Pronto Pollo Pizzas

When it comes to pizza pie, New York style is a winner on many fronts. The fact is that a considerable number of people from many different locales have fallen in love with New York style pizza. With that in mind, and if you are one of those folks that dig New York style pizza, you may want to know a little bit more about this type of pizza pie.

New York style pizza actually was the creation of immigrants from Naples that settled in the Big Apple. It actually was in Naples, Italy, that pizza its traditional form was born. Of course, since the days the first pizza pie was thrown, there have been many successful variations on the original theme.

The typical New Yory style pizza normally is made with a thin base or crust. Normally it is hand tossed and includes cheese and a moderate amount of sauce. On some level it is a variation on the more traditional Neapolitan style pizza.

In today’s world, a New York style pizza can also feature a variety of different types of toppings. Indeed, in the 21st century the New York style pizza can and is topped to taste.

One of the features of the New York style pizza that really does set it apart from other variations is the manner in which it is served. The typical New York style pizza is served by giving the diner a very large slice. In fact, typically the slice is so large that the New York style pizza eater who really knows what he or she is doing will fold the large, thin slice of pizza pie over … making something of a pizza sandwich, if you will.

This type of pizza dominates in the the Northeastern sector of the United States and upwards into Canada. Indeed, the popularity of the New York style pizza really has spread across the United States to such a degree that when people in the U.S.A. reference pizza, more often than not they are referencing the New York style of a variation on that style of pie.

A good number of pizza joints in the Big Apple have taken to offering two varieties of pizza pies: Regular (which is what has been described in this article and which is a decedent of the Neapolitan pizza pie) as well as the Sicilian. In fact, the Sicilian is not technically a traditional Sicilian pizza per se as a Sicilian pie has all of the ingredients baked into the dough. The New York Sicilian pizza is rectangular in shape and is made of thicker dough that what is uses in the “regular” pizza. However, this version of the Sicilian comes complete with topics of different types.

Pronto Pollo Scone Sandwiches

As a child, I never ate sandwiches. Over the years though, as I started making my own lunches every day, I realized the value of the sandwich as a lunch box savior. These sandwiches are just a start to expand your range of sandwich possibilities here are several healthy sandwich ideas to get you going!

It starts with the bread plain bread alternatives: Pita bread, tortillas, dinner rolls, naan bread, challah bread, bagels, English muffins, pain de mie, rye bread, flatbread, butter lettuce leaves don’t be afraid to branch out! If you are looking for optimum healthy bread options, try picking a bread with several grams of fiber per slice, and whole grains – preferably ones you can actually see in the bread.

Good Spread options: pesto, hummus, olive tapenade as a basis for any sandwich, just add vegetables. To add some punch, try some whole grain dijon mustard (Maille brand is a favorite), or a thin spread of harissa – a north African chili paste.

Textural additions: try adding raisins, granola, sesame seeds, pickles, cornichon pickles, chocolate chips, popcorn or potato crisps (if you are eating the sandwich right away).

Try some of these combination and you won’t be bored at lunch time any more!

Omnivore sandwiches:

pep up your chicken or tuna salad with some lemon juice, paprika, and chopped onion
egg salad and with steamed or grilled asparagus on baguette or pain de mie
smoked salmon and cream cheese (sprinkle of dill or capers optional)
turkey, cream cheese and tomato on a toasted bagel
bacon and avocado, or bacon, lettuce and tomato
soft cheese such as brie or goat with grated carrot, coarse salt, and cracked pepper
hummus and a poached or fried egg
turkey and cucumber raita on naan bread

Vegan sandwiches (vegetarian addition in brackets):

(honey), peanut butter, and banana
banana and chopped dates (ricotta)
sliced avocado and olive oil with a sprinkle of salt and pepper on rye bread
hummus and cucumber
grilled asparagus with lemon vinaigrette and lettuce wraps
almond butter, strawberry jam, and mango

Pronto Pollo toppings

Spurred by Channel 4’s TV campaign pioneered by celebrities such as Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, the UK has recently seen a boom in the number of households keeping chickens. After many years of eating mass produced tasteless eggs and now having seen the appalling conditions of many battery farm chickens, more people have taken on chickens with the aim of eating fresh eggs. Although we’d all like to live on rambling farms where our chickens can roam free, unfortunately very few of us have this luxury. We therefore need to find a way of housing our chickens whilst giving them the life they deserve.

Why keep chickens? There are four main reasons why people choose to keep chickens. The first is as a family pet. Although the chicken is not a traditional domestic pet, there has been a recent rise in this activity, driven mainly through the plight of rescuing ex-battery farm chickens who face certain death if not re-homed. The second reason is to show them and hopefully win prizes. The third reason for keeping chickens is to provide your household with meat. And finally the forth, and most common reason for keeping chickens, to produce eggs.

Depending on your reason for keeping chickens, the breed you choose will vary. People looking for a pet will tend to choose an elegant breed like the Silkie. Hybrid breed Bovans Nera have been ‘designed’ for maximum egg yield, but for laying you could also choose the Rhode Star or Sussex Light among others. Generally show birds are premium pure breeds whilst chickens destined for the pot will be selected from one of the larger breeds such as the aptly named Cornish Roaster.

Bird Housing Bird housing is a very important aspect of keeping chickens. A bird house provides protection from the weather, from predators such as foxes, from injury and from theft. There are three basic types of bird house – ark, coop and Eglu. Each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Chicken Ark – These are relatively small so take up little space in your garden. Due to their size, they are usually also cheap to buy. They come with a built in run area providing a place for your chickens to get both exercise and fresh air. However there are a number of disadvantages. Due to their small size, they are only suitable for housing one or two birds. They are a rather inefficient use of floor space and are not the easiest form of housing for the chickens to move around in.

