The Chew and Clinton's Potato Salad

I love The Chew.  I have watched every show and have even protected some of them on the DVR so Charlie doesn't erase them.  If you watch, you would know the ones.  Jo Beth Williams, the relay race, Momma T and most recently Olivia Newton John.

I laugh so much while watching it that I can't help but be in a good mood.  And I generally watch it at 4:00 in the morning.  It makes my day!

I try so many of their recipes and we have loved them all.  I will admit that I don't usually try Daphne's although she has had one or two that looked good.  And I wish her the very best as she moves back home.  If I had to tell her anything, it would be focus on the goal and you can get through anything.

Here's my latest addition from The Chew:

Clinton Kelly's Potato Salad

You can find Clinton's recipe by clicking on the link above.  We didn't have any corn, which is absolutely unbelievable in this house but what can I say.  I can image how good it will be with the added crunch and sweetness of the corn.

This dish comes together to fast and is so good.  I even ate some for breakfast yesterday.

We made sandwiches too. A little different than the one Clinton made.  Although I do plan on making his.  Mango chutney sounds so awesome.  Our sandwich was a mix of a panini and a club.  Once again we used artichoke pesto and cesar dressing on the bread.  A mix of ham, turkey, bacon and swiss cheese topped with tomato and onion.  Press it into a press and Yum.  Coupled with Clinton's potato salad and you have yourself a meal.  It was scrumptious.

Try it today.  You will love it!

And try watching The Chew.  You will love it too.

Live, Laugh, Love,

Karen and Charlie

Panini

I went through all of my recipes the other day and cleaned out my files.  You know how it is.  You see in a magazine and think about how good the picture looks.  You swear that you will make it during the coming week but the recipe just sits there....waiting...and waiting.

I promised myself that I would only keep the recipes that I thought I would truly try.  And this week, I've done pretty good.  If I do say so myself!

This one is from Pillsbury and we are definitely putting it in our sandwich rotation.

Bacon and Mozzarella Panini
(changed just a bit by Karen and Charlie)

1Classic Pillsbury Pizza Crust
1 tablespoon artichoke pesto
2 teaspoon ceasar salad dressing
2 slices fresh mozzarella
pinch of fresh ground pepper
3 slices bacon
1 slice ham
2 slices roma tomato
as many onions as you like
2 leaves of fresh basil

Spread the pizza crust into a 9 X 13 inch rectangle and bake per package directions.  Cut down the middle vertically and horizontal.  Then cut each of those pieces in half.  Now you have enough for 4 sandwiches.  The other ingredients above are for 1 sandwich.

Spread pesto on one piece of crust.  The original called for basil pesto so use it if you feel called to.  Then spread the other side with the ceasar dressing.  Start building your sandwich on this side.  Add the mozzarella, sprinkle with pepper. Then the ham, bacon, tomato, basil and onions.

Top with the artichoke pesto side and put in your panini press, Foreman Grill or a pan with a brick or second pan to weigh it down.  You choice....whatever you have handy.

What for the cheese to melt and the bread to brown just a bit more.  You really just want everything to heat and come together.  This sandwich is oh, so delicious.

You can thank me later! After you wipe the melted cheese off your chin.

We hope you have the best day ever!

Karen and Charlie

French Onion Soup and Roast Beef Sandwiches

I have been waiting to make French Onion Soup for about 2 months now.  Drooling over every recipe I looked at.  For some silly  reason I thought it would difficult but it truly wasn't.  And it was so good.

Charlie gave me these cute little crocks just because he thought I would like them.  He was right.  He's always right and so thoughtful.  I am so lucky!  Oh, back to the soup...

After reading so many recipes, I just ventured out on my own and started putting it together.  The basic ingredients are butter, onions, broth, wine, bread and cheese.  Every recipe was just different enough but they all included these.  I don't really understand though is some used chicken broth, some used beef and they have two distinctly different flavors.  And the same with the wine.  Some used red and some white.

So here's what I ended up with:

French Onion Soup


1 stick butter
5 large onions, sliced very thinly
1 cup red wine
4 cups chicken broth
4 cups beef broth
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt & Pepper
french bread, sliced 1/2" - 3/4"
Gouda cheese slices

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Melt butter in dutch oven.  Add onions.  Cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.  

Cover and place in oven for 1 hour, stirring once.  (I got this cooking method from The Pioneer Woman)

Remove from oven and add wine.  

Turn on medium heat and add broth, garlic, worcestershire sauce, thyme, garlic powder and pepper.  Cook for 10 minutes and taste for salt and pepper.  

Cook for another 10-15 minutes.

Toast french bread under broiler, flipping once.

Ladle soup in crocks or bowls.

Place toast piece on top.

Top with 1 piece of gouda cheese.

Place in broiler until cheese is melty and yummy.

The finished product was so tasty.  We just did some deli roast beef and swiss cheese into a pressed sandwich.  Oh so nice on a cool night.

I dip my sandwich into my soup.  Are you a dipper or do you eat them separately?

Live, Laugh, Love,

Karen and Charlie

Bacon

Remember the commercial where the dog runs around the house and he is thinking 'Bacon, Bacon, Bacon'.  That's how I feel sometimes!  I love the stuff.

