Here’s a hearty sandwich that is quick, easy and way more exciting than your typical ol’ turkey sandwich: pesto slathered on a sandwich roll layered with turkey, a slightly spicy tomato sauce and smoked cheese. Mmmm! It’s amazing how a few extra ingredients really jazzes things up!

The store I went to today didn’t have smoked mozzarella so I bought some sliced smoked gouda and some sliced provolone to try instead. I made the sandwiches with both cheeses—a few with the smoked gouda and a few with the provolone. The smoked gouda didn’t melt very well but it tasted good in the sandwich. The provolone (in photo) melted fine and made for a much more attractive sandwich. Next time I’ll hunt down the smoked mozzarella and try the sandwiches again.

Draining the tomatoes well before cooking them in the sauce will cut down on the cooking time. The tomato “sauce” needs to be dry chunks of tomatoes (not soupy) so that your sandwich doesn’t get soggy.  My first sandwich fell apart because the sauce was too saucy. I then cooked the remaining tomato sauce longer until the liquid was cooked off. Other than that, the sandwich is very straight forward. I served the sandwiches with salt & pepper thick-cut potato chips.

Toasted Turkey Subs with Smoked Mozzarella
-recipe from Cook’s Country Magazine

Store-bought pesto and a quick fresh tomato sauce enliven deli turkey in these Italian dinner sandwiches. But we also envision these substantial sandwiches as perfect game-day fare. Fresh mozzarella can be substituted for the smoked mozzarella. Line your baking sheet with foil before baking the sandwiches—you’ll save yourself the hassle

Serves 4.

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil  
6 garlic cloves, minced 
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes  
2 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes  
2/3 cup basil pesto  
 Table salt and ground black pepper  
4 (6-inch) sub rolls  
1 1/2 pounds deli turkey , thinly sliced 
12 ounces smoked mozzarella cheese , sliced into thin rounds 

Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 500 degrees. Heat oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes in large skillet over medium-high heat until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add tomatoes and cook until mixture is dry, about 10 minutes. Off heat, stir in 2 tablespoons pesto and salt and pepper to taste.

Spread remaining pesto on insides of each roll and layer each roll with turkey, tomato mixture, and sliced cheese. Place sandwiches on baking sheet, with open sides facing up. Bake until edges of bread are golden and cheese begins to melt, about 5 minutes. Serve.

Tags: pesto, sandwich, smoked mozzarella, subs, turkey

Here’s another great take-out favorite that can be whipped up in a flash: thin slices of beef with crisp-tender green beans, crunchy water chesnuts and a garlic and ginger flavored sauce. It’s delicious!

Don’t let the oyster sauce frighten you. It doesn’t smell fishy or taste anything like oysters…it just forms the base of the sauce along with the beef broth. Look for oyster sauce in the Asian section of your grocery store (by the soy sauce). You need to have everything prepped and ready to go before starting to cook the stir fry. When I say everything, I mean everything (your table set, your rice cooked, etc.). You don’t want your stir fry getting cold while you wait for your rice to cook. I used flatiron steak instead of flank steak because that’s what I had in the fridge. Also, I only used 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes because I wanted my kids to enjoy the dish, although I think it would be better with the full amount of spice. Serve with steamed rice.

Stir-Fried Beef with Green Beans and Water Chestnuts
-recipe from Cook’s Country Magazine

To prepare the flank steak, slice the meat with the grain into 3 long strips, then cut each strip across the grain into 1/8-inch-thick slices. A stir-fry is a welcome weeknight meal because it takes just minutes to cook. Our version includes crunchy green beans and water chestnuts, which pair perfectly with tender flank steak. Here’s what we discovered:

Test Kitchen Discoveries

•Stir-frying is very quick and demands a cook’s complete attention for the best results. Have all the ingredients properly prepared and near the stovetop before beginning cooking.
•Freeze the beef for 15 minutes—the meat will firm up enough to slice thinly.
•Skip the wok. We use a nonstick skillet here, which puts more surface area in direct contact with the burner for faster cooking and more even heating than a traditional wok.
•Be sure the pan is properly preheated (the pan is ready when the oil is just smoking) and that the ingredients are spread evenly across the pan. The food should cook quickly, not steam.

