Sandwiches & Lunch Dishes – Kristen's Recipes

10 Minute Sesame Garlic Ramen Noodles

September 18, 2021 Kristen

10 Minute Sesame Garlic Ramen Noodles

2 3 Ounce Packages of Ramen Noodles, Seasoning Packet Discarded

2 tsp. Sesame Oil

2 Cloves Garlic, Minced

¼ C. Soy Sauce

1 tsp. Brown Sugar

2 tsp. Sriracha (or to taste)

Cook the ramen noodles without the seasoning packet as directed on package. Drain and set aside.

Heat the sesame oil in a small skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Cook the garlic, stirring constantly for 2 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the soy sauce, brown sugar, and sriracha until combined. Toss the noodles with the sauce. Garnish with green onions if desired.

Ultimate Grilled Cheese+

September 9, 2021 Kristen

Ultimate Grilled Cheese+

Savory. Sweet. Cheesy. Crispy. Goodness.

4 slices prosciutto di Parma

2 T. mayonnaise

4 slices sourdough bread

2 T. apricot jam

3/4 C. shredded Jarlsberg cheese

2 T. unsalted butter

Preheat a large skillet over medium heat. When the pan is hot, lay the slices of prosciutto in the pan and cook, turning once, until frizzled and crisp, about 1 minute per side. Spread the mayonnaise on one side of each slice of bread. Flip over and spread the jam on the other sides. Divide the cheese on the jam sides of two slices of bread, top with the crispy prosciutto, and top with the remaining bread slices, jam-side down, to form two sandwiches. Melt the butter in the skillet over medium heat. Lay the sandwiches in the pan and cook, pressing down on them occasionally with a spatula and turning once, until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board and cut each sandwich in half. Serve hot.

Wild Mushrooms and Lardo on Rye

September 6, 2021 Kristen

Wild Mushrooms and Lardo on Rye

1 pound (454 g) mixed wild mushrooms: porcini, chanterelle, morel, boletus, etc. (substitute with any selection of cultivated and/or wild mushrooms)

2 T. (30 ml) butter

3 T. (45 ml) olive oil, divided

1/4 cup (60 ml) finely chopped shallots

1 T. (15 ml) fresh thyme leaves

Salt and pepper

½ cup (120 ml) dry white wine

1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream

4 toasted slices of rye bread

2 C. (480 ml) grated Fontina cheese (or substitute with mozzarella or old cheddar)

4 ounces (114 g) Italian lardo (from Valle d’Aosta, if possible), cut into thin strips

Italian parsley, chopped finely, for garnish

Clean mushrooms with damp cloth, trim woody ends of stems, and slice. Add butter and 1 T. (15 ml) of olive oil to a large skillet on medium heat. Add mushrooms, making sure the skillet is not overcrowded. Leave mushrooms to cook for 3-5 minutes or until bottoms are browned. Flip mushrooms and add shallots, thyme leaves, salt, and pepper to skillet. Cook for another 7-10 minutes, flipping once. Once moisture has evaporated, add dry white wine to skillet and reduce by at least half. Add heavy cream and continue cooking, stirring periodically. Drizzle toast with remaining olive oil. Broil 1 side of bread until golden. Flip over. Divide grated Fontina between slices of toast. Add cheese and broil again until cheese is melted and golden. Remove toast from oven and top each piece with sautéed mushrooms and paper-thin slices of lardo. Garnish with finely chopped Italian parsley.

Twice-Baked Magic Soufflés

August 31, 2021 Kristen

Twice-Baked Magic Soufflés

5 T. unsalted butter

1/2 cup finely chopped leeks

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2 C. whole milk, warmed

1 tsp. kosher salt

1 pinch ground nutmeg

1 1/2 C. grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

1 cup heavy cream

5 eggs, separated

Preheat the oven to 425°F and generously grease six 8-ounce ramekins. In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, melt 1 T. of the butter. Add the leeks and cook, stirring, until soft but not brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and set aside. Melt the remaining 4 T. of butter over medium heat in the same saucepan that you used for the leeks. When the butter stops foaming, whisk in the flour and cook, whisking, for 1 minute. Whisk in the milk and cook, whisking, until the mixture boils and thickens. Stir in the salt, nutmeg, 1 1/4 C. of the cheese, and the leeks. Transfer a third of the mixture to a bowl, whisk in the cream, and set aside. Whisk the egg yolks into the remaining two-thirds, then transfer the mixture to a large bowl. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or in a large bowl with a handheld mixer), beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until they hold stiff peaks. Stir a third of the whites into the yolk mixture to lighten it, then fold in the remaining two-thirds until no streaks of white remain. Divide the mixture among the greased ramekins, smooth the tops, then run the tip of your finger around the inner edge of each ramekin (this will help the soufflé rise higher and straighter). Arrange the ramekins in a baking dish and pour enough hot water into the baking dish to come half an inch up the side of the ramekins. Transfer to the oven and bake until puffed, deep golden brown, and set within, about 25 minutes. Remove from the oven, remove the ramekins from the water bath, and let the soufflés cool (they will deflate). Run a knife around the inner edge of each ramekin, then turn the soufflés out into a gratin dish and pour the reserved cream mixture over and around the soufflés. Top each with some of the reserved Parmigiano. At this point, the soufflés can be covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated for up to 24 hours (I’m telling you, this recipe is magic). When you’re ready to bake the soufflés a second time, preheat the oven to 425°F. Bake until the soufflés are puffed and browned (they will puff as much as—if not more than—the first time they were baked), about 10 to 15 minutes. Serve immediately.

