healthfully, and not tax your time with endless washing up.

“People always feel obliged to buy at these parties” …… not with Chef’s Toolbox!
Since the range is almost unheard of in Queensland – and we aim to change that – the very name is enough to intrigue your guests to come along.  And once they attend your cooking party, they will get to see what we’re all about.  Most people fall in love with it when they see how easy it is to use and clean, and they snap up a few pieces on the spot.  Others prefer to get to know it by buying one or two small items and consider holding their own party to build upon what they’ve bought.  That’s fine by us!  If we were into pressure, we’d be selling pressure cookers!

“I don’t have time to hold parties” ……
To host a Chef’s Toolbox cooking party, all you need to do is invite your friends and buy a few inexpensive ingredients.  We do the rest at your party!  We cook two simple recipes and eat them afterwards.  No dips, nibbles and munchies to put out.  Just a pot of tea or a bottle of wine and it’s all done.  This is meant to be fun, not work!

“My husband doesn’t like these ladies’ parties” …..
Who said cooking was just for the ladies?  Tell him to hang around and see how “the toolbox” will even get him to enjoy getting into the kitchen.  And since men are so practical, wouldn’t it be far better to be able to try something in your own kitchen, on your own stove, before you fork out for it?

“There’s no room in my kitchen” …..
We don’t need a kitchen!  How about a patio, the verandah, the garage or your living room?  With my handy dandy portable electric cooker, I can cook up a stove top pizza in a laundry as long as there’s a power point!

Look, whatever your sensitivity, no one wants to pressure you into holding a cooking party.  Just remember, there’s plenty to be gained – fun, new recipes, new cooking tips, free and half price cookware – and nothing to be lost.  Contact me if I can help :).

You ain’t never mashed potatoes unless …

… unless you’ve owned this potato masher from Chef’s Toolbox!  Holy mama!  Not only is it an intriguing conversation piece when your sister-in-law drops in and opens your second kitchen drawer – or sees it taking pride of place on the kitchen counter – but it’s a dual action, highly efficient piece of work that you’ll never turn your back on.

Behold the knob!  Well you can’t miss it!  It’s excellent for arthritis sufferers because it’s easier to manage without having to claw fingers around a traditional shaft.  And the flower-like shape of the actual masher really means business.  Push and twist, push and twist, push and twist, and in half the time it takes using a regular potato masher,  your potatoes are done, sister!  The ultimate comfort food made infinitely easier.

Use it also of course for bananas, baby food, pumpkins and other mashable munchables.  At just $20.00, don’t you just have to have one today?

Read an interesting product review of the Chef’s Toolbox potato masher at femail.com.au; click here.

Overheard at a couple of my recent cooking parties:

• “I bought one of these at the last party I went to and now I just want to mash everything in sight!”
• “I asked Louise if I could borrow hers a couple of weeks ago and she wouldn’t let it out of her house!”

Turn your $900 stimulus bonus into $1,400+ in cookware!

How can you get more than $1,550 worth of products for your $950 government stimulus bonus?  Turn it into more than $1,550 worth of high quality Chefs Toolbox products!

• Book a party to be held in March and with just $950 in sales and 1 party booking, you will receive $400 WORTH OF FREE PRODUCTS!!

• Introduce me to someone who decides to join me as a Chefs Toolbox Consultant (even yourself!) and receive ANOTHER $200 WORTH OF FREE PRODUCTS!!

Seriously, if you want true value for your stimulus bonus money, this is the way to do it. And when I say you will receive more than these figures, I really mean it. For instance, with 2 party bookings, you will also receive a free Flexibake item valued at up to $42. PLUS, take advantage of half price shopping to the value of one third of your sales.

Even better, you do not even have to spend all of your stimulus bonus to get up to $950 in sales. At a Chefs Toolbox cooking party, the cookware sells itself and your friends will love the opportunity to try before they buy, by cooking up a couple of easy recipes and enjoying eating them afterwards.

The $400* and $200 offers end on 31st March so CALL ME TODAY to book your March cooking party!

Set up your kitchen in style and put your stimulus package bonus to great use!

*Normally $200 worth of free products for $950 sales + 1 booking.

How to spend your $900 stimulus package bonus

Well seriously, how hard can it be?  Many of us have been granted a $900 windfall courtesy of Rudd & Co and we’re being told to spend, spend, spend.  Sure it’ll help the economy, but will it help us individually?  The Government says yes … ultimately, by ploughing the money back into the economy, it will help us all.  As for what to do with it, we believe we’re faced with 3 choices:

1. Spend it on luxuries, long-awaited necessities or day to day living.
2. Save it for the proverbial rainy day.
3. Make a dent in your mortgage (however grand or small the dent may be).

How about putting your $900 towards something useful, practical, used by the whole family, durable, high quality and absolutely necessary?

