Ham & Swiss Pinwheels

Big holiday cooking plans – I am always too ambitious. Always. Not sure why, but I like to bite off way more than I can chew. And so, I have done it again.

That does not mean things do not get made, just maybe not quite when I intended them to, in this case Easter.

1 puff pastry sheet, thawed
1 egg, room temperature
12 thin-sliced sweet ham
12 slices Swiss cheese
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard

Thaw puff pastry sheets (about 40 minutes) until softened. Preheat oven to 375°F. Line baking sheet with parchment.

Roll pastry sheet out into 10 x 13 inch rectangle. Brush with egg; top with ham, then cheese slices, leaving a 1/2-inch border on the longer side. Roll the dough, starting with the long side, tightly around the filling; pinch seam together.

Cut each roll, seam-side down, using a serrated knife, into 12 slices (about 1 inch thick); arrange pinwheels on baking sheet. Combine remaining ingredients in saucepan on medium; cook 1–2 minutes, stirring occasionally until hot.

Spoon mixture evenly over pinwheels and bake 20–25 minutes or until golden. Let cool 5 minutes. Serve.

Source: The Publix

I kind of didn’t do much of this. I made the pinwheels, but not the sauce. That said, I put some Dijon mustard on the puff pastry and that made it pretty special.

Next time I might make the sauce, but ….

 

Mustard-Swiss Crackers

This is a new recipe for me and a new idea as well. I have so very many cookbooks, but just for convenience sake, I usually use recipes I’ve saved on my cute little red drive from off the interweb.

Well that stops now. I am going through so rather old cookbooks to start “cooking the books.” I won’t do it all at one time, just as I feel like it, but this is my first foray into the idea.  I already know what I have next in line – spoilers, but since I had swiss in the house and all kinds of mustard and I have an unnatural thing for crackers, I decided to start here. My changes, due to not wanting to go to the Publix,  are noted below.

8 Tbs cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
8 ozs Swiss cheese, coarsely grated (2 1/4 cups)
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 Tbs Dijon mustard – used Gulden’s and added Dijon to the next grocery list
2 tsp dry mustard (Coleman’s)
1 1/2 tsp mustard seeds – didn’t use
1 tsp salt

In the bowl of the food processor, blend butter and cheese until almost smooth. Add remaining ingredients and pulse until combined. Divide dough between two sheets of waxed paper and role into an 8 inch log. Wrap tightly in wax paper and then foil; freeze until firm, 1 1/2 – 2 hours.*

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment. Cut logs into 1/4 inch slices and arrange 1 inch apart. Bake, turning half way through until edges are golden brown, about 15 minutes. Transfer to wire rack to cool.

Source: The Best American Recipes: 2004-2005

Cook the Book 2018

*Refrigerate overnight – totally worked as it most of the time does.

Dough 7 April

Baked 10 April – smells a lot like mustard, but the taste is wanting. Needs some heat and I think the Swiss just gets lost in the end. So we shall try this again – maybe adding a pinch of cayenne

They bake up beautifully though, so worth another try (very soon) with some flavor adjustments. Maybe the Dijon mustard will make a change too.  Sprinkle of some salt on the top. Not sure – so many ways that this can go.

Love things you can prep and leave in the fridge and bake a few days later. Makes baking in the evening after work so much easier. You feel like you’ve accomplished something on a Wednesday or whatever.

 

Chutney Cream Cheese with Gingersnaps

I have not seen a recipe like this in donkeys’ years. It’s super simple, but has a lot of flavor, if, and that’s a big if, you like these kinds of flavors. To me these are great, and underused, flavors and while the MotH and the Boy both tried this, it was largely left to me to finish. Gee, rough job. I will go out on a limb and say this is not breakfast food though. Afternoon snack, especially with some hot tea, was just lovely.

16 ounces cream cheese, softened
1⁄2 cup chopped chutney
2 Tbs sultanas (the pretty raisins)
2 teaspoons curry powder
1⁄2 teaspoon dry mustard

Mix softened cream cheese with curry powder and mustard. add the chutney and mix together well. Place in fridge at least 3 hours or overnight.

Serve with gingersnaps.

Source: Genius Kitchen

Guinness Pub Cheese

Pub cheese is such a wonderful thing. I guess, that only applies when I make it myself. I really don’t want to purchase “pub cheese” from a grocery store – sorry to the Publix.

The fact that this recipe has Guinness in it makes it all the better. I made it the first time as a trial run for a pot luck at work. I am happy to report, it was a great success.

Never hurts that it is super easy, does it?

2 blocks cream cheese, softened to room temperature
2 c. shredded Cheddar
1/4 c. beer, such as Guinness
1 tbsp. chives
1 tsp. garlic powder
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper

In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with chives and serve with dippers of your choice.

Source: delish.com

Homemade Mascarpone

I’m just not sure how many dogs get to have some homemade mascarpone cheese. My guess, is it just mine. This could not be easier to make and it tastes amazing. I will do the cost / benefit thing to see if it makes sense, but in my head this is so simple with things I already have on hand that I’m pretty sure this is a good deal. And did I say it tastes really good, because it is not just the Hoodie boy that likes it. It is me too.

