EASY RECIPES AND STUFF

EASY RECIPE

Sue thought it would be fun if I made finger sandwiches for our daughter’s bridal shower. I immediately hit the books and internet to scope out recipes. I read dozens of recipes and then started working on ideas. I came up with four ideas, which are no doubt based in part on the dozens I read, so I make no claim to creating the dishes. I decided to make: Chicken Salad Tea Sandwich; Smoked Salmon, Cucumber and Caviar; Mini-Italian subs; and Goat-cheese and watercress on raisin bread.

Here’s a tip I learned the hard way; try to get uniform sized loaves of bread as it allows you to create more uniform sized sandwiches.While it takes about 2 hours to make four platers, it is easy and the results are awesome!

recipes serves 10 with sides of salad and fruit.

Smoked Salmon, Cucumber and Caviar:

Ingredients

Rye Bread.

1/2 pound top quality smoked salmon.

cream cheese double whipped.

cucumber – sliced thinly.

caviar.

fresh dill – minced.

Preparation

Spread cream cheese on bread. Add slice or so of smoked salmon. Add cumber, sprinkle with dill and top with small dollop of caviar.

Slice off bread crust and then cut sandwich diagonally. Plate, place toothpicks in center and corners to keep plastic wrap off the sandwich and refrigerate.

Chicken Salad Tea Sandwich and Mini Italian Subs

Ingredients for Chicken Salad Tea Sandwich

1 whole skinless boneless chicken breast (about one pound).

Quality white bread such as sourdough etc.

1 cup chopped celery.

1 cup minced white onion.

2 limes.

2 Tbsp mayonaise.

salt.

1 carrot sliced diagonally, and 1 celery stalk sliced – for boiling with chicken

Preparation

Add water to large pot, heat to boil, add chicken, sliced carrots and celery, salt and pepper. Reduce boil to strong rolling simmer and cook for 20 minutes or until chicken is fully cooked. Remove chicken from water, let cool for a few minutes and then refrigerate. Discard boiling carrot and celery.

Place diced onion in bowl. Halve limes and squeeze juice onto the onion. Add 1/4 tsp salt stir, cover and refrigerate.

Once chicken is cooled chop it into small pieces and place in large mixing bowl. Add mayonnaise, and then the chopped celery and stir. Add the marinated onion and stir to mix.

Spread mayonnaise on both slices of bread. Add chicken salad and then top with second slice of bread. Slice off crust and slice sandwich into halves or quarters depending on size of bread and your vision.

Mini-Italian Sub

Sourdough bread.

10 slices of capricola ham.

10 slices hard salami.

10 slices provolone cheese.

sliced Greek Peperoncini.

shredded lettuce.

Preparation

Spread mayonnaise on both slices of bread.

Sprinkle chopped lettuce as base, add ham, salmi, cheese, and top with Peronicini. Top with slice of bread, remove crust and slice into halves or quarters depending upon size of bread and your vision.

Goat Cheese and Watercress Finger Sandwich

Ingredients

Cinnamon raisin bread.

cream cheese double whipped.

1 cucumber -thinly sliced.

1/2 cup watercress – stems removed and chopped.

Preparation

Spread cream cheese on raising bread, add cucumber, and then watercress. Top with second slice of bread, remove bread crust, and slice sandwich into diagonals.

So without too much effort your brunch or shower will be the talk of the town!

Good Eating and Table Talk,

Roger

My action novels Goldplay and Veyron are available in select bookstores, and in all e-book formats. Signed copies available through http://www.rogerscouton.com

 

 

 

EASY RECIPE

I have been trying to cut back on carbs so have been tinkering with comfort dishes that can be made without bread or pasta. I love Italian spaghetti but I wondered if I could replace the pasta without feeling cheated. The answer is a resounding yes. I like the carnival squash because of fun colors and the hollowed out center which creates a wonderful pocket for the meat sauce.

recipe serves four

Ingredients:

2 carnival squash

1 lb. hot Italian chicken sausage

1 – 14.5 oz can tomato sauce

1- 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes

1/3 onion – minced

1/3 red bell pepper – diced

1/4 cup red wine

2 cloves garlic – diced

1 Tbsp fresh oregano – minced

1 Tbsp fresh basil – minced

1 tsp dried basil

dash of dried red pepper flakes.

goat cheese.

