Category Archives: Sandwiches

Chicken and Avocado Mayonnaise Sandwich

 

I am one of those cooks who hates to waste food. In fact, some of my favorite recipes are the result of leftovers or ingredients that are it the kitchen waiting to be used or they might next be in the trash. That’s how the avocado mayonnaise recipe came about, with my single avocado just ripe in my vegetable basket and calling out to be used before it’s too late.  The avocado mixed with just a touch of mayonnaise, some lime juice and jalapeno pepper resulted in the luscious dressing that was delicious all on it’s own.  The sandwich has a similar story, I had chicken cutlets let over from the previous night’s dinner and needed to figure out a way to use the leftover cutlets in a completely different way. Both recipes are so delicious and worth planning as a meal.
From by the bay, wishing you luscious green food memories!
Maryann
blog avocado mayo
Avocado Mayonnaise

Ingredients
1 Haas Avocado
2 tablespoons store bought mayonnaise
1 tablespoon lime juice
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1 teaspoon jalapeno pepper, chopped
Directions
Place all of the ingredients into a food processor and mix until smooth. Refrigerate in a air tight container until ready to use.
blog avocado mayo sandwich
Chicken and Avocado Sandwich
Serves 1
Ingredients
1 Breaded/Cooked Chicken Cutlet
1 Ciabatta roll
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 tablespoons avocado mayonnaise ( see recipe)
1 slice of white cheddar cheese
1/4 cup fresh baby arugula leaves
Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cut ciabatta roll in half. Place each half on a  baking sheet and brush the open sides with olive oil. Bake for approximately 5 minutes until roll starts to brown. Remove from oven the bottom of the roll. Place the cheese on the remaining side and place back into the oven for another 2-3 minutes until the cheese starts to melt. While melting the cheese assemble the sandwich. On the toasted bottom place the arugula leaves, top with chicken cutlet and spread the avocado mayonnaise on top of the chicken. Remove the bread with melted cheese and top the sandwich. Cut in half and serve immediately.

Best Turkey Salad Sandwich Ever Made

One of the best parts of Thanksgiving is figuring out what to make out of your leftover turkey. I know this might appear as too obvious, a turkey salad sandwich, but it’s not just a turkey salad sandwich. First, I would be perfectly happy eating the turkey salad, but when you combine it with a great thick fresh bread, some dressed spinach leaves and crumbled blue cheese, it’s almost a special event! Make sure you buy a turkey large enough to have enough leftover to make this delicious sandwich!
From by the bay wishing you, eventful leftover food memories!
Maryann

blog turkey sandwich 2012

Best Turkey Salad Sandwich Ever Made
Makes 4 sandwiches

To Make Turkey Salad
3 cups turkey meat, cubed
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup toasted pecans, chopped
2 tablespoons scallions, chopped
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/8 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

To make the sandwiches
8 thick slices bread, such as seedless rye
1 cup baby spinach leaves, dressed with vinaigrette
4 tablespoons crumbled blue cheese

For each sandwich layer up one slice of bread , turkey salad, blue cheese , spinach leaves and then second piece of bread. Enjoy!

Bratwurst Sandwich with Horseradish Cream and Onion Marmalade

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The leaves are falling, football season is well under way, homecoming queens and kings are in parades ( including my Mom) and the Octoberfest has started in Germany. What better way to celebrate fall than with a terrific bratwurst sandwich , kicked up a bit using some seasonal flavors, such as fresh horseradish  and grated apple! The bratwurst preparation is very traditional but the horseradish cream dressing gives it the modern twist. Don’t be daunted by the instructions. If you are looking for shortcuts, buy some caramelized onions in a jar and use prepared horseradish. Reduce the amount used and adjust according to how much kick you want in the your dressing, Enjoy!


From by the bay wishing you happy fall memories!