Spanish Omelet with Pickled Cherry Tomatoes

August 29, 2021 Kristen

Spanish Omelet with Pickled Cherry Tomatoes

For the pickled cherry tomatoes

1 red onion, thinly sliced

1/4 cup (60 mL) of water or tomato juice

1/4 cup (60 mL) of cider vinegar

2 tablespoons (30 mL) of white sugar

1 tablespoon (15 mL) of coriander seeds

1 tablespoon (15 mL) of fennel seeds

1 teaspoon (5 mL) of mustard seeds

1/4 teaspoon (1 mL) of your favorite hot sauce

1 pint (500 mL) of cherry tomatoes, halved

2 green onions, thinly sliced

For the potato omelet

1/2 cup (125 mL) of olive oil

1 large onion, sliced

8 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

4 baking potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced

6 to 8 eggs

1 teaspoon (5 mL) of dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon (2 mL) of salt

Lots of freshly ground pepper

4 ounces (115 g) of feta cheese, crumbled (1 cup/250 mL or so)

Begin with the pickled tomatoes. Measure the onion, water, vinegar, sugar, coriander seeds, fennel seeds, mustard seeds and hot sauce into a medium saucepan. Bring to a slow, steady simmer. Continue simmering until the mixture is reduced by half, 10 minutes or so. Remove from the heat and stir in the tomatoes and green onions. Let rest for at least 10 minutes, even overnight. For the omelet, heat a large nonstick sauté pan over medium-high heat. Swirl in the oil. Add the onions and garlic, briefly sautéing to soften the onions. Add the potatoes and sauté a few minutes more. Cover tightly and reduce the heat. Cook, sizzling slightly, shaking the works two or three times, until the potatoes are tender and lightly browned, 20 minutes or so. Whisk the eggs with the oregano, salt and pepper. Gently stir in the feta cheese. Add the potato mixture to the bowl, stir to thoroughly coat the works and return to the sauté pan. Cover tightly and cook until firm but still tender, 5 or 6 minutes. Loosen the omelet from the pan with a rubber spatula. With a strong grip and a few folded kitchen towels or a potholder, invert the pan, releasing the omelet onto the lid (if it’s flat) or a large plate. Carefully slide it back into the pan and cook for another few minutes, firming and lightly browning the bottom. Slice into wedges in the pan using the rubber spatula. Serve and share with spoonfuls of the pickled tomatoes.

Grilled Cheese with Apricot Jam and Arugula

August 17, 2021 Kristen

Grilled Cheese with Apricot Jam and Arugula

4 slices country bread

4 oz. Cheddar or Dubliner cheese, sliced

2 T. apricot (or other fruit) Jam

1 T. salted butter

1/4 C. arugula

Preheat a large skillet or sandwich press on medium-high heat. To assemble sandwiches, spread a thin layer of jam on one side of bread. Top with a double layer of cheese slices and second piece of bread. Generously butter outsides of both pieces of bread. Put sandwiches in skillet and toast until bread is golden brown and cheese is melted, about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove from pan. Carefully (it will be hot!) peel apart bread and place arugula inside and replace top slice of bread. Cut in half and serve immediately.

French Carrot Salad

February 9, 2021 Kristen

French Carrot Salad

In a medium bowl, whisk together 3 T. extra-virgin olive oil, 3 T. fresh lemon juice, 1 tsp. light honey, and ½ tsp. ground cumin. Season with salt. Add 1 lb. carrots, grated on the large holes of a box grater or in a food processor, fitted with a grating attachment, and toss to coat, adjusting the dressing to taste. Stir in ½ cup coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley or cilantro and set aside to marinate for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours before serving.

Garlic Chicken Spring Rolls with Avocado Cilantro Sauce

September 17, 2020 Kristen

Garlic Chicken Spring Rolls with Avocado Cilantro Sauce

1 T. olive oil

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken

1/2 tsp. sea salt

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

1/8 tsp. garlic powder

1 C. cooked quinoa (optional)

1 cucumber, thinly sliced

6 leaves fresh iceberg lettuce

6 rice spring roll papers

1 avocado, pitted and peeled

1/2 C. plain greek yogurt

1 C. unsweetened almond milk

1 cilantro bunch

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. sea salt

1 T. lime juice

For the Garlic Chicken Spring Rolls: Cook the chicken in olive oil over medium-high heat and season with sea salt, ground black pepper, and garlic powder. Once fully cooked, remove from heat, allow to cool, and dice. Dip one sheet of rice paper in warm water for about 3-4 seconds or hold under running water, until the paper becomes fully moistened with water. Then, lay the wrapper onto your work surface which should be clean and flat. Near the bottom of your prepped spring roll wrapper and in the center, lay out the cucumber, iceberg lettuce, and diced chicken (and optional quinoa). Fold the bottom over the chicken, then fold the uncovered sides inward, then tightly roll the wrapper all the way, as tightly wrapped as possible. Then repeat with the remaining ingredients. For the Avocado Cilantro Dipping Sauce: In a food processor or blender, combine avocado, Greek yogurt, almond milk, cilantro, garlic powder, sea salt, and freshly squeezed lime juice. Blend together until smooth. You can add a little more almond milk if it’s too thick.