Yep, you knew I was going to make a Chef’s Toolbox sales pitch here but think about it.  Every home has to have cookware.  If $900 falls out of the sky, why not invest in some good cookware?  Items that last and last, pots and pans that will serve you for many years whilst turning out healthy meals for your family.  Upgrade your blunt old set of knives and add a knife sharpener to keep them in tip top shape.  Treat yourself to beautiful, practical, easy-to-use, easy-to-clean cookware that you can be proud to show off in your kitchen.  Start building your collection and add to it as you wish to.

Click here to see how you can turn $900 into over $1,400 worth of cookware!

Cooking at home cheaper than takeaway

When Australia’s leading recipes website says something, you know they’ve done their homework.  Taste.com.au recently reported that some clever number-crunching revealed that it really is cheaper to cook at home than to purchase takeaway.  Read the report here.

The expression ‘cheap as chips’ seems quite outdated when you consider that the cost of fries at any of the popular fast food chain stores is beyond the budget of after-schoolers wandering in to satisfy their raging hunger.  Make them at home and you can serve up piles more than the takeaway version.

Home cooking is usually healthier than takeaway too.  You know what goes into it because you’ve bought the ingredients and you can prepare meals with less fat, sugar and salt than what you’d get at a takeaway.

But what about ease?  Many complain that home cooking is too tiring and difficult.  What you need to compare is, the time it takes to get in the car, drive to the takeaway, get out of the car, stand in line (or wait increasingly long periods in drive-thrus), get back in the car, drive back home, unpack the food and serve it up.  Surely it’s easier and more convenient to stay in the comfort of your own home and put together an easy recipe?

There’s always going to be a place for takeaway; we deserve time out and we deserve to have someone cook for us.  But in the cost debate as to home cooking versus takeaway, preparing meals at home will logically be cheaper.

At The Chef’s Toolbox, our mantra is “cooking is fun”.  Well, not only is it fun, but it’s economical, and even if you splash out and treat yourself to our generously sized Square Roaster at $299, you’ll be investing in years of enjoyable cooking, courtesy of Chef’s Toolbox recipes and your friendly Consultant!

How to make your non-stick cookware last longer

Whether you’ve treated yourself to some gorgeous, hard-wearing, highly functional Chef’s Toolbox non-stick cookware or you’ve chosen to purchase another brand, here are some important tips on how to make your non-stick cookware last longer.

Before cooking

New pans should be washed in hot, soapy water, then rinsed and dried. There is no need to season the pans before use.

Cooking

Heat settings

• A lower heat setting than usual can be used as como advancedTM conducts heat very efficiently.
• The correct heat setting should be chosen for the cooking method being used:medium heat for frying, sautéing or stir frying low heat for simmering or warming.
• When cooking with gas, the flame must not be allowed to extend beyond the stainless steel base of the pan.

Pre-heating

• The pan should be heated to the desired cooking temperature before adding the food. This will ensure the food cooks as expected from the moment it hits the pan. Due to the heavy gauge alloy base, the pan heats quickly and evenly.
• The pan should not be overheated to hasten the heating process. Overheating the pan will cause the non-stick coating to deteriorate and turn brown. Overheating voids the warranty.

Oven cooking

como advancedTM is oven-safe to 250°C.

Utensils

Even if your non-stick cookware claims to be resistant to scratches, it is best to use silicone, nylon or wooden tools so that it lasts longer.

Oils

As much or as little oil as desired can be used in the pans. That’s the beauty of non-stick.  Any dishes may be cooked with minimal fats for a healthier meal. However, oil or butter can be added for a crisp texture, golden colour and more flavour.

TIP => Aerosol sprays should not be used directly on the pan as they leave a gummy residue that is very difficult to remove. For a lighter coating, the food can be sprayed before adding to the pan, a small amount of oil can be wiped over the surface of the pan, or pure oil in a pump-action spray container can be used, see example at left.

Safety
High heat, long cooking times, and oven cooking may cause the handles to become very hot. Care should be taken. Care must also be taken when carrying a full pan as it will be heavy and hot food may be spilled.

Cleaning

To extend the effectiveness of the non-stick surface, the pan must be cleaned thoroughly after every use. Any build-up of oil or food particles will impede the ability of the non-stick surface to release properly.

It is recommended that:

• the pan is washed while it is still hot, and
• the pan is washed with a micro-fibre cloth.
• Where needed, a non-abrasive cloth can be used on the non-stick surface.

Should food particles stick to the pan, it can be filled with water and bicarbonate of soda and left to soak for 30 minutes. Any food residue should now wash away.

Dishwasher use

como advancedTM has been treated to withstand occasional dishwasher use. However, we recommend hand cleaning to extend the life of the pan. The dishwasher-safe treatment will withstand 200 cycles in the dishwasher. After this number of cycles, the harsh alkaline agents in dishwasher detergents may begin to damage the hard-anodised surface.

