Grilled Cheese is a quick and easy lunch by itself or in combination with a bowl of soup. A classic. But sometimes you want something more than classic and the same ole, same ole. Jazz up your grilled cheese sandwich with a little something extra and it soars to the next level. Make it several somethings extra and lunch becomes legendary! To build this flavorful sandwich, use a good quality bakery bread for the foundation. We like sourdough bread for its texture, taste and because it does not impact blood sugar as much as do other breads. One of the groceries in town makes great sourdough in two sizes – a six inch diameter circle and an 8 inch circle loaf. One slice of cheese covers the smaller loaf, but the bigger one needs a slice and a half and sometimes 2 slices. I just ... [Read More]
Sandwiches
Calypso Burgers
So juicy and full of flavor, you’ll make Calypso Burgers for guests, for family and just because. Topped with cheese, lettuce, sweet onion, extra mango chutney and grilled pineapple, Calypso Burgers make a statement any time of year. Serve with baked sweet potato fries and a crisp salad, you might not even want dessert. But if you do, check out the long list on the Dessert section from the Recipe tab above ;-) Calypso Burgers crossed my path at the monthly meals put together at the grocery down the street from us. I’ve mentioned these before as a great way to help me fulfill my goal of eating healthy and expanding our culinary horizons. The store dietician plans six meals, the store chefs do all the chopping and other prep. The hard work is done and I get to have the fun of ... [Read More]
THE best Pork Barbecue Sandwich
Introducing Hoggers, THE best barbecue pork sandwiches ever. To get the irony of that statement in our house you have to know: Bytes was allergic to tomatoes. He outgrew the allergy somewhere around eighth grade, but I still don’t use many tomatoes in cooking. Barbecue sauce is not our thing either as the preference here is subtle seasoning for meat. So this recipe came about by pure accident! I was buzzing through the grocery with a short list and, as always, on the lookout for bargains. I noted a cart laden with fresh meat being pushed from the butcher shop. It stopped at the area of the cooler designated for markdowns. I picked up two items on the list between me and the meat section. By the time I got to the counter, a small mob had gathered and the cart pusher had given up ... [Read More]
Hot Roast Beef Party Sandwiches
Hot Roast Beef Party Sandwiches was one of the main dishes I served at two ladies luncheons recently. A hot sandwich was a nice counterpoint for the cold salads and desserts that made up the rest of the menu. They were so easy to make and, most importantly, delicious! The size was just right for guests who were sampling everyone’s contribution. The guys are always happy to dispatch of any leftovers with the “suggestion” I might need to make some of these wonders just for them. Who knows? Some wintry Sunday evening, I just might make these for family supper! I made them the morning of the event, but they could be prepared up to a month ahead of time, assembled and wrapped for baking. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking as directed. I used a package of 12 rolls that had been ... [Read More]
Grilled Brie and Pear Sandwich
The grilled brie and pear sandwich caught my eye immediately! Last Thursday, the women on my block went to lunch for our regular monthly get together. We try out new restaurants and visit old favorites. Sometimes we go shopping afterwards or to a movie, but mostly we just talk and catch up with one another. This time we went to a new to us restaurant with a wonderfully eclectic menu. I don't usually order sandwiches but grilled brie and pear just sounded so MMMMMMM! It was indeed! I had to come home and create the spirit of this wonderful melty inside, crusty outside grilled brie and pear sandwich for Wheels and Bytes – and me! Begin with wonderful crusty artisan sourdough bread sliced into eight large slabs. Add a circle of brie sliced thinly, a ripe large Bosc pear ... [Read More]
Monte Cristo Sandwich
The Monte Cristo sandwich is based on a similar sandwich called Croque Monsieuer – basically a grilled cheese sandwich. When it appeared in American cookbooks in the 1930’s, it was known as French sandwich. Then someone came up with the idea of combining those two “French” dishes – French sandwich and French toast – into a Cheese Dream Sandwich. The idea of serving it with jelly came from the French Toast connection. King’s Restaurants in Nebraska carried the idea further by deep frying the sandwich and calling it a Frenchee. But it’s real claim to fame was in the mid Sixties when it appeared in Disney’s Cajun restaurant where it was called -- ta da -- the Monte Cristo Sandwich. And here I thought it had been around since one of the King Louis' or at least Napoleon! Now forget ... [Read More]
