BAKED MONTE CRISTO SANDWICHES

Puff Pastry Sheets should be a staple item in the freezer.  I always forget how many delicious things you make with it.  These sandwiches prove my point! The Captain makes an awesome chicken pot pie that is topped with puffed pastry . . . one of the best I have ever had.

Although this recipe sounds awesome, I'm not sold on the addition of sweetness, so I will make mine without it and have some maple syrup on the side to dip the sandwich in to try it out.

The sandwich recipe and photo comes from Pepperidge Farms . . . the link is at the end of the recipe.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 egg
• 1 tbsp. water
• 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
• 1/2 of a 17.3-ounce package Pepperidge Farm® Puff Pastry Sheets (1 sheet), thawed
• 8 slices deli ham (Black Forest)
• 4 slices deli Swiss cheese (about 4 ounces)
• 2 teaspoons confectioners' sugar
• 1 cup pure maple syrup

DIRECTIONS

Heat the oven to 400°F. Beat the egg and water in a small bowl with a fork.

Sprinkle the flour on the work suface. Unfold the pastry sheet on the work surface. Roll the pastry sheet into a 12-inch square. Cut into 4 (6-inch) squares. Brush the edges of the pastries with the egg mixture.

With a corner of 1 pastry facing you, place 2 slices ham and 1 slice cheese on the bottom half of the pastry. Fold the pastry over the filling to form a triangle and press the edges to seal. Crimp the edges with a fork. Repeat with the remaining pastries. Brush the pastries with the egg mixture. Place the pastries onto a baking sheet.

Bake for 20 minutes or until the pastries are golden brown. Sprinkle the pastries with the confectioners' sugar. Serve with the maple syrup.

Source

Stuffed Honey-Ham Biscuits

Easy, Easy, Easy!!!!!

Awesome appetizer for parties or a great addition to breakfast.  

I'd like to try it with scrambled or fried eggs added after it comes out of the oven.

Ingredients

• 1 can (16.3 oz) Pillsbury™ Grands!™ Flaky Layers refrigerated biscuits
• 8 slices (1/2 oz each) Swiss cheese
• 8 slices (1 oz each) deli cooked ham
• 1/4 cup honey

Directions


Heat oven to 350°F. 

Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray.

Separate dough into 8 biscuits. Cut slit on 1 side of 1 biscuit, forming a deep pocket. 

Place 1 slice of cheese inside pocket. 

Top cheese with 1 slice of ham and 1 teaspoon honey.

Press dough over filling, sealing edge of biscuit; place on cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining biscuits, cheese, ham and honey.


Bake 15 minutes or until golden brown. 

Remove from cookie sheet to serving plate. 

Drizzle remaining honey over tops. Serve immediately.

Recipe and Photo Source link

Turkey Club Panini

Wouldn't these awesome sandwiches look fabulous on your food table at the next party!  Love it paired with olives. 

As with any recipe, you can make it your own by omitting ingredients you don't like and add those you do like.

It sure is a tall sandwich!

INGREDIENTS

• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 2 tbsp. Dijon mustard
• 2 tbsp. grated Asiago cheese
• Freshly ground pepper, to taste
• 1 rosemary focaccia (16-inch x 8-inches)
• 300 grams smoked turkey slices
• 300 grams ham slices
• 300 grams proscuitto slices
• 200 grams Swiss cheese slices
• 200 grams cheddar cheese slices
• 2 tbsp. sundried tomato spread
• 2 tbsp. basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
• Giardiniera, olives or pickles, for serving

PREPARATION

To make the Asiago and garlic mayonnaise: Add mayonnaise, garlic, olive oil, Dijon mustard, Asiago cheese and pepper. Stir to combine. Set aside.

To create a triple decker panini, slice foccaccia lengthwise twice to make three layers of bread.

Layer sandwich as desired with the deli meats, cheeses, flavoured mayonnaise, sundried tomato spread and basil pesto.

Toast sandwich in large Panini press until cheese melts and bread is toasted, about 5 to 8 minutes. Alternatively, wrap sandwich in foil and heat in preheated 400 degree F. oven until cheese melts, about 10 minutes.