Serves 4

1/3 cup oyster sauce  
1/3 cup low-sodium beef broth  
2 teaspoons rice vinegar  
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes  
2 tablespoons vegetable oil  
1 flank steak (about 1 1/2 pounds), cut into thin slices  
1 pound green beans , trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces 
2 (8-ounce) cans sliced water chestnuts , drained 
8 garlic cloves , minced 
2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger  

Whisk oyster sauce, broth, vinegar, and pepper flakes in bowl. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in large nonstick skillet over high heat until just smoking. Cook half of steak until browned, about 1 minute per side. Transfer to bowl and repeat with additional 2 teaspoons oil and remaining steak.

Heat remaining 2 teaspoons oil in empty skillet until just smoking. Cook beans and water chestnuts, covered, stirring occasionally, until beans are bright green and just tender, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and ginger and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Return steak and any accumulated juices to pan. Add oyster sauce mixture and cook until thickened, about 1 minute. Serve.

Tags: Asian, Beef, green beans, oyster sauce, stir-fry, water chesnuts

• You can make a glass of apple cider with only three apples.
• The pineapple originated in South America and did not reach Hawaii until the early nineteenth century.
• The largest fruit crop on earth is grapes–followed by bananas.

- from The Ultimate Book of Useless Information by Noel Botham & The Useless Information Society

Tags: food facts, fruit

Oh my, these are good sandwiches! Basically, Spiedies (pronounced speedies) are marinated and grilled chicken served in a sandwich roll with a drizzle of lemony-garlicky sauce. Now I know they don’t look like much but they are really delicious and a cinch to make! The chicken is flavorful but it’s the sauce that makes the sandwich. Toasting the inside of each sandwich roll on the grill adds flavor to the roll and a crunchy texture to the sandwich. Yumm!

Chicken Spiedies
-recipe from Cook’s Country Magazine

These grilled sandwiches are upstate New York’s best-kept secret. To help the marinade flavors penetrate the chicken, we pricked the raw meat all over with a fork before marinating. We next cut the chicken into small cubes to expose more surface area to the marinade. Adding lemon zest to the marinade boosted flavor. A bit of mayonnaise whisked into the dressing gave it body and helped it cling to the chicken. You will need six 12-inch metal skewers here. To prevent sticking, preheat the grill, covered, for 15 minutes (5 minutes if using charcoal) and scrape and oil the cooking grates before grilling.

Serves 6.

1/2 cup olive oil  
2 garlic cloves , minced 
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil  
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano  
2 teaspoons grated zest  plus 1 tablespoon juice from 1 lemon 
1 teaspoon salt  
1/2 teaspoon pepper  
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes  
3 tablespoons mayonnaise  
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar  
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts  (about 1 1/2 pounds) 
6 (6-inch) sub rolls , slit partially open lengthwise 

MAKE SAUCES: Combine oil, garlic, basil, oregano, lemon zest, salt, pepper, and pepper flakes in large bowl. Transfer 2 tablespoons oil mixture to separate bowl and whisk in mayonnaise, vinegar, and lemon juice; refrigerate. (Sauces can be refrigerated, covered, for 2 days.)

PREP CHICKEN: Following photos 1 to 3, prick chicken breasts all over with fork, cut into 1¼-inch chunks, and transfer to bowl with remaining oil mixture. Refrigerate, covered, for 30 minutes or up to 3 hours.

GRILL CHICKEN: Remove chicken from marinade and thread onto six 12-inch metal skewers. Grill chicken over hot fire, covered and turning frequently, until lightly charred and cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer chicken to sub rolls or bread, remove skewers, and drizzle with mayonnaise mixture. Serve.