Serving Size: 1 Roll w/ sauce

Calories: 202

Fat: 9.3g

Fiber:3.4g

Shrimp Spring Rolls with Spicy Almond Dipping Sauce

September 16, 2020 Kristen

Shrimp Spring Rolls with Spicy Almond Dipping Sauce

6 rice spring roll papers

1 T. olive oil

12 oz. shrimp, deveined

1/2 tsp. sea salt

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

1 cucumber, thinly sliced

3 carrots, thinly sliced

6 leaves green leaf lettuce

12 mint leaves

2 T. almond butter

2 tsp. hoisin sauce

1 tsp. Sriracha sauce

1 tsp. rice wine vinegar

Cook the shrimp in olive oil over medium-high heat and season with sea salt and ground black pepper. Once fully cooked and no longer transparent, remove from heat and allow to cool. Dip one sheet of rice paper in warm water for about 3-4 seconds or hold under running water, until the paper becomes fully moistened with water. Then, lay the wrapper onto your work surface which should be clean and flat. Near the bottom of the spring roll in the center, lay out the cucumber, carrots, green leaf lettuce, fresh mint leaves, and cooked shrimp. Line the shrimp in a row. Fold the bottom over the end of the veggies and shrimp, then fold the uncovered sides inward, then tightly roll the wrapper all the way, as tightly wrapped as possible. Then repeat with the remaining ingredients. For the Spicy Almond Dipping Sauce: In a small mixing bowl, combine the almond butter, hoisin sauce, Sriracha, and rice wine vinegar. Stir until smooth. You can soften the almond butter by microwaving for 10-15 seconds, if needed.

Serving Size: 1 Roll, 2 T. Sauce

Calories: 105

Fat: 4.4g

Fiber: 2.2g

Cheddar and Bacon Grilled Cheese Sandwich

August 30, 2020 Kristen

Cheddar and Bacon Grilled Cheese Sandwich

8 slices applewood-smoked bacon (6 oz)

6 ounces Cheddar cheese, at room temperature (about 1 C. grated)

4 slices (from a medium to large loaf) country bread, sliced 1/2 inch (12 mm) thick

1/4 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, and sliced 1/16 inch thick

2 T. unsalted butter (1 oz), at room temperature

Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C). Arrange the bacon in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake, turning it once after 10 minutes, until crisp, about 20 minutes total, depending on the thickness. Transfer the bacon to paper towels to drain. Divide half the cheese between 2 slices bread and then divide the apple slices between them. Place 4 slices cooked bacon on each sandwich, top with the remaining cheese, and sandwich with the remaining bread slices. Spread the outside of each sandwich with 1/2 T. butter per slice of bread. (You can cover and refrigerate the sandwiches for an hour or so before heating them.) Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the sandwiches and cook until the sandwich is golden brown and the cheese has melted, 3 to 4 minutes per side, pressing down with a spatula to flatten the sandwiches. (If the bread looks golden and done but the cheese hasn’t completely melted, arrange the sandwiches in a single layer on a baking sheet and finish them in the still-warm oven.) Transfer the grilled cheese sandwiches to a cutting board and cut them in half or, if you prefer, into bite-size pieces (about 8 per sandwich). Arrange the grilled cheese on a plate or platter and serve.

Yield: 4 servings

Calories: 453

Fat: .5g

Fiber: 1.2g

Apple and Cheddar Quiche

August 28, 2020 Kristen

Apple and Cheddar Quiche

2 large apples (cored and cut into bite sized chunks)

1 C. apple cider

4 strips bacon (cut into 1 inch pieces)

6 sheets phyllo (thawed as directed on package)

1/4 C. olive oil

1/2 tsp. rosemary (chopped)

1 C. strong cheddar (grated)

4 eggs (lightly beaten)

1 C. half and half

Simmer the apple slices in the cider until they just start to turn tender, about 3-5 minutes, remove and set them aside. Simmer the remaining cider to reduce to about 2 T.. Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a pan and set aside. Brush a sheet of phyllo pastry with the olive oil and fit it into the bottom of a greased 9 inch pie dish or springform pan with the ends hanging over the side of the pan and repeat with the remaining sheets placing them on top. Toss the apple slices in the reduced cider and spread them out over the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle the bacon, rosemary and cheddar cheese on top of the apples. Mix the eggs and half and half, pour into the pan and fold the edges of the phyllo dough that is hanging over the sides. Bake in a preheated 375F/190C oven until golden brown and set in the center, about 25-45 minutes.

LTS Sprouted Seed Sushi

June 16, 2020 Kristen

LTS Sprouted Seed Sushi

2-3 T. alfalfa seeds

Bottled water

Nori (sheets of dried seaweed)

1 can of asparagus

1 can of crab

Low-sodium soy sauce

Wasabi powder, mixed with water per directions to form wasabi paste

To sprout seeds: Place in a jar or container with holes poked in the lid. Add l C. water and soak for 8-12 hours. Rinse and drain; repeat this process for 3 days. Then place jar and seeds in a space that has light (even a little bit of light will work). Keep rinsing and draining for 2-3 more days; you will have a lot of sprouts at this point! Lay out nori sheets. Drain cans of crab and asparagus. In the first 1/3 of the sheet lay out sprouts, asparagus and crab. Roll everything up and seal the outer edge of the nori sheet with a little bit of water. Cut each roll into 5-6 pieces. Serve with soy and wasabi paste.

Asado Sandwich (Peru)

May 28, 2020 Kristen

Asado Sandwich

6 ciabatta rolls or French bread

12 asado slices

3/4 cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon aji amarillo paste

Salsa criolla

This comforting sandwich is made when there are roast beef leftovers from lunch or dinner. Whatever is left has two basic fates: it either goes in the freezer to be enjoyed someday in the future, or it goes into a scrumptious sandwich.