Cut sandwich into 8 pieces. Serve with giardiniera, olives or pickles.

Yield: 8 servings.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/inthekitchen/2012/10/turkey-club-panini.html

The source is a Canadian cooking show, In The Kitchen with Stefano Faita

Grilled Chicken Bacon Sliders

These awesome and versatile chicken sliders can be an appetizer, snacks or a main meal.

This is the type of slider that has so many possibilities . . . use your imagination and put your special touch to it.  There are some suggestions for variations at the end of the recipe.

The recipe comes from The Pioneer Woman's website, so you know it's got to be good!

Awesome party food :)

Ingredients

• 4 whole Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts (breast Halves, Not The Whole Breast)
• 16 slices Thin Bacon
• Cajun Spice
• Salt And Pepper, to taste
• 16 whole Small Dinner Rolls
• 16 slices Cheese Of Your Choice (cheddar, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, American, Swiss)
• Bottled Sauces Of Your Choice: BBQ, Louisiana Hot Sauce, Teriyaki, Etc.
• Toppings Of Your Choice: Tomato Slices, Grilled Onions, Lettuce, Celery Leaves, Etc.
• Spread Of Your Choice: Mayo, Mustards, Mayo Mixed With Chipotle Pepper, Etc.

Preparation Instructions


Slice bacon pieces in half and fry over medium-low heat until

Place the palm of your hand flat on the top of each chicken breast. Apply light pressure as you slice it horizontally in half (be careful!) When you're finished, you'll have eight thinner chicken breast pieces. Slice each of these in half so you'll wind up with sixteen small chicken "patties." Place a piece of plastic wrap on top of the thicker pieces and pound gently with a rolling pin to flatten slightly.

Brush both sides of the chicken pieces with a little bit of the bacon fat, then season with Cajun spice and salt and pepper to taste.

Heat a grill pan if you have one, or a heavy skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Cook chicken pieces on the first side for a couple of minutes, then flip them over to the other side. Lay slices of cheese (whatever kind you'd like) on top of each piece, then top with a couple of bacon slices. Cook until chicken is done, then remove from the pan.

Spread both sides of dinner rolls with the spread of your choice (mayo, mustard, etc.) and the toppings of your choice (tomato, lettuce, etc.) Place chicken pieces in between halved dinner rolls. Serve immediately!


Variations:

* Brush a little BBQ sauce on the chicken before laying on the slice of cheese and the bacon.

* Brush a little Louisiana hot sauce on the chicken. Add bacon, then top with a bunch of celery leaves before putting inside the buns.

* Change up the cheese, toppings, however you'd like!



Source:  The Pioneer Woman

Italian Layer Bake

OMG would you look at those layers of deliciousness?

A cross between an awesome sandwich and lasagne, this casserole would be very impressive to serve at your next dinner party.

I want one now!  New rule for our kitchen . . . we need to keep refrigerated crescent rolls in the fridge for times like these!

Ingredients

• 1 (8-ounce) container refrigerated crescent rolls
• 8 slices deli turkey (about 1/2 pound)
• 8 slices deli ham (about 1/2 pound)
• 12 slices deli hard salami (about 1/2 pound)
• 8 slices Swiss cheese (about 1/2 pound)
• 1 (12-ounce) jar roasted peppers, drained
• 4 eggs, beaten

Directions 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 

Unroll crescent roll dough without separating triangles. Separate dough into 2 squares along center cut line. 

Place 1 square of dough into an 8-inch square baking dish; using your fingertips, press dough to fit bottom of dish. 

Layer with half the turkey, ham, salami, Swiss cheese, and roasted peppers. 

Pour half the beaten eggs over peppers and repeat layers with remaining meats, cheese, and peppers. 

Place remaining square of dough over peppers. 

Pour remaining beaten eggs over dough and cover lightly with foil. 

Bake 20 minutes, remove foil, and bake an additional 20 to 22 minutes, or until golden and heated through.

Let cool 15 to 20 minutes, then cut and serve. 