Makes about 2 cups

2 cups heavy cream
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Note – do use a thermometer for this recipe.

In a saucepan, slowly bring the heavy cream to a low simmer. The temperature should reach at 180° F and the goal is to try to keep it around there.

Let simmer at 180° F for 3 minutes then add in the lemon juice.

Simmer for another 3 minutes, then remove from heat. Let cool to room temperature, 30 minutes.

Fill a small strainer with several layers of cheesecloth and set over a glass measuring cup.

Pour the cooled mascarpone mixture into the cheesecloth and stick the entire bowl in the fridge overnight, cover the whole thing in plastic wrap.

The next day, take it out, whip it up and use it however you would like. Keeps for a week in the fridge, if it lasts that long – in mine and Hood’s case, that is a no.

Source: Food52

Hot Reuben Spread

I think I love every iteration of a reuben – well, it is fairly obvious from this site, yep. Reuben casserole, reuben sandwich, reuben soup, reuben dip (in several forms). Who really can resist corned beef and sauerkraut with Swiss and a messy sauce? Oh, and my favorite, seedless, marbled Rye – just love it so. And it is pretty too.

1 cup corned beef, chopped
1 cup sauerkraut, drained very well
1 cup Swiss cheese, grated with extra for top
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
1 Tbs Dijon mustard
1 Tbs chili sauce
2 Tbs sweet relish

Combine all ingredients except extra Swiss for top and spread into a greased oven safe dish. Sprinkle extra cheese on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes until mixture is hot and bubbly. Serve hot with toasted rye bread.

Mix together – 21 January 2018

Baked – 25 January 2018; toasted rye bread – can’t wait to try this. One word: Amazing.

Trial run for St. Patrick’s Day.

I was really trying to thing of some kind of fun thing for the Ides of March, but I guess the murder of Julius Caesar is not something people made food for at any time. Um. ever. It might be kind of cool if someone did  – something Roman, perhaps?? Maybe.

So we are just going to call this St. Patrick’s Day early prep for a good holiday that I love.

This was the first date for me and the MotH. Lots of Guinness. Yep. Exceptional.

Maple-Glazed Rosemary Pecans

So I guess I’m not the only person who has no-recipe recipes. I was a little concerned with this, as it is a little vague, but it turned out quite smashing.

I love sugared nuts and fresh rosemary goes so very well with the slight sweetness of fresh, fat pecans – great pairing. Now you do have to spend the dead presidents on the maple syrup and I do that anyway, but this is an application where you want top quality everything. Don’t skimp. The pecans are locals – Renfroe – the best available around here and are always stored in the refrigerator. The Maldon is from SaltWorks – affordable, easy shipping costs, and lots of other salt options to try.  Rosemary has to be freshly cut from whatever little/big plant you have.

I start a rosemary every early spring in a pot and then move it to a strange little place in our yard. There is no watering going on there, it is bordered by our driveway and is backed by a brick way – oh, and it it west-facing. That is prime real estate for rosemary. Hot and dry makes excellent rosemary. The first one I planted there went from a 4 inch pot to a 4 foot wide plant. I miss that thing – garden remodel and stupid mistake. But I now have a new little plant in a pot to start again.

2 cups raw pecan halves
Maple syrup
Flakey salt – Maldon
Fresh rosemary leaves, minced
Zest of a lemon

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Lay pecans on single layer on parchment-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle a few rosemary leaves on top. Add lemon zest. Drizzle with maple syrup, enough to coat with more for pecans to sizzle in. Sprinkle with a few pinches of sea salt. Mix it all together with a spatula.

Bake 5 – 7 minutes, checking regularly. Remove when syrup is bubbling and the nuts are beginning to just brown. Let cool, turning to coat with any maple, rosemary, and salt. Check for salt and make sure it is where you like to balance the maple syrup and accent the rosemary.

Source: kaleandcaramel.tumblr.com/maple-rosemary-pecans

Notes: Next time I make these I will add some heat, probably cayenne, but maybe a dash or two of hot sauce in the maple syrup would be good. Next time, and there will be a next time, I will squeeze the lemon juice over the hot pecans as they come out of the oven.

If a recipe calls for flakey salt, I always use Maldon. Worth every penny and every pinch.

Pastrami & Swiss Sandwiches

I made this for the Super Bowl as a pre-St. Patrick’s Day test run. I did a half recipe because it was just going to be me and the MotH for the Super Bowl, but I used the other half of the dinner rolls for the Pull-Apart Cheeseburger Sliders. Made lots of sense. I was also really lazy and baked them in disposable foil trays. Not a bad idea when you get right down to it.

12 soft white dinner rolls*
6 Tbs Dijon mustard – divided
8 ozs thinly sliced pastrami
16 ozs Boar’s Head sauerkraut, drained very dry
8 ozs deli Swiss sliced medium
4 Tbs unsalted butter
2 Tbs grated yellow onion or shallot
2 Tbs Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp garlic powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Slice rolls in half horizontally. Spread 4 Tbs mustard on tops and bottoms of rolls. Arrange roll bottoms in baking dish. Layer on pastrami, sauerkraut, and Swiss cheese. Season with black pepper and cover with roll tops.