Preheat the oven to 3OO°F. Heat the bread for 5 minutes and cut lengthwise. In the meantime, heat the beef with its juices in a saucepan over medium heat, until it is warm. In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise and aji amarillo paste. Spread on the bread. Put the meat slices (with no sauce) inside the rolls, and top with salsa criolla. Serve immediately. You may add lettuce leaves, tomato slices, and avocado to this sandwich.

BLTA Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps

April 25, 2020 Kristen

BLTA Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps

1/2 C. plain fat free Greek yogurt

1/4 C. mayonnaise (I used full fat for richer flavor)

2 tsp. fresh lemon juice

2 T. thinly sliced green onions

1 T. minced parsley

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

3 C. diced cooked and chilled chicken breast

6 slices bacon, cooked and chopped

1 1/2 C. grape tomatoes, halved

1/2 C. diced celery

1 medium avocado (fairly firm but ripe), diced

Romaine lettuce leaves, for serving

In a medium mixing bowl stir together Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, green onions, parsley while seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Add chicken, bacon, tomatoes and celery to a large mixing bowl (if you want some of the ingredients to show through set some aside to sprinkle over the top of the salad before serving). Add in the dressing mixture and toss to coat. Gently toss in avocado. Serve over lettuce leaves (or in bread slices).

Grilled Flank Steak Sandwich with Blue Cheese Vinaigrette-Dressed Arugula and Pears

February 19, 2020 Kristen

Grilled Flank Steak Sandwich with Blue Cheese Vinaigrette-Dressed Arugula and Pears

2 lemons

2 T. fresh thyme leaves, stripped and chopped

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 1/2 lb. flank steak

1 T. Dijon mustard

2 T. white wine vinegar

5 T. extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)

1/4 C crumbled blue cheese

4 kaiser rolls, split

1 garlic clove, crushed

1 ripe Bartlett, Anjou or Bosc pear

8 slices prosciutto di Parma

1 large bunch of arugula, cleaned and trimmed

In a shallow bowl, combine the juice of 1 1/2 lemons, the thyme, salt, and pepper. Add the steak and toss to coat. Marinate the steak 5-10 minutes. In a small bowl, combine the Dijon mustard with the vinegar, salt, and pepper. Whisk in 3 T. of the EVOO, then the blue cheese. Toast the rolls. Rub the toasted cut sides with the garlic clove. Preheat a grill pan or outdoor grill on high. Grill the steak for 6-7 minutes on each side. Remove to a plate and loosely tent with foil to let the juices redistribute before slicing. Thinly slice the pear and toss in a salad bowl with the juice of the remaining lemon. Slice the prosciutto into strips. Add the arugula leaves and prosciutto to the salad bowl and toss with the vinaigrette. Thinly slice the steak against the grain and on an angle. Layer half of the steak slices onto the rolls and top with the arugula pear salad. Add the remaining steak and roll tops.

Tartiflette Toastie

January 28, 2020 Kristen

Tartiflette Toastie

Lunch doesn’t get more comforting – or indulgent, frankly – than this sumptuous version of cheese on toast, which is also a great way to use up leftovers. It’s not something you can take to the office, granted, but it is just the sort of thing I like to rustle up for lunch when I’m at home. It’s inspired by the Savoyarde dish tartiflette, a rich baked combination of potatoes, cheese, and bacon. Tartiflette is usually made with Reblochon, but any semisoft washed-rind cheese, such as Brie (not too ripe), works well, or try a semihard cheese, such as Cheddar.

1 T. canola or olive oil

2 bacon slices, or a slice of cold ham, cut into small strips

1 cold cooked potato (baked, boiled, or even roasted), thickly sliced

1 to 2 T. heavy cream or creme fraiche

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 large, thick slice bread

3 to 4 thick slices (about 1 ounce) semisoft or semihard cheese (good melting cheese)

A few crisp, bitter salad greens, such as chicory, radicchio, or frisee, to serve

Heat the oil in a small frying pan over medium heat. If you are using bacon, add it to the pan and fry for a few minutes, until cooked. Add the potato and fry until it is heated through and starting to color a little. If you’re using ham, add it now and stir until well heated through. Stir in the cream or creme fraiche and allow it to bubble and reduce for a couple of minutes. Remove from the heat and season to taste. Toast the bread, pile the mixture on top, then cover with the sliced cheese and put under a hot broiler. As soon as the cheese is melted and bubbling, whip out from under the broiler and transfer to a plate. Serve at once, with a few crisp, bitter salad greens on the side.

Bacon Chicken Chopped Salad

January 15, 2020 Kristen

Bacon Chicken Chopped Salad

1 package (22 ounces) frozen grilled chicken breast strips

1 cup crumbled blue cheese

3 tablespoons white wine vinegar

1 tablespoon water

1/8 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper

1/4 cup canola oil

8 cups chopped romaine

3 medium tomatoes, chopped

6 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled

Heat chicken according to package directions. Cool slightly; coarsely chop chicken. For dressing, place cheese, vinegar, water and pepper in a small food processor; cover and process until smooth. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream. In a large bowl, combine romaine, chicken, tomatoes and bacon. Serve with dressing.

Serving Size: 2 1/3 C.

Calories: 348

Fat: 22g

Fiber: 2g

Prosciutto, Pesto & Fresh Mozzarella Panini

January 8, 2020 Kristen

Prosciutto, Pesto & Fresh Mozzarella Panini

8 slices Italian bread

4 ounces prepared basil pesto

1/4 lb. thinly sliced prosciutto

8-12 slices fresh mozzarella

Olive oil, for brushing

Preheat the panini grill to medium-high heat. For each sandwich: Spread about an ounce of pesto onto one slice of bread. Top with 1/4 of the prosciutto and 1/4 of the mozzarella. Close the sandwich with a second slice of bread. Brush a little olive oil over the top slice of bread. Grill for 5 to 7 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the bread is toasted. Serve immediately.