Tags: Chicken, Grilling, sandwich, spiedies

Last night, my kids said they wanted pancakes for Saturday morning breakfast. Always happy to oblige a food request, I did a quick search online for buttermilk pancakes and was intrigued by an Alton Brown recipe from foodnetwork.com. His recipe for “instant” pancakes is made from a pancake mix that you make ahead of time and store (good for 3 batches of pancakes; stores for 3 months). When it’s pancake time, all you do is measure out a few cups of the mix and stir in some buttermilk, eggs and melted butter. Seriously easy and seriously good! The mix and the pancakes themselves only took a few minutes to make and I thought they had better flavor and texture then the boxed mix variety. Plus, since the pancakes are homemade, they aren’t loaded with added preservatives and “natural” flavorings (Yukk!). I think the pancakes are best served with a little butter and real maple syrup.

 “Instant” Pancake Mix
-Recipe courtesy Alton Brown – foodnetwork.com

Makes enough mix for 3 batches of pancakes

6 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda (check expiration date first)
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons sugar

Combine all of the ingredients in a lidded container. Shake to mix. Use the mix within 3 months.

“INSTANT” PANCAKES:
2 eggs, separated
2 cups buttermilk
4 tablespoons melted butter
2 cups “Instant” Pancake Mix, recipe above
1 stick butter, for greasing the pan
2 cups fresh fruit such as blueberries, if desired

Heat an electric griddle or frying pan to 350 degrees F. Heat oven to 200 degrees F.

Whisk together the egg whites and the buttermilk in a small bowl. In another bowl, whisk the egg yolks with the melted butter.

Combine the buttermilk mixture with the egg yolk mixture in a large mixing bowl and whisk together until thoroughly combined. Pour the liquid ingredients on top of the pancake mix. Using a whisk, mix the batter just enough to bring it together. Don’t try to work all the lumps out.

Check to see that the griddle is hot by placing a few drops of water onto to the griddle. The griddle is ready if the water dances across the surface.

Lightly butter the griddle. Wipe off thoroughly with a paper towel. (No butter should be visible.)

Gently ladle the pancake batter onto the griddle and sprinkle on fruit if desired. When bubbles begin to set around the edges of the pancake and the griddle-side of the cake is golden, gently flip the pancakes. Continue to cook 2 to 3 minutes or until the pancake is set.

Serve immediately or remove to a towel-lined baking sheet and cover with a towel. Hold in a warm place for 20 to 30 minutes. Yield: 12 pancakes

Tags: Breakfast, buttermilk, pancakes, Quick Cooking

It only takes a little extra effort to turn a sandwich from boring to great. Such is the case with these turkey wraps. A simple chipotle mayonnaise is a cinch to make and is flavored with lime, cilantro, and you guessed it, chipotle peppers. The chipotle adds a wonderful slightly smokey flavor and just a bit of heat to the sandwich. 

I added a small clove of garlic to the mayo and used my food processor to blend all the mayonnaise ingredients together instead of just stirring them in a bowl. Also, I added some crumbled queso fresco cheese, seeded/chopped tomatoes and sliced avocado to each wrap. Instead of romaine lettuce, I used a bagged salad blend that had romaine, iceberg and red cabbage (for added color and crunch). Regular deli turkey would be good, too, if you can’t find smoked turkey.

Turkey Wraps with Chipotle Mayonnaise
-recipe from epicurious.com 

Look for canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce in the Latin American foods section of the market. Serve the wraps with purchased salsa and an avocado, grapefruit and red onion salad with oil and vinegar dressing. Complete the menu with chocolate wafer cookies and coffee ice cream.