Maryann




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Bratwurst Sandwich with Horseradish Cream and Onion Marmalade
Serves 4

Bratwurst
4 bratwursts
2 bottles dark beer

1 teaspoon olive oil
4 6 “  Sour dough baguette pieces sliced ¾ through  in half or some hot dog size rolls

1 tablespoon olive oil

Onion Marmalade Topping
3 large sweet onions slices
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

4 tablespoons dark brown sugar

Horseradish Cream
1/2 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons grated granny smith apple
1 tablespoon  grated fresh horseradish
1 tablespoon  grainy mustard

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

½ teaspoon caraway seeds

 

Directions

To make onion marmalade:

Take  a large sauté pan to medium heat. Heat both oil and butter  then add the sliced onions and salt. Keep at medium heat stirring often until the onions are well browned and caramelized about  15 minutes. Add balsamic vinegar and brown sugar and sauté another 30 minutes continuing to stir. The onions should be a deep brown color and have a jam like quality.  Remove onions from pan and keep in bowl until ready to serve. 

To make horseradish cream :

Add all ingredients into a bowl and mix well. Keep in the refrigerator until ready to make the bratwurst sandwiches.

To make bratwurst:

Place into dutch oven with the beer, bring to a boil, then lower to simmer for about 15 minutes. Heat olive oil in a sauté pan. Add the bratwurst and brown on all sides and remove from pan. .

To prepare the sandwich:

Preheat oven to 400F. Place the sourdough bread slices on a baking sheet. Brush cut side of the bread with olive oil. Bake in the oven for ten minutes until golden  brown. Spread horseradish cream on side slice of bread, add the bratwurst and top while onion marmalade.

 

Lobster Roll with Tarragon

Last weekend I had guests out from the city visiting by the bay. So when I was thinking about  what to serve my friends so that they could really experience the waterside, of course lobster came to mind, the quintessential waterside dish. I love lobster rolls and I make it many different ways. Sometimes I just want the simplicity of fresh lobster meat , a toasted roll and melted butter and it’s delicious. This weekend I wanted to kick up the ingredients for my lobster salad with Old Bay Seasoning to add warmth to the taste of cool mayonnaise, fresh herbs such as parsley and the slightly licorice flavor of tarragon and  a touch of fresh lemon juice to brighten all the flavors. My friends were taking the train from Penn Station, I told them to come early and I would pick them up in Port Washington and we would head over to the pier to buy some fresh lobsters. Once by the bay, I steamed the lobsters and made my salad. After a walk to the beach, we came back to have a terrific lunch of lobster rolls on the deck. What a perfect day!

From by the bay wishing you perfect waterside memories!
Maryann
blog lobster roll

 

Lobster Roll with Tarragon

Serves 6

6 cups chilled lobster meat from 4 – 1  lb steamed lobster cut in chunks

½ cup celery, chopped fine

2 tablespoons scallions, chopped

¾ cup fine store bought mayonnaise

2 tablespoon Dijon mustard

4 tablespoons lemon juice

4 tablespoon fresh tarragon, chopped

4 tablespoons Italian parsley, chopped

1 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning

1 teaspoon fine sea salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Pinch cayenne pepper

6 brioche rolls, top split

1/2 cup unsalted butter

Directions

To a bowl add lobster, scallion and celery. In a separate bowl , whisk together mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice, tarragon, parsley, old bay seasoning, salt , pepper and cayenne pepper. Pour over the lobster mixture. Blend well. Place in refrigerator covered until ready to use.

Melt butter and brush the insides of the roll. Toast in a 400 degree F oven 4 minutes until golden brown. Fill buns with lobster salad and serve.

Cooking with Red Hot Chili Peppers

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The other day I ran into a friend Eva who offered me some hot chili peppers from her garden. She and her husband Al had a large harvest of hot peppers, too many for them to use. I , of course, jumped at the chance to spend a weekend cooking and experimenting with an ingredient. When the peppers arrived, I was thrilled to have a big bowl of color in my kitchen: all that red, green, orange and yellow. The first thing I quickly tried was a red chili mayonnaise that I planned to use with grilled shrimp as a main course or appetizer. I also thought that the red chili mayonnaise would be terrific to make panini’s  -a fun twist on a ham and cheese. My next recipe I decided to adapt my grandmother’s beef goulash recipe and make a pork goulash, using cubes of pork with peppers  and onions for a fiery dish. This meal started with a crostini of toasted bread and fresh ricotta cheese, topped with fresh chopped red chilis, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with some coarse sea salt. I wish I had  a bowl of chili peppers in my kitchen every weekend and you will too when you try some of these recipes. 