Mixed Wild Mushroom Sauté on Toast Points

December 24, 2019 Kristen

Mixed Wild Mushroom Sauté on Toast Points

2 T. olive oil

2 T. butter, cut into pieces

4 garlic cloves, finely chopped

2 shallots, thinly sliced

1 1/2 lb. assorted mushrooms, thinly sliced

2 T. fresh thyme

Salt and pepper

3 T. all-purpose flour

1/2 C. dry white wine

1 C. vegetable broth

1/2 C. half-and-half

8 slices bread, toasted

2 C. gruyere cheese, shredded

Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil and butter. Once butter melts, add the garlic and shallots, cook for 30 seconds and add mushrooms and combine. Sprinkle thyme over mushrooms, stirring frequently until they brown; add salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle flour over the mushrooms and cook for 1-2 more minutes, stirring to evenly distribute. Whisk the wine into the pan and cook it off for a minute, then whisk in the stock. Thicken the stock for a minute, then add the half-and-half and simmer over low heat for 5 minutes. Cut the toasted bread in triangle halves. Arrange 4 toast triangles on a dinner plate. Pour 1/4 of the mushrooms across each portion and top with Gruyere.

Best White Bread Sandwiches

November 12, 2019 Kristen

Best White Bread Sandwiches

BREAD: Lay out towering stacks on a platter; it can be thin sliced white bread, or thick slices of ciabatta or sourdough, or sliced seeded whole-grain or a gluten-free option, depending on your crowd.

MAYO: Straight up and classic, please. Be generous. It seals the bread and keeps it from getting soggy from the next ingredient on the list. Decant into a bowl or go low-brow chic with ajar and a classy knife.

TOMATOES: Heirloom tomatoes, fresh from a farm or a garden, are a deserving star of this spread. Slice them thick, salt them, and let them drain on paper towels for an hour; transfer to a platter to serve.

CUCUMBERS: Small, fresh, snappy cucumbers add a crunchy edge and color (whether your guests put them in their sandwiches or eat them on their own).

HERBS: Any fresh herbs are welcome here—dill, mint, parsley, oregano—but anything flowering, like chives, gets top marks. Stand sprigs and bunches in cups in water, like flowers, for guests to pick off, or finely chop them and serve in small bowls for sprinkling.

SALT: A potent sea salt, like Maldon or fleur de sei, is a win; leave it at the ready in copious amounts. It is the secret to extracting even more umami from every bite.

PEPPER: Freshly ground and generous is the key here. Include a pepper mill for self-service.

OVEN-BAKED FALAFEL WITH GARDEN RADISHES. CUCUMBER. AND PEA SHOOTS

October 3, 2019 Kristen

OVEN-BAKED FALAFEL WITH GARDEN RADISHES. CUCUMBER. AND PEA SHOOTS

1/2 medium yellow onion

One 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

Handful of fresh parsley

Juice of 1/2 lemon

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

3 garlic cloves

4 tablespoons whole-wheat all-purpose flour (or gluten-free all-purpose flour)

2 tablespoons olive oil, divided

1 cup plain full-fat Greek yogurt

3-inch piece cucumber, grated

Juice of 1/2 lemon

1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

4 pita pockets or lavash, warmed in the oven

Thinly sliced cucumber

Thinly sliced radishes

Thinly sliced red onion

Roughly chopped pea shoots

Preheat the oven to 4OO°F. To make the falafel, simply whiz all the ingredients (leaving out 1 tablespoon of the olive oil) in a food processor until mostly smooth (with a few remaining chunks). Grease a baking sheet with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Using a tablespoon measure, place heaping scoops of the falafel mixture on the baking sheet, then flatten them with the back of the spoon. Bake the falafel rounds for 10 minutes, flip them, and then bake for another 10 minutes, until edges are crisp, and tops are golden. While the falafel bakes, mix together all the sauce ingredients in a medium bowl. Serve the baked falafel with warm pita pockets or lavash, yogurt sauce, sliced vegetables, and pea shoots.

Welsh Rarebit with Tangy Watercress Salad

July 16, 2019 Kristen

Welsh Rarebit with Tangy Watercress Salad

1 loaf (1 lb./500 g) crusty country bread, cut into 8 thick slices

1 apple, preferably Fuji, cored and thinly sliced

1 bunch (about 2 1/4 C./2 1/4 oz.) watercress, tough stems removed

1 1/2 C. (1 1/2 oz./45 g) chopped romaine lettuce

1 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil

2 tsp. fresh lemon juice

Fleur de sel or flaky sea salt

Freshly ground pepper

3 Tbs. unsalted butter

3 Tbs. all-purpose flour

1/2 C. (4 fl. oz./125 ml) pale ale

2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp. whole-grain mustard

1/2 lb. (250 g) aged cheddar cheese, shredded

Place a rack in the top third of the oven, about 4 inches (10 cm) below the broiling element and preheat the broiler. On a rimmed baking sheet, arrange the bread slices in a single layer and broil until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and leave the broiler on. Arrange the apple slices in even layers on top of the bread slices; set aside. In a large bowl, toss the watercress and romaine with the oil and lemon juice and season to taste with fleur de sel and pepper; set aside. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Whisk in the beer and cook until the mixture is thick and bubbly, about 1 minute. Reduce the heat to low and add the Worcestershire sauce, mustard and a handful of the cheese. Cook until the cheese has melted, whisking in only one direction to prevent the sauce from becoming stringy. Continue adding the cheese by the handful and stirring it until melted before adding the next handful, until all of the cheese has been added and melted. The mixture will be very thick and paste like. Working quickly, spread the cheese mixture evenly over the apples. Broil until the cheese is bubbly and browned in places, about 1 minute. Place 2 cheese toasts on each plate, top with a big mound of salad and serve immediately. Serves 4.

