I went through this stage when my favorite "fast food" was Subway. I absolutely loved to eat there. Given a choice between a five-star dining experience and a good old six inch, I'd go with Subway nine times out of ten.
Loved it. Then Jared started going to Subway and I think he turned me off of it. That or I discovered that I really liked Wendy's Junior Bacon Cheeseburger, but that's another story. I'm a major sandwich person. Sub, hero, hoagie or panini. Slap it in between two slices of bread and more than likely I will devour it happily.
One day, however, I discovered flavor. And maybe that and not Jared was what turned me off of the somewhat boring and certainly never mind blowing experience I got at my local sub shop. I realized that you can't just throw things in between bread and expect greatness.
And then I started to make my own meatball sub, and because I love you so, I will give you the recipe. Because I'm not being biased when I say this recipe is awesome. Tender and bursting of flavor. Not too much of anything and they hold together well. Have at this for a (messie) weeknight meal.
Homemade Meatball Sub 1 lb lean ground beef 1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs 1 Large Egg 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 medium onion, grated 1 clove garlic 1/4 tsp parsley, oregano and garlic salt each salt and pepper to taste Your favorite jarred tomato sauce 4 Italian Sub Rolls 6 Slices Mozzarella cheese, sliced diagonally in half
1. Turn on broiler. Mix all ingredients together. Mixture should be moist but not so that the meatballs fall apart. If you need more liquid, add 1 tbsp of water until you meet desired consistency. 2. Shape meatballs to desired size and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. (I made 20 meatballs with the mixture and they were a nice size). If you wet your hands the meatballs will not stick to you. Broil until outside is slightly brown on one side and then turn and broil the other side. When finished, add to spaghetti sauce and simmer at least 20 minutes. 3. When meatballs and sauce are all still hot, take 5 meatballs and put into sliced Italian sub rolls. Top each sandwich with three diagonal slices of mozzarella and sprinkle with a bit more oregano, if desired. 5. Place on a cookie sheet under the broiler for a few minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve!
I've been cooking a lot lately. Cooking for one. Solo fun.
Who am I kidding? It's so much better cooking for others. Geez. The only good thing about cooking for one is that I can make whatever I want and if it sucks, I don't have to be embarrassed.
Well, this was not embarassing.
The thing that is great about this is all the elements. What I once might have viewed as just a sandwich becomes a combination of crunchy toasted bread, creamy dill spread, the smokiness of the salmon and the silkiness of an egg. I'm so game.
I'm trying to eat healthier. I'm always trying to eat healthier, actually. Well, this satisfies that desire. It's adapted from Cooking Light, but I added a little this and that and I felt like I was in my own little Jewish sandwich shop. Hi Naomi! (And half Matt and half Melly). So L'Chayim!
Smoked Salmon Egg Sandwich 4 cups water 1 tablespoon white vinegar 4 large eggs 1/2 cup (2 ounces) 1/3-less-fat cream cheese 2 tablespoons minced red onion 2 tablespoon chopped dill 3/8 teaspoon kosher salt 4 (1-ounce) slices rye bread, toasted 1 cup fresh spinach 4 ounces smoked wild salmon 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1. Bring water and vinegar to a simmer in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Crack one egg and slowly add it to the water (in one piece as muchas possible). Repeat with remaining eggs. Simmer 3 minutes or until desired degree of doneness. (You can cook the eggs longer or shorter depending on how runny you like them. I'm not too runny-of-a-gal.) 2. Combine cheese, onion, dill, and 1/8 teaspoon salt; spread 2 tablespoons cheese mixture over each bread slice. Top each serving with 1/4 cup spinach and 1 ounce salmon. Remove eggs from pan with a slotted spoon; top each sandwich with 1 egg. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper.
The turkey is almost gone. Thank goodness. I've about had my fill. But, until I'm there, two more recipes.
Well, one is more of a recipe and one is more of an assembly. In fact, it might not even be post-worthy, but...sucks! You have to see it.
So, if you're anything like me, you eat a lot of sandwiches? I'm a sammy fiend. Tomato, basil, mozzarella paninis, portabella burgers, Ruebens... you name it.