Baking it in the oven is now my rule.  I saw it on a Food Network show and haven't looked back.  It's way too easy and there is very little mess.  You just throw it on a wire rack over a baking sheet with rims to catch the grease, 375 for about 30 minutes.  Check it for doneness, some like it crispy and others not so much.

But wait, there's more!  My favorite thing is to cut the bacon slices into thirds, then toss them in a mixture of brown sugar and red pepper flakes.  Oh My Gosh.  It's like heaven in your mouth.

You take a bite and it's so sweet and then, it gets you on the back of your tongue.  Like wow, that's flavor.

Think of the possibilities.  It's a great snack.  Good crumbled on ice cream.  Yes, you know it is.  Throw some on a salad.  Or you could make sandwiches.

BLTs are a staple around here.  I usually throw some turkey on mine and a few onions.  I wonder when it stops being a blt and has to have another name?

Plus we've been making sliders recently, which are great for portion control!  If you haven't seen it yet, Rhodes has some warm and serve rolls that are terrific.  And the perfect size for sliders. 

Back to the Bacon.  The turkey offsets the sweet and spiciness of the candied bacon making this...the perfect sandwich.  You should try it very soon.  Yes, you should!

So Good!

Live, Laugh, Love!

Karen and Charlie

National Sandwich Day

November 3rd is National Sandwich Day!  What's your favorite?  Here's a few of ours.

I hope you have a wonderful day enjoying your favorite.

Karen

Use It Up

In the process of planning dinner (read it...throwing dinner together) I took a look at what was in the fridge and discovered:
  Spaghetti sauce
  Hamburger meat originally cooked for sloppy joes
  Mushrooms
  Green onions (needed for Thanksgiving)
  Cheese (we always have lots of cheese)
  Bacon (aw, come on - you knew that)

And not much else.

BLTs would be easy but not in the mood.  Tacos, maybe but no tortillas.  I could make sloppy joes but that really wasn't doing it for me.  I'm not sure why I was in such a mood but this is what we did.

It's kinda of a cheesy hamburger sandwich.  I put about 3 tablespoons butter in a pan.  Diced a green pepper, onion and mushrooms.  Added the already cooked hamburger meat. Heated it through.  Sliced a loaf of french bread.  Topped with swiss cheese.  Put in broiler and heated spaghetti sauce in microwave.
Dinner in about 15 minutes.

Charlie's comment - it really taste like a cheese steak.  It's really good.

I dipped my sandwich in the sauce.  Charlie poured the sauce over the top of his.  You choose what way works best for you.

What do you have in your fridge that you can use to create dinner?


Have someone on your Christmas List that is difficult to buy for?  Consider chocolate. 

Steak Sandwiches

This is one of the best and easiest sandwich ideas.  I promise you will love it.

Here's what you need:
4 onions
9 tablespoons of butter (divided)
16 oz mushrooms
Strip steak
Soy sauce
Sub rolls
horseradish or horseradish sauce
Swiss cheese

Start with 4 onions and caramelize with 3 tablespoons of butter.

      Caramelizing is easy.  Melt the butter in a pan and add the onions.  Cover for about 30 minutes stirring occasionally.

In another skillet, saute one pound of butter in 6 tablespoons of butter.

Grill a two strip steak to medium rare.

Let them rest for about 15 minutes.  They've been working hard and need this extra time to themselves.

Then slice into thin pieces.

Add the steak and mushrooms to the onions along with 1 Tablespoon of Soy Sauce.  Mix them all together.

Next up, The Bread.  I use sub rolls, you could use crusty french bread or whatever you like.  Slice them enough to open up but not all the way through. Put them on a foil lined baking sheet and turn the broiler on.

Smear a little horseradish or horseradish sauce on each bun.  Remember a little goes a long way and it want it to compliment the steak not overtake it. 

Now load them up.  Fill each bun with the steak, onion and mushroom mixture and top with swiss cheese.

You want alot of meat in each one.  This is really a meal than a sandwich. Now that you are completely hungry and ready to eat.  Put them in the broiler for about 5 minutes.  This will melt that wonderful cheese and get the buns all toasty.  Yummy. 

You can cut them in half and have them as a meal or I have cut each one into 4 pieces to serve at parties.  And they are great as leftovers the next day.

Enjoy!

Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato Sandwich

What could be better?  A simple BLT is great but this is an amped up version.

French Toast
     Make it your usual way.  Use sandwich bread and not the thick sliced bread. 
     Eggs and little milk.  Dip both sides of the bread and put in a warm pan with a little melted butter.  Don't get the pan too hot or it will be soggy in the middle.




Bacon
    Here's the kicker.  Take a jelly roll pan and a wire rack.  Line up the bacon and sprinkle with light brown sugar and red pepper flakes.  Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes.  The smell from the oven will drive you crazy.

That's all the cooking.

One piece of toast.  I added a little mayonnaise but don't I always?  James added a little syrup.  Add romaine lettuce, a slice of tomato and bacon.

You can try to fold it over or just give up and use a knife and fork.  Yes, it is good.  Satisfies the urge for something sweet and spicy and it has bacon, so it's got to be good.