Combine butter and shallot in a bowl. Microwave until butter melts and onion is soft, about a minute. Add Worcestershire, garlic salt, 2 Tbs mustard and stir to combine. Brush tops and edges with mixture, pouring remaining solids over sandwiches.

Cover dish with foil and let sit 10 minutes to absorb sauce. Bake 20 minutes. Uncover and bake until cheese is melted about 7 – 9 minutes. Cool 10 minutes.

Source: Cook’s Country

*You can always use King’s Hawaiian Rolls for something like this, but you have to factor in the sweetness level of King’s  – personal preference. I got my rolls from the bakery department at the Publix and they were great. They held up well to all that was put on them.

These were quite good and reheated well – there were only a couple left and they made a very agreeable breakfast later in the week. I do eat odd things for breakfast, but to each his own – I’ve never been a cereal breakfast kind of person.

Chili Cheese Dog Bread

Love chili dogs? I do. Even as a decade-long vegetarian, I craved chili dogs when I was pregnant with the Boy. I really think there needs to be more research done on cravings while pregnant. Or cravings when you’re sitting in the hospital only able to have ice chips. Either way, more research – I will be happy to assist.

So this is, after all, just a really big chili dog for a crowd. Or just for me. This is also a total cheat meal / appetizer. You don’t cook anything really. You heat, shred, cut, top, bake, and garnish, but really cook absolutely nothing.

To me this is wide open for all kinds of adjustments, additions, and alterations. How about some alliteration?

1 loaf French bread
1 1/2 cup extra sharp cheddar, shredded or more as needed
1 can hormel chili, no beans, heated in a small sauce pan
Nathan’s hot dogs
2 Tbs chives, minced

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil.

Slice French bread in half lengthwise and scoop out some of the bread to make a trench in each side. Take 1 cup of cheddar and divide between each half of bread. Place the hot dogs end to end and fit into bread. Feed any “extra” hot dog to patiently (Ha!) waiting dog.

Spoon chili over hot dogs and top with remaining cheddar. Place on baking sheet and bake 25 minutes. Let cool slightly and cut into 3 inch segments. Garnish with chives.

Source: Delish.com

Ideas:

Add cole slaw on top (this will lead to a rant I’m not quite ready to dive into …. yet) after all toppings are heated and cheese has melted. Placement, my friends is very important.

Chopped onions / scallions on top. Could also sauté onions until golden.

Well-drained sauerkraut on top of chili, but under cheese.

Steam dogs in beer first (with a sliced onion), dry and continue with recipe.

Pull-Apart Cheesy Garlic Bread

This is the third version I’ve made since this past fall, but only the first version I’ve been relatively happy with. There might be still more work to be done, but I will keep at it like the trooper that I am. 

Things I’ve learned:
-You need a sturdy bread. A round is okay, but I like a Chicago Italian loaf the best so far. A white bread (version #2, I used White Mountain Bread round) and it was just too soft. You can’t really pull-apart the bread. Sort of defeats the purpose.
-Roast the head of garlic. Great flavor and compliments the minced garlic. Yes.
-Melt the butter in a pot and add all flavorings. Keep on low to infuse the butter with lots of flavor.
-Use sliced cheese in the lower part of the cross-hatched of bread. Use grated cheese above.
-Add lemon zest and lemon juice.
-Fresh herbs – your choice but I like chives, parsley, and finely minced rosemary.
-Red pepper flakes are a must, even if it’s just a tiny pinch.
-Make the cross-hatch pattern large – it’s easier to stuff than a tight cross-hatch pattern.

Loaf of Chicago Italian Bread
Head of garlic
1 Tbs olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
8 Tbs unsalted butter
1 tsp kosher salt
Pinch of red pepper flakes
1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
Zest and juice of one lemon
2 Tbs minced parsley
1 tsp finely minced rosemary
I Tbs Dijon mustard
1/3 pound provolone, sliced kind of thick
1/3 pound colby, grated on large holes of box grater
minced chives

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut top 1/2 inch of head of garlic to expose cloves. Place on piece of foil, pour olive oil on garlic, wrap tightly in foil and bake about 40 minutes, until garlic head is soft. Remove and set aside. Leave oven on.

Melt butter over medium low heat in saucepan, add in minced garlic, salt, red pepper, black pepper, zest and juice from lemon. Add in parsley, rosemary, and Dijon mustard. Remove from heat and keep warm.

Line a baking sheet with foil. Place bread on foil and make a large cross-hatch pattern, slicing most of the way, but not all the way through. Brush tops and sides with butter. Slide provolone in crevices, then squish roasted garlic in with the provolone, and then stuff the colby as well. Spread remaining butter with herbs into crevices and on top.

Bake until cheese melts, 18 – 20 minutes. Top with chives and serve.

15 January 2018