The Chicken Coop – Typically chicken coops come with built in runs, providing your chickens with room to run around in the fresh air. These are generally slightly larger than the chicken arks, providing room for more chickens but are still reasonably cheap to purchase. They also have the advantage of offering your birds a place to perch. Their main disadvantage is that they are relatively heavy which can cause problems if you want to move the coop and run to a different location.

The Eglu ‘ A clever spin on ‘igloo’, the Eglu is a very modern form of housing which is design focused. They are generally a lot better looking then the chicken ark and coops as they are designed with trend in mind. The main disadvantage to the Eglu is that they are quite expensive ‘ you are typically paying for design above purpose. Another drawback is that they can only house two chickens at a time.

For the purpose of this article, we’re going to focus on the chicken coop and what the UK market has to offer.

First you need to consider size. As with most garden objects, chicken coops come in an array of different sizes and shapes. Size will primarily be determined by the number of birds you want to keep – as a general guideline, an average sized laying hen will need 1.5 square feet of room in the coop and 8 square feet in the run.

There are a number of different styles of coop available and your choice will be determined by your individual style, the style of your house and garden, and your budget. The first style is the ‘apex’ coop so named due to its triangular design. Typically an apex coop has a space for nesting and a wired section of run. An apex roof allows water to easily drain away from the hutch and run, keeping your birds dry.

There is also the traditional ‘pent’ roof design which is quite commonly used for garden chicken keeping. It looks quite like a dog-kennel to the untrained eye, but provides a large nesting space with access ramp. Generally pent style chicken coops are heavier then their apex counterparts due to their shape.

You are able to buy double storey chicken houses which offer a more efficient use of floor space. This type of coop can have either a pent, apex or flat roof.

When looking to buy a chicken coop, you need to be aware of the material they are made from. Traditionally they are made from wood so look out for heavy duty tongue and groove construction as this will provide a durable, long lasting finish. When looking at wood finishes, look for treated wood which will provide some resistance from the weather – but ensure the coating is animal friendly. Also check what roofing material is on the chicken coop – mineral felt will offer protection from the weather.

I encourage you to give it a go. Chicken keeping is great fun and you have pets that can provide a source of food. It doesn’t get any better.

Panini, an exemplary grilled sandwich, is found in the menus of restaurants, cafes, and bistros. Panini is an Italian plural word which translates to “small breads.” The singular term is “panino.” By tradition, Panini sandwiches are made of small breads. In English-speaking places, Panini is an Italian grilled sandwich.

Panini sandwiches are grilled that’s why its outside texture is crunchy and the inside texture is chewy. These sandwiches are loaded with an assortment of meats, melted cheese, and vegetables. Pressure is put on the sandwich while being grilled so that the ingredients will meld.

Here’s the basic recipe to follow when making a Panini grilled sandwich.

Ingredients:

Italian breads such as cibiatta and focaccia – Other kinds of breads can be used. Denser breads are preferable to get a crispy crust when toasted.

Olive oil

Fillings – Anything that suits the taste buds and diet. Examples of good Panini sandwich fillings are the following:
- Salami, extra virgin olive oil, roasted red peppers and balsamic vinegar
- Dry salami, fontina cheese and arugula
- Grilled mushrooms (portobella) and assagio cheese
- Goat cheese, mortadella and balsamic vinegar
- Smoked Gouda, provolone, basil leaves and pesto
- Turkey, cheddar, bacon and roasted red peppers
- Turkey, Swiss cheese, bacon, lettuce and avocado
- Turkey breast, roasted ham, cheddar cheese, Swiss cheese, lettuce and tomatoes
- Roast beef, horseradish mayonnaise, mozzarella, onions, caramelized onions and tomatoes
- Pulled chicken, provolone, mayonnaise, chopped basil, red onion and tomatoes
- Prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, plum tomatoes, basil and olive tapenade
- Jerk chicken, chipotle aioli, red leaf lettuce, roasted red peppers and sautéed onions.

Procedure:

The steps in making a Panini sandwich are so simple. First, start with the bread. Lay down two pieces of bread. Then, brush lightly with olive oil (preferably extra virgin) one side of each bread. This would result to a crispier texture. Then, put on top of bread the fillings for the sandwich. Anything can be added. Good quality meats and the remaining of the feelings between two yummy layers of cheese is the usual arrangement.

Lastly, toast the sandwich. It is preferable to have a Panini grill when making the sandwiches. A Panini grill is an appliance that looks like a waffle iron. The heat is used by pressing the sandwich from below and above. The grill feature of the sandwich can be seen after toasting because of the ridge plates in the Panini grill. The Panini grill gives pressure to the sandwich, thus, allowing the ingredients to meld and create an appetizing and compact texture.

Pronto Pollo Scone Pizza and sandwiches

In case a Panini grill is not available, a typical electrical contact grill or a grill pan can be used. Pre-heat the grill pan. Then, place on it the sandwich. Afterwards, place a heavy material, such as an aluminum foil wrapped brick, on the top of the sandwich. After toasting one side, flip over the sandwich and repeat the toasting process.

There are hundreds of recipes on how to make a Panini grilled sandwich. All recipes use the basic steps. The difference would be on what kind of bread is used and what are the fillings used to stuff the sandwich.