Open Face Steak Sandwich with Onions & BBQ Sauce

June 19, 2019 Kristen

Open Face Steak Sandwich with Onions & BBQ Sauce

2 ½ lb. piece hanger steak, at room temperature

For drizzling: olive oil

2 ciabatta rolls, halved horizontally

2 Spanish onions, thickly sliced

2 vine-ripened tomatoes, thickly sliced

To serve: good-quality mayonnaise

1 cup (loosely packed) wild rocket

Barbecue sauce

2-3 T. butter, coarsely chopped

2 onions, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

½ C. Kentucky bourbon

1 ½ C. tomato sauce

1 C. each tomato passata and cider vinegar

¾ C. brown sugar

1/3 C. Worcestershire sauce

¼ C. molasses

3 canned chipotle chilies in adobo

1 T. chipotle Tabasco

Juice of 1 lemon

For barbecue sauce, heat butter in a large saucepan over low heat, add onion and garlic and stir occasionally until very tender (10-15 minutes). Increase heat to medium, add bourbon, bring to the simmer, then add remaining ingredients except lemon juice. Reduce heat to low and stir occasionally until thick and dark (45-50 minutes). Add juice, season to taste, pour into sterile containers or jars, seal and refrigerate to cool. Makes about 1 litre. Barbecue sauce will keep refrigerated for 3 weeks in a sterile airtight container. Preheat a barbecue to medium heat. Drizzle steak with a little olive oil, season to taste and barbecue, turning frequently, until cooked to your liking (15-20 minutes for medium-rare). Set aside to rest for 10 minutes then thickly slice. Meanwhile, drizzle cut sides of ciabatta with a little oil, season to taste, grill on barbecue until toasted (1-2 minutes), set aside. Drizzle onion with a little oil, season to taste and barbecue on the flat plate, stirring occasionally, until tender (5-10 minutes). Spread cut-sides of ciabatta with mayonnaise, divide steak among ciabatta, top with tomato, onion and rocket, season to taste and serve with barbecue sauce.

Vegetarian Grilled Vegetable Sandwich with Olive Tapenade

March 1, 2019 Kristen

Vegetarian Grilled Vegetable Sandwich with Olive Tapenade

1 carrot, thinly sliced

1 zucchini, thinly sliced

1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded and cut into large pieces

6 scallions, trim off bottom root and top (6-inch slice)

1 Japanese eggplant, thinly sliced

1 head Belgian endive, slice root off, keep leaves whole

2 whole wheat rolls

Tapenade:

10 calamata olives, pitted

½ shallot, peeled and sliced

1 tsp. capers

½ tsp. olive oil

Sandwich: Grill carrots, zucchini, bell peppers, eggplant and scallions until soft and caramelized. Tapenade: In a food processor, chop all ingredients into a fine paste. Cut rolls in half and toast until light golden brown. Spread tapenade on both sides of rolls and build a great vegetarian sandwich with all of the grilled vegetables.

Copycat Bennigan’s Monte Cristo

January 31, 2019 Kristen

Bennigan’s Monte Cristo

9 Slices Wheat Bread

3 Slices Cooked Turkey

3 Slices Cooked Ham

3 Slices American Cheese

3 Slices Swiss Cheese

Batter

1 Egg

1 – 1 1/4 C. Water

1/2 tsp. Salt

1 tsp. Sugar

1 1/2 C. Flour

1 T. Baking Powder

Vegetable Oil (for deep frying)

Place turkey and Swiss cheese on one slice of bread and ham and American cheese on another slice of bread. Place third slice in-between and secure the triple decker sandwich in the corners with tooth picks. Place egg in mixing bowl, add water and beat together. Add salt, sugar, flour, and baking powder. Beat batter until smooth. Dip sandwich in batter and carefully cover all the sides and surface. Carefully place in hot oil and fry until golden. When sandwich has turned a warm gold color remove from hot oil and place on paper towel. Let cool for a few minutes before removing the tooth picks. Before serving slice into fourths and sprinkle with powder sugar. Serve with raspberry preserves, pickle garnish and your favorite side order of French fried potatoes

WIW: Gridded Grilled Cheese

January 9, 2019 Kristen

WIW: Gridded Grilled Cheese

1 T. Room Temperature Butter

2 slices Sturdy Sandwich Bread

3 oz. good melting Cheese, such as cheddar, american, taleggio

Preheat the waffle iron on low. Butter one side of each slice of bread. Place a slice of bread, buttered side down, on the waffle iron, as far away from the hinge as possible. (This will allow the lid to press down on the sandwich more evenly.) Distribute the cheese evenly on the bread Top with the second slice of bread, buttered side up. Close the lid of the waffle iron and cook until the cheese is melted and the bread is golden brown. 3 minutes. About halfway through, you may need to rotate the sandwich 180 degrees to ensure even pressure and cooking. Remove the sandwich from the waffle iron. Slice into halves or quarters and serve.

