Friday, July 13, 2012

Grilled Peach Sandwiches

I don't know how many times I start eating something and think, "I should have taken a picture of this and blogged about it."  Maybe one day when I get serious about this I'll be a better planner, but until then you get a great recipe without any pictures because it was too good not to share.

S said he thought they were more of a lunch thing, but I thought they were fine for dinner.  I adapted this recipe from one I found on tartlette, but it was a couple of years ago and I couldn't find it again.

Grilled Peach Sandwiches
Makes 2 really big sandwiches


Baguette or other thin loaf sliced in half lengthwise
4 oz Cream cheese
Herbs/spices (I used salt, pepper, tarragon, and rosemary.  Thyme would also be good)
3 Peaches
1-2 T. Honey

Lightly toast the bread under a broiler.  I like it so that it has a crunch but doesn't brown.  Mix the herbs into the cream cheese to flavor as desired.

Heat a grill pan over pretty high heat.  I think I did mine on 7.5 for an electric stove.  Slice the flesh of the peaches away from the pit.  If you can do it in half great, if not slice off in four pieces.  Grill until dark brown.  The high heat helps to brown fast so they don't get too mushy.

Pour the honey onto a plate.  When the peaches are done place into honey, grill side down to coat.  Roughly chop or slice the peaches.

Spread cream cheese on one side of bread, top with peaches and other side of bread.  Enjoy!

Friday, July 6, 2012

Chipotle Peppers in Adobe Sauce

If you don't know what these are you seriously need to go to your grocery store and find out.  The flavor of these peppers is smoky and spicy.  It craves a creamy addition and makes you want to come back for more.    It's perfect for Mexican cuisine, but can be used in lots of other applications.  The one problem is the can size.  Sure, the can looks really small. But, after you use the 1t. necessary for the recipe you realize that you could feed a whole lot of hungry Mexicans with this can of peppers.

The good news is that it keeps well in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks.  I'm thinking about trying to freeze it as well.  Whenever there's a leftover can I keep my eye out for an new recipes to use it up.  This week I found a star.  Bonus, you'll never have to buy the expensive bottled version of this sauce ever again.

Raspberry Chipotle Chicken Salad Sandwiches
Adapted from here and here

(Sorry for the awful pic- Have I mentioned recently that I'm not a photographer?)
1 Bone in, skin on chicken breast- poached
2 Heaping T. of mayo
2.5 oz. Cream Cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
6 Slices bread
1/4 C. Raspberry chipotle sauce (recipe to follow)
Spinach leaves

To poach chicken, put chicken in saucepan and fill with water to cover.  Add bay leaves, salt, onion, celery, carrots, etc. to add flavor.  Bring to simmer then reduce heat.  You want it to cook slowly in order to keep it tender.  About 45 minutes.  Cool and shred.

Soften cream cheese and mix with mayo and salt/pepper to salt.  Mix in chicken to coat.

To assemble sandwich, spread chicken on one piece of bread, pour on 1-2T. of sauce.  Top with spinach and other piece of bread.


Raspberry Chipotle Sauce

1 T. Olive oil
2 T. Diced onion
1 Clove garlic, minced
1 T. Chipotle peppers- I used the sauce in the can with a little bit of the pepper.  Use more pepper for a hotter sauce
1 Pint raspberries
1/6 C. Apple cider vinegar
1/4 t. salt
1/6 C. Brown sugar
1/6 C. White sugar

Heat oil in small sauce pan.  Sweat the onions and garlic until soft and translucent.  Add pepper, sauce, and raspberries.  Cook until raspberries are soft, about 3 minutes.  Add vinegar, salt, and sugars.  Simmer on medium low until reduced by a third.

Using an immersion blender, blend the sauce until smooth.  Press the sauce through a mesh sieve to remove seeds.  Cool before using.  Makes about 1 cup.