Recipe and Photo Source: Mr. Food

Notes from Mr. Food:

If you liked this recipe, be sure to check out all of our cheesy favorites in The Cheese Lover's eCookbook: 34 Easy Recipes with Cheese.

For more cool ideas from the dairy aisle, visit our friends at Easy Home Meals!

Hawaiian Sliders

These little sliders are awesome!  We got to try them at a party and honestly, I could not get enough, but didn't want to make a pig of myself when there were so many other things to eat.  They went fast anyway!  Guess you could say they were the star of the show.

 The ones we had were overstuffed with ham and cheese (maybe double of what the recipe calls for), which made them even better, but the topping is what makes it so special with a blend of delicious tangy sweetness.  The crunchiness resulting from the sauce baked on the bread was also very nice. Outstanding!

I would love to make some with smoked turkey and swiss cheese too.  

Not only did they make the perfect appetizer, they would be great for a quick lunch with some chips.

Awesome discovery!

UPDATE:  We have made these sliders twice and propose the following changes:  No onion.  Cut the sauce recipe in half.  For some reason, our sliders did not come out crispy, but somewhat soggy.  We added 10 minutes to the baking time in the oven uncovered . . . it still wasn't enough time to make them crunchy enough for our taste.  Next time we will bake them 20 minutes covered and 15 minutes uncovered.

We love this recipe and will continue to tweak it until they are perfect for our taste.  I must say that the sauce is awesome, like a sweet barbeque sauce, and would be great with some shredded chicken in place of ham and cheese.

I really can't say where this recipe originated since it has been posted all over the place.  It is like, what came first, the chicken or the egg?

Ingredients

• 1 package Original Hawaiian 12-pack dinner rolls 
• 1 small sweet white onion, minced or grated 
• ½ cup (1 stick) butter 
• 3 tablespoons Dijon-style mustard 
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 
• 3 teaspoons poppy seeds 
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar 
• 1 package deli sandwich ham, cut into 12 small squares 
• 6 slices Swiss cheese, each cut in half 

Instructions

Melt butter in a small skillet over medium high heat. Add onion, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, poppy seeds and brown sugar. Allow to sauté for a few minutes, until onions are translucent and tender. Remove from the stove. 

Cut the rolls in half horizontally, removing the tops and placing the bottoms on a foil-lined baking sheet. Place a spoonful of sauce on each roll, followed by a slice of ham and piece of cheese. Place a roll top on each. 

Move the sliders closely together. Slowly pour the remaining sauce right over the tops of these small beauties. 

Cover with aluminum foil and allow to sit for 10 minutes. Bake at 350F or place on an outdoor grill over low heat, for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Uncover and bake for another two minutes until the tops are slightly browned and crisp. Serve immediately.

Grilled Cheese Sandwich

April is National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Month

It has always been my philosophy that you will never go hungry as long as you have a loaf of bread, butter and some cheese.  There have been times in my life when I was forced to put that philosophy in action.  I would always thank God that at least they are a tasty treat and actually fool the mind into thinking I was spoiling myself.  If I happened to be lucky enough to have a jar of dill pickles in the fridge, it was a feast!

With the variety of cheese and breads in the market, the combinations for a great grilled cheese sandwich are endless.

Cheese is one of my favorite things and I love to experiment with all types as the budget allows.  My favorite thing to do with a grilled cheese sandwich is mixing two different types of cheeses.  Try it sometime!

Tips For The Perfect Grilled Cheese Sandwich from The Nibble

Use real butter. 

The flavor of fresh butter is important for a gourmet grilled cheese sandwich.

Butter the outer side of the bread, not the pan. The butter will be more evenly distributed, which ensures a properly golden, crisp sandwich.

Grate or shred the cheese; it will melt faster.

When using dense breads, slice them no more than 1/2-inch thick, so that the heat can penetrate and melt the cheese.

Press the sandwich with a spatula after it’s been flipped, to help the melted cheese spread evenly.

Use a nonstick pan instead of cast-iron. The sandwich is less likely to stick to the pan, which makes clean-up much easier.