I eat a lot of turkey sammies too. Mostly turkey and avocado. But every once in a while you need to branch out. So, next time you have a little leftover turkey, try this five ingredient open faced sandwich.
What ya need: Leftover turkey Shredded mozzarella cheese 1- tbsp Lemon Garlic Sauce You're going to want to get this sauce. It's amazing Spinach One slice multi-grain bread
What ya do: 1. Bread. Spinach. Turkey. Mozz. 2. Broil it til it's bubbly and turkey gets a little browned 3. Drizzle with sauce and serve
Voila!
And that's it. Okay, not that exciting? Too bad. Try it anyway!!
Lucky dogs. I guess that's what happens when you work 40 years or something like that. I just started working a year ago...I have a long way to go.
There are positives and negatives to my roomies being out of town. One perk? I can make all the messes I want for two whole weeks as long as they are organized by October 8th. One negative? I have no help. No one to put away a dish here, soak a pan there. No one to empty the dehumidifyer or take out the trash.
It's exhausting to be on your own!
That's not to mention cooking for yourself, too. We all know I love to cook, but after a really really long day, the last thing I want to do is come home and stand over a stove for two hours. I refuse!
So, this week and next, I will be (and have been) making things that are quick, delicious, and done in thirty minutes or less. I'm Rachael Ray and this is-- oh wait. Sorry. Got carried away.
But the point remains-- if you have a little bit of time (and some leftover chicken!) then you will be eating this extremely tasty, healthy chicken salad!
What ya need:
About 3/4 pound (or 3 cups) roasted skinless chicken (chopped) 1/3 cup green onions 1/4 cup smoked almonds 1/4 cup Greek yogurt 1/4 cup light mayo 1 tsp fresh rosemary 1 tsp Dijon mustard Pinch of Salt Crack of Pepper Fresh bread for sammies!
What ya do: 1. Okay this is really difficult, so pay attention. Combine everything EXCEPT the bread. Spread on bread. Ta-da! You've got yourself a light dinner, a filling lunch and an extra half hour to watch Bravo TV... or maybe that's just me.
Remember to check out my giveaway! You know you want a bunch of free bagel sandwiches!
So as you all know, I just got home from Texas on Sunday. I was filled with great food, great friends and great times.
One of the things I like the most about going on trips is the inspiration that I get from them. This one was no different. Among all of the great food I had, barbecue stands out as being something truly Texas.
That's not to say we can't do it here in Virginia. I wanted something with a barbecue feel, and I found it in this month's Cooking Light. I mean now that I'm back from vacation, it's back to healthier fare. But you wouldn't know! One of these sandwiches is right around 400 calories. Sold! Serve it with the slaw and some grilled veggies and you've got yourself one hell of a meal!
If you're not a big beef, steak, or pork eater, but still want your finger lickin' good food, try this recipe. You can make it into 8 mini sliders or 4 bigger sandwiches. I went with the bigger route, but that's because I didn't have mini sliders. This recipe is great for a summer day but can be made all year on an indoor grill.
Pulled Chicken Sandwiches with Pickled Onions What ya need: 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion 3 tablespoons sherry vinegar, divided 1 1/2 tablespoons honey, divided 2 tablespoons water 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided 1 tablespoon butter 1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs, trimmed 1/8 teaspoon salt Cooking spray 4 sandwich rolls (or 8-mini sliders)
What ya do: 1. Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
2. Combine sliced onion, 1 tablespoon vinegar, and 1 1/2 teaspoons honey in a small bowl; toss well.
3. Cover and refrigerate onion mixture at least 30 minutes. 4. Combine remaining 2 tablespoons vinegar, remaining 1 tablespoon honey, 2 tablespoons water, mustard, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Bring to a simmer (do not boil). Simmer 5 minutes; stir in butter. Remove from heat; keep warm. 5. Sprinkle chicken with remaining 1/2 teaspoon pepper and salt. Place on a grill rack coated with cooking spray; grill 4 minutes on each side or until done. Remove chicken from grill; cool slightly.