Makes 2 servings; can be doubled

1/2 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 green onion, minced
1 tablespoon minced canned chipotle peppers in adobo
1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
2 10-inch-diameter flour tortillas (plain or flavored)
8 ounces thinly sliced smoked turkey
2 romaine lettuce leaves, center rib cut away

Combine mayonnaise, cilantro, green onion, chipotle chilies and lime juice in small bowl; stir to blend. Season chipotle mayonnaise with salt. Arrange tortillas on work surface. Spread each with half of mayonnaise; top with turkey and lettuce. Roll up tortillas tightly, enclosing filling. Cut each wrap in half.

Tags: chipotle mayonnaise, sandwich, turkey, wraps

This is a delicious salad: tender chunks of chicken, crisp apple and fresh spinach tossed with a tangy-sweet curry and mango chutney dressing . Yumm!

I didn’t bother stemming the spinach or tearing it into pieces because I thought it was fine as is. I omitted the golden raisins and substituted chopped celery for added crunch (1 large stalk chopped), and substituted cashew pieces for the slivered almonds. I didn’t have green onions so I used chopped red onion instead (green onion would add more color to the dish so I will use it next time). For the dressing, I used olive oil instead of the canola oil. The changes I made were minor and didn’t dramatically alter the salad…they just saved me from having to make a last minute trip to the store.

Spinach Almond Salad with Chicken
-from Albertina’s Exceptional Recipes Cookbook

Serves 6.

2 lbs. spinach leaves, washed and stemmed
3 cups diced cooked chicken breast
2 cups diced red apples, unpeeled
2/3 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup chopped green onions
2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
3/4 cup toasted slivered almonds, divided

Dressing:
2 tablespoons mango chutney
1 teaspoon curry powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon Tabasco
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
2/3 cup canola oil

Prepare dressing. Place all dressing ingredients, except oil, in a food processor or blender. Mix well. Slowly pour oil through the feed tube while machine is running. This will emulsify the dressing. Refrigerate until used.

Cut or tear the spinach leaves into large bite-sized pieces. Refrigerate.

Combine diced chicken, apple, raisins and green onions with 2/3 cup of the dressing. Mix well and chill.

At serving time, add remaining dressing to spinach. Toss lightly and place on individual serving plates. Sprinkle sesame seeds over greens.

Add 1/2 cup almonds to chicken mixture. Spoon chicken mixture on top of greens and sprinkle remaining almonds on top.

Tags: almond, chicken salad, curry, mango chutney, spinach

 This quick and easy weeknight meal is better than takeout any day: tender pieces of pork in a gingery, hoisin-based sauce studded with cashews and garnished with fresh cilantro…delicious!

I used 50% Less Salt Roasted & Salted Cashew Pieces from Trader Joe’s, which meant I didn’t need to chop any cashews and they were less expensive than whole cashews. If you’re watching your sodium intake, you may want to use low sodium soy sauce. Other than that, the recipe is very straight-forward. If you’re serving four people, be sure to serve with rice and a few side dishes (stir-fried veggies, potstickers, etc.). You may even want to double the recipe if you’re serving big eaters.

Stir-Fried Cashew Pork
-recipe from America’s Test Kitchen

Test Kitchen Note: Pork tenderloin is easier to slice when partially frozen. If time allows, freeze the tenderloin for 15 minutes or until slightly firm. Serve finished dish with white rice.

1/3 cup hoisin sauce
2 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/3 cup water
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 pork tenderloin (3/4 to 1 pound), cut into 1/4-inch strips
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1 cup roasted unsalted cashews, half coarsely chopped, half left whole
1/4 cup fresh whole cilantro leaves

Combine hoisin sauce, 1/3 cup water, soy sauce, and pepper flakes in medium bowl. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add half of pork and cook until no longer pink, about 2 minutes; transfer to plate. Repeat with additional 2 teaspoons oil and remaining pork.

Add remaining oil to empty skilled and heat until shimmering. Cook garlic and ginger until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add hoisin mixture, cashews, pork, and any accumulated juices to pan and cook until thickened, about 1 minute. Sprinkle with cilantro. Serve.

Tags: Asian, cashew, pork, pork tenderloin, stir-fry