Click here for an awesome variety of

grilled cheese sandwich recipes and ideas.

Serious Grilled Cheese Sandwich

This sandwich looks delicious!  I'd love to try it as a breakfast sandwich, substituting a fried egg for the prosciutto . . . maybe add some bacon.  The possibilities are endless for creating your own favorite sandwich.

3 oz. grated aged Gruyère (1-1/4 cups) 

3 oz. grated fontina (about 1 cup) 

2 Tbs. finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano 

1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes (or to taste) 

8 1/2-inch-thick slices rustic Italian bread 

4 very thin slices prosciutto, halved crosswise 

2 medium ripe tomatoes, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices 

Kosher salt 

2 Tbs. salted butter, at room temperature 

1 to 2 large cloves garlic, halved and peeled for rubbing 

---

Lightly toss the cheeses and red pepper flakes in a small bowl. Put 4 slices of the bread on a work surface and evenly distribute half of the cheese mixture on top. Put 2 pieces of prosciutto (1 full slice) on each sandwich and top with 2 to 3 slices of tomato—enough to cover the cheese and prosciutto in a single layer. Season the tomatoes with salt and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. 

Lightly butter one side of the remaining bread slices and place them butter side up on the sandwiches.

Heat a griddle or a large skillet over medium-low heat. Arrange the sandwiches butter side down on the griddle and cook until the bread is toasted and  golden-brown, about 2 minutes. 

Meanwhile, spread an even layer of butter on the top slice of bread.

Using a spatula, flip the sandwiches and cook until golden-brown on the other side, gently pressing the sandwiches with the back of the spatula to compress, about 2 minutes. 

Remove the sandwiches from the griddle and lightly rub both sides of each with the cut side of the garlic. Using a serrated knife, slice the sandwiches in half and serve immediately.

Sources:  

photo: Scott Phillips

From Fine Cooking 112, pp. 22

July 7, 2011

Shrimp Salad Rolls

Kosher salt 
2 lb. large shrimp (31 to 40 per lb.), preferably easy-peel 
3/4 cup finely chopped celery with leaves 
1/2 cup mayonnaise 
1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh chives 
1 Tbs. finely chopped fresh tarragon 
1 Tbs. fresh lemon juice; more to taste 
Freshly ground black pepper 
6 hot dog rolls, preferably New England-style split-top rolls

Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the shrimp and cook, stirring, until bright pink and cooked through, about 2 minutes.the water needn't return to a boil. Drain in a colander and run under cold water to stop the cooking. Shell the shrimp, devein if necessary, and cut into 1/2- to 3/4-inch pieces.


In a large bowl, stir the celery, mayonnaise, chives, tarragon, lemon juice, 1/4 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Stir in the shrimp and season to taste with more lemon, salt, and pepper.


Position a rack 6 inches from the broiler element and heat the broiler to high. Toast both outside surfaces of the rolls under the broiler, about 1 minute per side. Spoon the shrimp salad into the rolls, using about 2/3 cup per roll, and serve.

variations

Make it a lobster roll: Substitute 1-1/2 lb. (4 cups) cooked lobster meat for the cooked shrimp.

Source:  Fine Cooking

Homemade Pimento Cheese Sandwiches

This recipe comes from the Food Network, one of my favorite television channels.  I was watching Sunny Anderson's show the other day and she featured this recipe that is so simple to make and looks so delicious.

These sandwiches would make awesome appetizers for a party!

The only thing I would change . . . omit the onions and substitute cayenne pepper for the black pepper.

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound Cheddar cheese, shredded (recommended: Colby)
• 1/2 pound Pepper Jack cheese, shredded
• 1 (4-ounce) jar diced pimentos, plus 2 tablespoons juice
• 1/2 red onion, diced
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 1 teaspoon hot smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon ground celery seed
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 loaf white sandwich bread, sliced into diagonal pieces

Directions

In a medium bowl, combine cheeses, pimentos and pimento juice, onion, mayonnaise, garlic, paprika, and celery seed. Mix well and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Transfer the cheese spread to a serving bowl and serve with the bread.