 
From by the bay wishing you the hottest of food memories!
Maryann

 
Word of caution when cooking with chili peppers: I suggest using disposable latex gloves especially if you have sensitive skin, like I do. I also wear contacts and trust me you don’t want to place you fingers anywhere near your eyes after handling fiery peppers! The heat of the chili comes from the seeds and the membrane inside the pepper, so to control the amount of heat in your dish, I suggest removing all seeds and membranes.
 
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Red Chili Mayonnaise
1 cup store bought mayonnaise
3 small red chilies, seeded and chopped
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
Place all the ingredients in a food processor and blend well. 
 
blog chili mayo
 
Chili Ham and Cheese Panini
Serves 1
2 slices sourdough bread
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon red chili mayonnaise
3 slices virginia ham
2 slices gruyere cheese
2 slices dill pickle toppers
Heat panini press or skillet. Butter two slices of bread. Buttered sides are the outside of the sandwich. On one side of bread – not buttered spread the chili mayonnaise, add the ham , then cheese and pickles. Top with the other slice of bread , press down and then toast until cheese is melted and bread browned. Serve immediately.
 
blog hot chili peppers
 

Chili Pepper and Pork Goulash

Serves 4-6

 

3 pounds cubed pork stew meat

4 tablespoon olive oil

2 tablespoons flour

1 tablespoon sweet paprika

1 teaspoon fine sea salt

1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

4 cups onions finely chopped

6 medium size assorted chili peppers without seeds and membranes, chopped

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 teaspoon caraway seeds, toasted

1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary

1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme

1 bay leaf

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

4 cups chicken stock

1 jar 12 ounces of roasted red and yellow sweet peppers

Zest of 1 lemon

 

Directions

 

Mix flour, salt, pepper and paprika in a sealed plastic bag. Add pork cubes into bag and coated with flour mixture. In a large Dutch oven heat olive oil. Sauté floured pork cubes until browned. Remove browned meat into bowl and place aside. Add remaining olive oil to pan and sauté the onions with chili peppers until softened. Add the caraway seed, rosemary, thyme, and bay leaf. Sauté until fragrant about one minute. Add the tomatoe paste. Deglaze with the vinegar and stock , then add the meat and roasted peppers. Bring to a boil, then lower heat , cover and simmer until very tender, approximately 2  to 2 1/2 hours. Remove from heat add lemon zest and serve with noodles or rice. 

Grilled Turkey Ham and Pimento Cheese Sandwich

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When I was in Nashville earlier this year, I immediately fell in love with the city, music and food. I stayed at the legendary Hermitage Hotel. The famous Oak Bar in the hotel is known for it’s pimento grilled cheese sandwich. We would spend the day exploring all the different parts of the city and then come back to home base the Hermitage and relax in at the Oak Bar. So now that I’m back home, I needed to recreate my own sandwich inspired by this Nashville favorite and to remind me of my great vacation.  What better time than Thanksgiving weekend to relive my good times with a little food memory. The result is this yummy sandwich all gooey with melted pimento cheese and filled with roast turkey and ham. This is hard to resist.
From by the bay wishing you gooey pimento cheese food memories!
Maryann
 
 
blog turkey pimento cheese sandwich

Grilled Turkey Ham and Pimento Cheese Sandwich
1 sandwich

Ingredients
2 slices brioche bread

1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons pimento cheese (recipe follows)
2 slices turkey
2 slices smoked ham

Directions
Heat panini press or skillet. Butter two slices of bread. Buttered sides are the outside of the sandwich. On one side of bread – not buttered spread the cranberry mayonnaise, add the turkey , then pear, proscuitto. Last spread the brie across the top of the proscuitto. Top with the other slice of bread , press down and then toast until cheese is melted and bread browned. Serve immediately.

Pimento Cheese
Adapted from the recipe by Sarah O’Kelley of the Glass Onion of Charleston South Carolina

Ingredients
2 cups sharp orange cheddar, grated (8 oz.)
½ cup mayonnaise
½ cup pimiento peppers, drained and chopped (7-oz. jar)
¼ cup green onion, finely chopped (use both the green and the white parts)
1 tsp. black pepper
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. worcestershire sauce
¼ tsp. cayenne
Dash of Tabasco

Directions
Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl, and stir with a rubber spatula. Serve immediately with crackers, or cover, refrigerate, and let flavors marinate.