Recipe: Kid-Tastic Creative Calzone Thanksgiving Leftover Challenge

Kid-Tastic Creative Calzone Thanksgiving Leftover Challenge

Happy & Healthy Cooking,

Fun-Da-Mentals Kitchen Skills

• chop :

  to cut something into small, rough pieces using a blade.

• grate :

  to reduce food, like a carrot, to very small shreds or pieces of the same size by rubbing it on a tool with an outside surface that has holes with cutting edges (a grater).

• knead :

  to work dough by pushing, pulling, and folding it by hand or with a stand mixer.

• knife skills :

  Bear Claw (growl), Pinch, Plank, and Bridge (look out for trolls). 

• measure :

  to calculate the specific amount of an ingredient required using a measuring tool (like measuring cups or spoons).

• mix :

  to thoroughly combine two or more ingredients until uniform in texture.

• seal :

  to close tightly, keeping filling inside.

History of the Calzone!

• The calzone (kal-ZONE-ay) originated in Naples, Italy, possibly in the 18th century. Its name comes from the words for stocking and trousers. It represented a "walk-around" form of pizza that could be carried out and eaten without utensils, while the damp-in-the-middle pies made in the same pizzerias had to be eaten on the premises with a knife and fork. 
• More than one calzone are "calzoni," long "e" at the end, or calzones. They are made with leavened dough, similar to pizza dough. Fillings may be mozzarella, Parmesan, or ricotta cheeses, ham, pepperoni, salami, tomatoes, egg, or anchovies. The dough is folded over the filling, giving the calzone a half-moon shape. You can think of it as an oven-baked Italian turnover. Street vendors in Italy sell sandwich-sized calzoni. Italian fast food!

Let's Learn About Thanksgiving!

• A Thanksgiving holiday is celebrated on various dates in a few countries and cities. It is a national holiday in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November and Canada on the second Monday in October. The holidays began as a celebration of the harvest and the past year's blessings.
• In the US, the traditional beginnings of the holiday began in 1621 as a three-day celebration to give thanks for the harvest. The Pilgrims living in Plymouth Colony (Massachusetts) were joined by several members of Wampanoag Indians, who may also have brought food with them. Although the Pilgrims did not refer to their feast by name, it is usually called the "first'' Thanksgiving.
• The foods the Pilgrims and Wampanoag ate would have been somewhat different than our traditional Thanksgiving dinners. According to an account written in the journal of William Bradford, the leader of the Plymouth Colony, the Pilgrims had access to cod, bass, and other fish, venison (deer), waterfowl, wild turkeys, and Indian corn (as bread or porridge). Later reports of their crops besides corn may indicate they also had beans, carrots, grains, lettuce, onions, peas, pumpkins, and turnips. 
• Since that "first" Thanksgiving, national proclamations made to celebrate a day of Thanksgiving included ones in 1782 by the US Congress, in 1789 and 1795 by George Washington, in 1798 and 1799 by John Adams, and in 1814 by James Madison. Various states also proclaimed days of Thanksgiving.
• Starting in 1846 and continuing for 17 years, Sarah Josepha Hale, the editor of Godey's Lady's Book magazine, campaigned for a national Thanksgiving holiday to be celebrated on the last Thursday of November. She sent her requests to newspapers and government leaders. 
• Finally, in 1863, during the Civil War, Sarah's editorials moved President Abraham Lincoln to proclaim Thanksgiving a national holiday on the last Thursday of November to give thanks for the nation's general blessings and military successes.
• In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared Thanksgiving should be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, since some years have five Thursdays in the month. Congress passed a resolution in October 1941 to make it on the last Thursday again; however, an amendment was made to the resolution in December to go back to the fourth Thursday to avoid confusion in the years with only four Thursdays. Since then, it has been observed on the fourth Thursday of November.
• In the United States, the modern Thanksgiving dinner typically consists of turkey, dressing or stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole or other vegetables, and pumpkin or other pies. After the feast, families often take walks, watch American football games, go to the movies, play games, put together jigsaw puzzles, or decorate for Christmas. Some families volunteer to serve dinner at homeless shelters. 
• Cooking methods for the Thanksgiving turkey have changed over the years. In addition to roasted, you might be served a turkey that has been deep-fried, smoked, broiled, or grilled.