Mini Homemade Pizzas (Chef Camp)

INGREDIENTS:

For the pizza dough:

  • 2 cups flour (either all purpose or bread flour) divided, plus up to 1/3 cup extra each cup weighs 125g
  • 2 1/4 teaspoon instant yeast
  • 1 1/2 tsp sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil ( and more for coating the bowl and baking)
  • 3/4 cup warm water (105-115F, or 40-45C)

For finishing:

  • 1/2 cup pizza sauce, either store bought or homemade recipe for homemade sauce linked in recipe notes
  • 6oz mozzarella cheese slices 150g
  • 1/4 cup sliced black olives

DIRECTIONS:

  • Preheat oven to 210C (410F) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • Combine 1 cup of the flour (125g) with the yeast, sugar, salt, garlic powder and basil a large bowl.
  • Add olive oil and warm water and use a wooden spoon to combine thoroughly.
  • Add in another 1 cup of flour, and stir. If dough is still too sticky and unmanageable, keep adding flour gradually while stirring until a maximum of another 1/3 cup is added. The dough will begin to pull away from the sides of the bowl.
  • Coat another large bowl with some olive oil and transfer dough to this greased bowl. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and allow to rise in a warm place for 30 minutes or until puffy and expanded to double in size.
  • Once dough has doubled, coat your hands and a work surface lightly with flour and remove dough from the bowl and knead gently just a few times until dough is deflated and smooth. 
  • Use a rolling pin, and roll the dough out into a thin layer, then with a cookie cutter, or the rim of a glass cup, cut out about 20 dough circles, and place onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet. See the video in the recipe card for a visual.
  • Add a teaspoon or so of pizza sauce to the middle of each dough circle, leaving a border of dough without sauce.
  • Cut each slice of mozzarella into 4 squares (or a size good to cover the pizza sauce) and top pizza sauce on each pizza.
  • Add a sliced black olive or toppings of your choice to the center of each pizza.
  • Bake for 10-12 minutes or until light golden brown on the bottom, with bubbly melted cheese, don’t overbake.
  • Enjoy warm or at room temperature!

Recipe tips:

  • To prevent mini pizzas from becoming soggy, don’t overload them with sauce and toppings. Just place a little sauce, a square of cheese and just a 1/2 teaspoon or so of toppings- make sure the toppings are chopped pretty small.
  • Don’t overbake, you want the dough to be soft and fluffy. Start checking at 10 minutes, you just want a very light golden bottom.
  • To air fry the mini pizzas cook at 375F (190C) for 6-7 minutes. 
  • You can use store bought pizza dough if you prefer.
  • You can use shredded mozzarella cheese if you prefer.

Storing leftovers:

  • Leftover mini pizzas will last in the fridge in an airtight container for 4 days.
  • These freeze very well for up to 3 months in a freezer bag or airtight container. Flash freeze them by placing the cooked pizzas on a baking sheet in the freezer until hard, then placing them in a freezer bag.
  • You can reheat mini pizzas in the microwave briefly, start with just 10 seconds. You can microwave these straight from the freezer. If you take them out of the freezer, you can place them in lunchboxes frozen, they’ll thaw quickly.

Original recipe available here.

Baked Churros (Chef Camp)

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon 
  •  8 ounces refrigerated crescent roll dough 1 can, or dough sheet*
  • 2 Tablespoons melted butter divided

DIRECTIONS:

  • Preheat oven to 375°F.
  • In a small bowl, mix together sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.
  • Unroll dough out flat onto parchment paper (helps with dough not sticking). Separate to 4 rectangular pieces and press seams together.
  • Brush 2 pieces very lightly with melted butter (optional). To each of the two pieces, evenly sprinkle with ¼ of the cinnamon sugar mixture. Top each of the two pieces with the remaining dough pieces and lightly press together.
  • Using a pizza cutter (or sharp knife), cut each layered rectangle into 6 long strips while carefully holding the dough still. Carefully separate one strip and with one end in each hand, with the dough close to the parchment paper, twist both fingers in opposite directions 3 times for each strip. (It is much easier to twist with the strip close to or touching the surface.)
  • Place twisted churro back on parchment paper** and lightly pinch ends together and down onto parchment paper.
  • Move parchment paper filled with churros to a baking tray. Using a silicone brush, lightly brush churros with butter (approximately ½ teaspoon). Bake 9-11 minutes, until golden brown and crispy.
  • Brush baked churro with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture. Serve with chocolate sauce.

Original recipe available here.