Storage

Pots should not be nested inside each other without protective cloths as hard-anodised surfaces are twice as hard as stainless steel and may scratch the non-stick coating.

See me on TV on Weekend Extra!

“And here’s one I made earlier!”  Ooh, I’ve always wanted to say that!

Ok so if you’ve never seen the Stove Top Pizza in action, now’s your big chance, particularly if Brisbane Extra is available on your TV stations (Channel 9).  Last week, the Extra crew came around and filmed a segment in my very own kitchen, and I felt very much like an Aussie Nigella for a few hours!  (Minus the twin set outfit and glorious hair!)

Those of you in Brisbane and surrounds can catch the segment on Saturday 28th February at 5.30pm on Channel 9.

Update: click here to view the segment!

We made a delicious ham, pineapple and mushroom, kid-friendly pizza and also one suited more to grown-up tastes, with pancetta, black olives and sun dried (ok, oven dried in my oven) tomatoes.

I doubt that TV chef celebrity will be forthcoming but at least my audience has grown!!!

Here is the Stove Top Pizza recipe:

Dough
¾ cup self-raising flour
¾ cup plain flour
(Add another ¼ cup each of flour and water to create a thicker base as desired.)
(Can use gluten free or wholemeal flour too.)
¾ cup lukewarm water
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp dried yeast
Good pinch of salt

Topping – all optional, go crazy on your favourites!
¼ cup tomato passata or puree
1 cup shredded pizza cheese
½ can pineapple pieces, drained
150g shredded ham
100g sliced mushrooms

Method

1. Combine all dough ingredients in Sauté Pan and mix well.
2. Press dough using the tips of your fingers, until the base of the pan is covered.
3. Spread the pasta sauce onto the dough taking it as close to the edge as possible.
4. Add other toppings of your choice.
5. Place the pan (with the pizza inside) on the stove over medium heat and cover, making sure the vents are closed.
6. Cook 5 minutes.
7. Turn lid to open side steam vents, reduce heat to medium low and cook for a further 20 minutes.
8. Remove from heat and using egg flip, lift pizza from pan onto a board or serving platter.
9. Serve immediately.

Paella with Chorizo recipe

Devastatingly delicious and the perfect party food for when friends drop around.  If you don’t have all the ingredients, substitute other ones!  You’ll seem like a gourmet cook when you serve this up!

Prep: 15 mins / Cooking: 25 mins

Ingredients

1L stock
1.2 teaspoon saffron threads
1 tablespoon oil
2 chicken breast fillets, halved horizontally, sliced
2 Spanish chorizo sausages, halved and sliced thickly
1 onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 red capsicum, deseeded and sliced
1 teaspoon Spanish smoked paprika
1 x 400g can tomatoes, chopped
1 teaspoon salt (optional)
2 cups Arborio rice
1.2 cup frozen baby peas

Method

1. Heat stock in 3.5L Brazier until just boiling.  Add saffron to hot stock and set aside
2. Heat 28cm Sauté Pan over medium heat for 2 minutes.
3. Add half the oil and cook chicken and chorizo pieces in two batches. Set aside.
4. Add remaining oil, onion, garlic and capsicum to pan and cook for 2-3 minutes on medium-low heat, until vegetables have softened.
5. Add paprika, stir well and cook for 3 minutes.
6. Add tomatoes and salt and cook for 5 minutes.
7. Add rice and stir well to combine.
8. Add half the stock and stir well.
9. Cook over medium heat, without stirring, for 5-7 minutes.
10. Add remaining stock. Do not stir from this point on.
11. Return chicken and chorizo pieces to pan, pressing them down into the rice.
12. Scatter peas over rice.
13. Cook for a further 7-10 minutes or until rice is cooked and stock almost completely absorbed.
14. Remove from heat, cover and stand for 5 minutes.

Tips
Try to find Spanish paprika to give an authentic smokey flavour. “Normal” paprika is sweet.

Start a business for just $99!

Whoever heard of such nonsense?  Well, it’s true!  You can become a Chef’s Toolbox Consultant for just $99 during February 09!

Your $99 payment gets you a brilliant starter kit containing:

• A fabulous como advanced Saute Pan valued at $220
• A silicone spoon/spatula valued at $27.50
• A Flexibake 12-cup muffin pan valued at $39
• A ct-edge Fusion knife valued at $85

With a total value of $371.50, you’d be mad not to at least find out more about this exciting opportunity!  Contact me now for more details and don’t forget to include your email address and phone number.

What else do you get?

• Ongoing support without pressure to do more than you want to or can manage with your other commitments.
• The opportunity to meet up with other Consultants on a monthly basis for cooking demos, tastings and fun training.
• The enjoyment of being around likeminded people who love food.
• Income that is only limited by the level of commitment you are able to apply.
• Prizes, free products, recognition and other incentives.

You have nothing to lose by contacting me and finding out more.  No pressure, no obligation … I promise!