Preparation:

Remove casing and brown sausage in large pot. Add chopped onion and sauté. Add red pepper, garlic, and stir.

To same pot add tomato sauce and diced tomatoes. Add oregano, basil, garlic, red wine, and dried red pepper.

Bring pot to boil and reduce to simmer.

Heat oven to 375 degrees F.

Wash and then cut squash in half stem to stem. Spoon out seeds. To a large covered pot add a couple inches of water. Place squash in pot, skin side down, cover and bake for 20 minutes.

Remove cooked squash from pot, plate four servings, spoon in meat sauce and top with white cheese of your choice.

And that’s all there is to skipping a carb filled dinner.

AND STUFF

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to explore rural Ireland recently. At one pub I came across a dish that had to be tried. The menu simply said beef stew. I guess it was a given it would be Irish stew. Before the dish arrived I was given a knife and fork, but no spoon. I assumed it would come with the stew… it didn’t. I have never had a more wonderful flavor filled thick stew in my life. The local beef was tender and awesome; and in fact all that was required to enjoy the meal was a knife and fork.

Good Eating and Table Talk,

Roger

My action novels Goldplay and Veyron are available in select bookstores, and in all e-book formats. Signed copies available through http://www.rogerscouton.com

EASY RECPE

I wanted to do meatless Monday … my way. So I looked at a few Italian Meatball soup recipes and picked some ingredients and replaced the meat with vegetarian meatballs. The recipe translated awesome to the plate.  The key to the dish is to not add the cooked meatless meatballs until plating to serve.

serves 4

Ingredients:

1 package Trader Joe’s frozen meatless meatballs.

2 carrots – chopped.

1 stock celery – sliced.

1 and 1/2 cup Napa cabbage – sliced thin.

1 cup chopped onion.

1/2 cup fire roasted red pepper – sliced.

3 cloves garlic – minced.

32 oz box/can chicken stock.

14 and 1/2 oz can diced tomatoes.

1 cup water.

1/4 cup olive oil.

1/2 tsp dried red pepper flakes.

1/4 tsp chopped fresh oregano.

Italian bread.

Preparation:

 

To large pot add olive oil and heat on medium high heat. Add onion, celery and garlic and reduce heat to low to sauté.

Add to pot: chicken stock, water, diced tomatoes, carrots, dried red pepper flakes, fire roasted red pepper, oregano, and Napa cabbage and bring to boil. Reduce heat to bring to good simmer.  Simmer for 40 minutes (add more water if necessary).

Microwave meatless meatballs when soup is done. Plate soup and add cooked meatball to bowl and serve with sliced bread side.

That’s all there is to making an awesome meatless Monday dinner!

Good Eating and Table Talk,

Roger

My action novels Goldplay and Veyron are available in select bookstores, and in all e-book formats. Signed copies available through http://www.rogerscouton.com

 

 

 

EASY RECIPE

I decided to make a vegetarian style pizza with tons of flavor. By using pre-made pizza dough all I really had to do was chop and dice my way to a great dinner.

 

Ingredients:

kale.

1 large heirloom tomato- sliced into rounds.

1 package of pre-made pizza dough.

1 medium onion – sliced into rounds.

1 1/2 cup fetta cheese

1/2 C anise – chopped.

2 clove garlic – thinly sliced.

1 sprig rosemary – chopped.

1/2 tsp chopped oregano.

1 Tbsp butter.

dash of olive oil.

Preparation:

Wash and chop kale.

Prepare other vegetables per above.

Add butter to frypan and caramelize onion on medium heat. Remove onion.

To same pan add a dash of olive oil and then the rosemary, oregano, and garlic to soften.

Place pizza dough onto cookie sheet etc., pre-heat oven to temperature designated on dough package. Brush onto pizza dough the rosemary/garlic/oregano sauce. Place tomatoes on top and hit them with a little salt and pepper. Add onions and then chopped kale and anise.  Finally sprinkle with the feta cheese.

Bake as directed on dough package (maybe a little longer to get firmer crust).

That’s about as easy as it gets to make a killer dinner.  Sit back and enjoy your gourmet pizza.

Good Eating and Table Talk,

Roger

My action novels Goldplay and Veyron are available in select bookstores, and in all e-book formats. Signed copies available through http://www.rogerscouton.com