Cheddar & Chive BLT Waffle

December 31, 2018 Kristen

WIW: Cheddar & Chive BLT Waffle

1.5 C. plain or all purpose flour

2 tsp. baking powder

0.5 tsp. baking soda

0.5 tsp. salt

pepper to taste

70ml / 0.3 C. melted butter

2 large eggs

230ml / 1.25 C. whole milk

50g / 1 C. grated strong cheddar cheese

1 tsp. chopped chives

For the sandwich filling:

8 slices crispy bacon

1 large tomato

handful of lettuce

2 T. mayo

In a bowl mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and pepper. In another bowl whisk together the butter, eggs and milk. Add this mixture to the dry ingredients and stir just enough to incorporate all the ingredients. Do not over mix. Add the cheese and chives and mix gently again. Heat your waffle iron and add approximately 1/2 C. of batter to each of the plates. The amount of batter will depend on the size of your waffle iron. Cook for 4-6 minutes until the waffles are starting to get crispy on the outside. Remove and allow to cool while you prepare the sandwich fillings. Layer the bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayo between two waffles, cut in half and serve immediately.

Ploughman’s Lunch

December 27, 2018 Kristen

This picture is a less traditional ploughman’s. Not sure why I am a bit obsessed with them lately. Probably evolution of my bento obsession, and that I am packing lunches for myself since I have been back in college.

Savory Mortadella, Garlic, and Caper Puff-Pastry Waffle

December 19, 2018 Kristen

WIW: Savory Mortadella, Garlic, and Caper Puff-Pastry Waffle

Follow the recipe for WIW: Crisp, Flaky, Pepperoni Pizza Puff Pastry Waffles , rolling puff pastry to a 16” square, topping it with mortadella, garlic and capers, then rolling it up and twisting into a spiral.

¼ C. EVOO

1/4 C. loosely packed parsley leaves and tender stems (about 4 sprigs)

5 medium garlic cloves

1 T. capers

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/4 lb. thinly sliced mortadella or bologna

All-purpose flour, for dusting

1 (1/2-lb.) sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed

Preheat a Belgian waffle iron according to manufacturer directions. Combine olive oil, parsley, garlic, and capers and, using a mini food processor or an immersion blender, process into a semi-smooth sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Lightly dust a work surface. Lay out puff pastry sheet, lightly flour top, and roll into an approximate 16- by 16-inch square. Spread garlic sauce on puff pastry, leaving a 1 inch border on all edges. Layer mortadella on top, leaving a 1-inch border on all edges. Roll puff pastry sheet away from you like a jelly roll. When completely rolled, pinch seam to seal. Pinch ends of puff pastry to seal, then coil into a disk-shaped spiral. Place spiral in center of preheated waffle iron. Cook until puff pastry is deep golden brown on all surfaces and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center registers 190 to 200°F, about 12 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board, cut into wedges, and serve immediately.

Tuna Mini Melts with Rosemary

December 13, 2018 Kristen

Tuna Mini Melts with Rosemary

Italian tuna in olive oil, lightly drained

1 small shallot, finely chopped

1 large sprig rosemary, leaves stripped and finely chopped

Black pepper

4 slices provolone cheese, deli sliced

16 rounds sliced sesame baguette

2 T. butter

Mash tuna with finely chopped shallot, rosemary and black pepper. Quarter the sliced cheese. Build mini sammies of bread, cheese, tuna, cheese, bread. Melt butter in skillet over medium heat. Grill sandwiches on both sides until golden. Remove from skillet and serve

Pub-Style Cheese Spread

December 11, 2018 Kristen

Pub-Style Cheese Spread

½ cup beer

1 pound white Cheddar cheese, grated

4 tablespoons butter, softened

2 tablespoons snipped fresh chives

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley

1 tablespoon grated sweet onion

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

3 cloves of garlic, peeled and halved

In a blender or food processor, combine the beer, Cheddar, butter, chives, parsley, onion, lemon juice, and mustard. Process until blended and smooth. Spoon one-third of the mixture into a crock or jar with an airtight cover. Push 2 garlic halves into the mixture. Add another one-third of the mixture. Insert 2 more garlic halves. Fill the crock with the remaining cheese mixture and garlic. Cut a circle of wax paper to the size of the crock top; cover the cheese mixture with the wax paper. Seal the crock tightly. Age the spread in the refrigerator and remove garlic cloves before serving.

Ploughman’s Sandwich

December 7, 2018 Kristen

Ploughman’s Sandwich

Olive oil

1 red onion, cut into thick slices through the root

6 T. balsamic vinegar

Salt and pepper

8 thick slices Raisin and Rosemary bread

A couple of knobs butter

1 curly leaf lettuce

8oz. Strong Cheddar Cheese, thickly sliced

To make the onion marmalade, heat a little oil in a pan, throw in the onion and leave on a low heat to cook down slowly, adding a little water if needed. When soft add the balsamic vinegar and continue to cook for a few minutes. Season the marmalade to taste. Spread the Raisin and Rosemary Bread with butter and make up each sandwich with lettuce leaves, onion marmalade, a couple of slices of Cheddar and seasoning.