6. Shred chicken into bite-sized pieces. Add chicken to saucepan with mustard mixture, and toss gently to coat. 7. Cut rolls in half crosswise. Place rolls, cut sides down, on grill; grill 1 minute or until toasted. Spoon about 1/3 cup chicken mixture over bottom half of each roll. Top each roll with about 1 teaspoon drained onion slices and top half of roll.
Broccoli Slaw What ya need 1/4 cup fat-free plain Greek yogurt 2 tbsp light mayo 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1/2 teaspoon sugar 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1/3 cup dried cranberries 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley 1 (12-ounce) package broccoli slaw
What ya do: 1. Combine first 7 ingredients in a large bowl; stir with a whisk.
2. Add parsley, cranberries and broccoli slaw; toss to coat.
3. Let sit for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to marry.
No, it's not the sound of a nearby goat. It's actually the way the townies pronounce their humble abode, Baahabba, Maine.
Bar Harbor is the quintessential New England town, in my humble opinion. I've been going there since I was a wee-tot, and I must admit, as a child, I hated it. Please, don't be offended! I was uncultured and ADD. I hated nature and I didn't like seafood. Read: Bar Harbor was not the place for me!
Things have changed.
So, continuing from yesterday, the three of us (Dad, sister Vanessa and I, if you've missed out) are putzing along the highways of Maine. Saying goodbye to Boothbay was only easy because I knew what awaited us.
Now, typically I'm a go-go-goer. I like to get where I'm headed and do what is planned and then move on. Have you ever met my father? Don't be in a rush if you're on a trip with him. It will get you nowhere. I've learned, in my wise and matoor age of 22, that I should slow down every once in a while... and good thing I did.
We had the option of speeding down the highway or taking some off-the-beaten-path-roads through some of the tinier Maine towns. Hello, great idea! On the side of the road, in the middle of no where and inbetween, lies the Maine State Prison Showroom (yes you read that correctly).
Yes, you guessed it. Everything in this easily missable store was hand crafted by not little old ladies, not charming old grandpas, but inmates. Hilarious. Tattooed and rough n' tumble, these men must have delicate hands. They sure crafted some nice things. So nice, in fact, that I bought my first wooden cutting board! And I love it so. Seriously, this place was great. And who doesn't want to support their local prison?!!
Moving right along... some hours and one coffee break later, I start to recognize where I am and I get a text from a friend saying "say hi to Obama for me!" What?
Obama? In Maine? Of all places the president could pick on a random weekend in July and he follows me and my DC Metropolitan family to Bar Harbor, Maine? What are the odds. Now, I did notice that all the local businesses had "WELCOME OBAMA FAMILY" signs, but there was none welcoming the Davises. I thought that was rude, but no one asked for my opinion.
But how weird is that? And guess what? I saw him.
Well... sort of. He was in a car that drove by me. But I'm not there yet!
Lunch was at this recommended little corner store called Adelmann's Deli. We were rushing to get to Acadia National Park so we took our sammies to go and headed up the mountain. I got a turkey reuban and loved every crispy bite of it. Oh how I love melty swiss and saurkraut. Must be my German roots kicking in. Vanessa got chicken salad. How American, gross! It was pretty good though. So, we headed toward the big green mountains and away from major civilization.
If you've never been to Acadia, it's a beautiful park with crashing waters, huge trees, magnificant views and even a beach. Not white sand, but a beach none-the-less.
We took touristy pictures and enjoyed the scenery. By the way, I was not dressed for the outdoors. I look like a city girl prima donna. And that's what I am baby! Just kidding. But seriously, do I not look out of place?
When we finally got to the top of the mountain, the view was breathtaking...ly horrible. It was so foggy we couldn't see more than our immediate surroundings! Bummer. But it was windy and cold and I love windy and cold during the summer, so I was happy.
We set back into town and avoided the Obama crowd at a nearby restaurant. Silly Bar Harborians, so desparate to see fame... how country bumpkin of them.
So after we fought the crowds and got a window table at West Street Cafe so that I could stalk the Obamas from a distance (oops, I blew my cover), we had another fantastic sea food dinner.