Cheese Bombs (Chef Camp)

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 8-count can Pillsbury Grands buttermilk biscuits
  • 4 sticks mozzarella string cheesecut into eights 
  • 4 tbsp butter melted
  • 1 tbps minced garlic
  • 2 tbsp parsley finely chopped
  • 1 pinch salt

DIRECTIONS:

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Open the can of biscuits, separate the dough and cut each round in half. Roll or press out the dough so it is about 1/4 of an inch thick, trying to make the dough more round (does not need to be perfect). 
  • In a small bowl add the butter, garlic, parsley, and salt. (Optional: you can replace the garlic with 1/4 tsp of garlic powder or 1 tsp of garlic salt. If you’re using garlic salt, do not add a pinch of salt in addition to the garlic salt.)
  • Place 2 cut pieces of string cheese in the center of each piece of dough. Fold the edges over the center and seal as best as possible.
  • Place each dough ball seam side down on a cookie sheet. Light colored sheets work better as darker can lead to burnt bottoms.
  • Brush with the melted butter mixture.
  • Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the tops of the cheese bombs are golden brown. Remove from the oven, brush with butter again and serve.

Original recipe available here.

Muffin Brownies (Chef Camp)

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter melted (you can use 1/4 cup of butter and it will still be yummy)
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (you can use 1/4 cup whole wheat and 1/4 cup of regular flour)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Line Muffin Pan with cupcake liners 
  3. Stir sugar, eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla in the melted butter.
  4. Beat in 1/3 cup cocoa, 1/2 cup flour, salt, and baking powder by hand.
  5. Use cupcake liners and fill ¾ full of batter
  6. Bake in preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes.

TRADITIONAL WELSH RAREBIT

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 Tbsp butter
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ tsp dry mustard
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 1 cup Heinekein beer
  • 1½ cups heavy cream
  • 4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
  • 4 large egg yolks

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Add flour and whisk for 2 to 3 minutes, being careful not to brown flour. Whisk in Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard, salt and pepper until smooth.
  2. Whisk in beer. Pour in heavy cream and whisk until smooth. Add Cheddar cheese gradually, stirring constantly, until melted and smooth, about 5 minutes.
  3. Remove cheese sauce from the heat and let cool about 5 minutes.
  4. Whisk together the 4 egg yolks, then whisk them into cooled cheese sauce until incorporated.
  5. Enjoy hot over toast or English muffins.

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips*
  • 1 ready-to-use graham cracker crumb crust (6 oz.)

DIRECTIONS:

  • Heat oven to 350°F.
  • Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until blended.
  • Add eggs; mix just until blended.
  • Stir in 1/2 cup chocolate chips.
  • Pour into crust. Sprinkle with chocolate chips (if desired).
  • Bake 40 min. or until center is almost set. Cool.
  • Refrigerate 3 hours.

*We used less chocolate chips than the original recipe for a lighter chocolate taste.

Chicken Sausage, Broccoli and Orzo Skillet

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 12 ounces chicken sausage, sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cup orzo pasta
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 2 cups broccoli florets
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS:

  • In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat
  • Add the sliced chicken sausage to the skillet and cook until browned.
  • Stir in the minced garlic and orzo pasta, cooking until the orzo is lightly toasted.
  • Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook for about 10 minutes.
  • Add the broccoli to the skillet. Cover and cook for an additional 5-7 minutes until the vegetables are tender.
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted.
  • Serve hot and enjoy

Bacon Jam Cheeseburger Sliders

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 pounds 80/20 ground chuck
  • Salt, pepper, and garlic (1 tablespoon each for seasoning)
  • 1 pound bacon, chopped into chunks
  • 1 whole white onion, diced
  • 4-5 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup bourbon
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 6-9 slices American cheese
  • Slider buns
  • Cooking spray

DIRECTIONS

  • Flatten ground chuck in a pan, season, and refrigerate.
  • Cook bacon in a skillet, remove, and discard half the grease.
  • Add onion, cook for 10 mins.
  • Add garlic, cook for 4-5 mins.
  • Return bacon, cook for 1-2 mins.
  • Add brown sugar, bourbon, vinegar, and syrup. Simmer for 10-15 mins until thickened. Transfer to bowl.
  • Heat griddle to medium and spray. Cook patty, season backside. Flip after 4-6 mins, add cheese after 2 mins.
  • Toast buns, assemble sliders with bacon jam. Cut and serve.

Banana Protein Muffins

Ingredients (10–12 muffins)

  • Wet:
    • 2–3 very ripe bananas, mashed
    • 2 eggs
    • ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
    • ¼ cup maple syrup or honey
    • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Dry:
    • 1 cup oat flour
    • ½ cup protein powder (vanilla or plain)
    • tsp baking soda
    • 1 tsp cinnamon
    • Pinch of salt
  • Add-ins:
    • ½ cup chopped walnuts
    • Optional: ¼ cup chocolate chips

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F
  • Grease or line a muffin tin
  • In a bowl:
    • Mash bananas
    • Whisk in eggs, yogurt, maple syrup, and vanilla
  • Add dry ingredients:
    • Oat flour, protein powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt
    • Stir until just combined
  • Fold in walnuts (and chocolate chips if using)
  • Divide into muffin cups (about ¾ full)
  • Bake 18–22 minutes, until set and lightly golden
  • Cool 5–10 minutes before removing