Happy Face Bento

December 4, 2018 Kristen

WIW: Pizza Margherita with Waffled Crust

November 16, 2018 Kristen

WIW: Pizza Margherita with Waffled Crust

4 C. bread flour, plus more for dusting
1 tsp. instant yeast
1 ½ tsp. salt
1 ½ C. lukewarm water
Neutral-flavored oil, such as canola, for coating the bowl
Nonstick cooking spray

3 C. marinara sauce
2 C. shredded mozzarella
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)
1 large bunch basil, washed, dried, and finely chopped

In a large bowl, combine the flour, yeast, and salt. Add the water and mix until the dough is shaggy and most of the water has been absorbed. Turn the dough out of the bowl onto a lightly floured counter and knead until it is just blended but not too smooth. Cover the dough with a damp towel or plastic wrap and let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes. Knead the dough until it is fairly smooth, 5 to 10 minutes. Coat a bowl with the oil, add the dough to the bowl, and turn to coat. Let the dough rise in a warm place, covered with plastic wrap, for 2 ½ hours, or until nearly doubled in size. Dust your work surface with more flour. Punch down the dough, divide it into 6 pieces, place the pieces on your work surface, and form each into a smooth ball. Allow the pieces to rest for 5 minutes, covered by a cloth or plastic wrap. When you are ready to waffle, remove the wrap and shape each piece into a disk, pulling gradually on the dough to expand it. If it resists, let it rest for 5 minutes before continuing. Preheat the waffle iron on medium. Coat both sides of the waffle iron grid with nonstick spray. Pull a disk of dough evenly until it’s as thin as possible, roughly circular, and about 8 inches in diameter (but no bigger than your waffle iron). If the dough tears, repair the tear by pushing the dough together and continuing to stretch other parts of the dough. Repeat with each dough disk. Preheat the broiler. Put a disk of dough in the waffle iron and cook about 5 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove the disk from the waffle iron and set it on a baking sheet. Repeat Step 8 with the remaining disks. Top each waffled crust with about 1/2 C. of sauce, 1/3 C. of cheese, and a handful of the tomatoes, if using, and place the baking sheet under the broiler for about 2 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbling. Remove the pizzas from the broiler, sprinkle with basil, and serve warm.

Provolone and Broccoli Rabe Beef Sliders

October 25, 2018 Kristen

Provolone and Broccoli Rabe Beef Sliders

Cooking spray

7 ounces broccoli rabe, trimmed

1 1/2 T. red wine vinegar

1 T. extra-virgin olive oil

1 tsp. sugar

1 pound 93% lean ground sirloin

1 tsp. smoked paprika

1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

1/4 tsp. kosher salt

1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

3 (1-oz.) slices reduced-fat provolone cheese, torn into small pieces

8 (1-oz.) whole-wheat slider buns

8 heirloom tomato slices

Heat a grill pan over medium-high. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add broccoli rabe; cook 5 minutes, turning occasionally. Coarsely chop. Combine vinegar, oil, and sugar in a small bowl. Add broccoli rabe; toss. Combine beef, paprika, Worcestershire, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Shape into 8 (3-inch-wide) patties. Return pan to medium-high. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add patties to pan; cook 2 to 3 minutes. Turn; cook 1 to 2 minutes. Top patties with cheese; cover and cook 1 minute or until cheese melts. Place 1 patty on bottom half of each bun; top with tomato, broccoli rabe mixture, and top halves of buns

Yield: 4 servings

Calories: 404

Fat: 15.9g

Fiber: 2g

Prosciutto & Provolone Sandwich with Fig Jam

October 19, 2018 Kristen

Prosciutto & Provolone Sandwich with Fig Jam

1 ciabatta roll, split lengthwise, or 2 thick slices peasant bread, lightly toasted l T. fig jam (see Note)

1 tsp. grated lemon zest

2 ounces provolone, fontina, Havarti, or mozzarella cheese (2 slices)

1 ounce prosciutto (3 or 4 slices)

1/2 C. (loosely packed) arugula leaves

Spread the split roll with the fig jam and sprinkle with the lemon zest. Layer on the provolone, prosciutto, and arugula.

For a quick DIY fig jam, simmer halved and stemmed dried figs in simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water) to cover until they are quite soft, 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool a bit, then purée the figs and syrup in the food processor until they form a nice spreadable jam. Keep refrigerated in an airtight jar. This jam is also excellent on a cheese plate or melted into a glaze for pork chops. Storage & Serving: This sandwich won’t sog, so just wrap it tightly. Keep (chilled) for up to 6 hours.

Mozzarella Parcels

October 19, 2018 Kristen

Mozzarella Parcels

4 pieces of crustless medium-thick sliced white bread

8oz roughly chopped mozzarella

Dried chilli flakes and seasoning

2 medium eggs

1 ½oz plain flour

3 ½ fl oz) vegetable oil

Lay 4 pieces of crustless medium-thick sliced white bread on a board and top each with 50g (2oz) roughly chopped mozzarella, mounding the cheese in the centre of the bread. Sprinkle over as many dried chilli flakes as you like and season well. Top each piece of mozzarella bread with another crustless slice, then seal the edges by squeezing tightly together. Put two beaten medium eggs into a shallow bowl and 40g (1½oz) plain flour on to a plate. Heat 100ml (3½fl oz) vegetable oil in a large frying pan. Meanwhile, dip the parcels in the egg, followed by the flour (tapping off excess). Add to the pan and fry for 5min, turning once, until golden and crisp. Pat dry on kitchen paper, then serve with salad or seasonal vegetables.

Calories: 577

Fat: 27g

Fiber:

Fromage Fort

October 18, 2018 Kristen

Fromage Fort

1 pound cheese, at room temperature (leftover ends, mixed types is fine)

1/4 C. dry white wine

3 T. unsalted butter, softened

2 T. fresh parsley leaves

1 small clove garlic

Remove any rinds from hard cheeses. Grate hard cheeses and cut others into 1/2-inch cubes. Place cheese, wine, butter, herbs, and garlic in a food processor and blend until smooth, approximately 2 minutes. Serve immediately or refrigerate for at least 1 hour for a firmer consistency. This can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.