And sorry to disappoint, folks, but we got basically the exact same thing as the night before.
I with the lobster dinner, green beans and french fries, Dad with the sea food platter and clam chowdah, and Vanessa (the only one who branched out) with crab cakes and a salad.
Crab cakes? We're not in Maryland, c'mon sista. Still good.
I must say, I preferred the Boothbay lobster, but it's probably because Obama stole all the best lobster for his family.
When our waitress asked if we wanted dessert I lied and said I was too full because I was on a mission: find where Mr. Pres and company got sweet ice creamy treats. And guess what? Mission accomplished.
Yes, Obama likes his ice cream too. And although I am a fan of him, I am not a fan of his ice cream choice. Coconut?! Get real. We followed our noses (or Blackberry) to Mt. Desert Island Ice Cream, which featured a plethora of non-conventional flavors such as chocolate and vanilla grapefruit and cilantro (HEY CILANTROPIST!!) and chocolate wasabi. I really wanted the caramel macchiato flavor but since the scooper had just taken it out, I didn't get any.
I threw myself a pity party and went for a chocolate and pecan version. To be honest, it may be good enough for the president, but hey, I have higher standards. I prefer CJ's Big Dipper, just down the road. There, I said it. I'm sorry.
We then hit the hay and got ready for the big day. Drumroll please.... a whale and puffin sighting tour!
But, let's not get ahead of ourselves. I still have to take you through the breakfast I've been craving since my parents went up north in May: Blueberry Pancakes.
I'm not really a big pancake person. Nine times out of ten I'd prefer waffles. I usually would get an omelette, sometimes even french toast, but almost never pancakes. Something about wild Maine blueberries, though, won me over. IHOP can't hold a candle to Jordan's Restaurant. The name doesn't really do it justice, but this quaint little diner delivers. Not literally.
Though the menu featured a bunch of enticing entrees, the blueberry pancakes with the fresh blueberry sauce won me over. Turns out the blueberry sauce wasn't even super sweet and sugary, so I didn't feel too bad about eating it! That an a mug-o-joe and I was set.
Vanessa got a really tasty looking tasting asparagus and cheese omelet. Dad got poached eggs and a blueberry muffin. The muffin was wonderful. A big hearty breakfast was all we needed before we set off to sea. Now, if you're a sea sick person, I do not suggest eating a hearty breakfast.
Now, the boat! We saw whales and puffins and seals-- oh my!
They were so cute. Well, the whales were more gigantic than cute, but I have this tendency to emasculate any animal. The puffins were a no brainer. I mean they are fluffy little birds with bright beaks and squatty bodies.
Unfortunately, there are no close ups of any of the animals we saw, but you can squint really hard and see them in the distance. And I have a video clip! Oh-la-la for amatuer video recording. Now, for those of you with light stomachs, skip this sentence or two. The amount of vomit on this boat was unbelieveable. Not ON the boat, but taking place over the side. And, there was a man drinking a beer at 8:30 in the morning. He didn't look too hot a few hours later.
It was hilarious for me to watch my sister squirm at the site of people breathing in and out of paper bags. It was so so cold on the way back to shore that we had to go inside for a little. Not your average summer boat trip, but incredible all the same.
After four hours on the boat, my appetite was revving, and I settled for a gourmet Quiznos for lunch. We headed back to Boston, where I'll tell you about my final day on vacation tomorrow.
Loved it. Then Jared started going to Subway and I think he turned me off of it. That or I discovered that I really liked Wendy's Junior Bacon Cheeseburger, but that's another story. I'm a major sandwich person. Sub, hero, hoagie or panini. Slap it in between two slices of bread and more than likely I will devour it happily.
One day, however, I discovered flavor. And maybe that and not Jared was what turned me off of the somewhat boring and certainly never mind blowing experience I got at my local sub shop. I realized that you can't just throw things in between bread and expect greatness.
And then I started to make my own meatball sub, and because I love you so, I will give you the recipe. Because I'm not being biased when I say this recipe is awesome. Tender and bursting of flavor. Not too much of anything and they hold together well. Have at this for a (messie) weeknight meal.
Homemade Meatball Sub
