*Improvised Gravy*
Makes about 360ml (1 1/2 cups)
360ml beef or chicken broth or stock (1 1/2 cups)
leftover drippings or butter |
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Showing posts sorted by date for query sandwich. Sort by relevance Show all posts
I am beginning to think that Jeanie is right. I am the Queen of chicken. Sorry but its another chicken recipe today, but really you should be thanking me because these are fabulously delicious!
Not only that, but they are also quick and easy to make. Perfectly sized for two, but easily adaptable for more.
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are browned lightly and then poached in a BBQ sauce mixture that you create . . . once the chicken is cooked through and tender, you shred the chicken and cook it for a bit longer in the sauce.
This really helps to get the BBQ flavour in there. Its a simple sauce using your favourite ready prep BBQ sauce and a few other bits.
On top of that is a simple coleslaw. You can use coleslaw shredded vegetable mix from the shops, which would make it even quicker to make, but I like to shred my own. I use a really sharp knife and just cut it into thin slivers.
There is something very cathartic about standing there, hand shredding the cabbage and carrots. I go off into my own little world. I find it quite stress relieving. Not that I have a lot in my world to be stressed about, but still . . . I do enjoy hand shredding it all.
The dressing is a simple one, made with mayonnaise, buttermilk, cider vinegar, a pinch of sugar, some seasoning and a bit of celery seed. You can add more vegetables if you like, grated broccoli stems, spring onions, etc. Just use the basic dressing and add what you like.
I tend to make it before I start the chicken so that the flavours have time to meld. Some vegetables/cabbage can be a bit more watery than others, so if you find that your coleslaw is a bit watery, just drain it a bit before using it, so you don't end up with soggy buns.
It goes perfectly with the flavours of the BBQ chicken filling . . . very nice. We really love this combination.
I like to use a Brioche bun. You can toast or not as you like. I prefer to toast them on the cut sides under the grill, just until golden brown.
That way the buns don't absorbe the BBQ sauce or the coleslaw dressing and get soggy. Toasting is the way to go in my books!
This is the kind of food I really love in the summer months . . . no nonsense kind of food. NO fuss. NO bother, easy to eat and easy to clean up after.
If you have leftover chicken from a roast chicken or a rotisserie chicken, you could use that instead. Just sayin'
I have also used Turkey tenderloins and done this. They work beautifully.
On the side you could serve potato salad, or potato chips, a macaroni salad, pickles. Whatever you fancy.
Whatever you choose to have on the side, this is sure to be a meal that will have you smacking your lips and licking your fingers. Its hot diggity doggone good!
*BBQ Chicken Sandwiches for Two*
Serves 2
These are very easy to make are fabulously rich and delicious. You can double all of the ingredients to feed more if you wish.
2 medium boneless skinless chicken breasts (3/4 pound)
salt and black pepper to taste
1 1/2 TBS butter
125g BBQ sauce (1/2 cup) (use your favourite)
60ml cider vinegar
1/2 TBS hot sauce
For the slaw:
8 ounces shredded cabbage
1 small carrot shredded
55g mayonnaise (1/4 cup)
60ml buttermilk (1/4 cup)
1/2 TBS cider vinegar
1 tsp sugar
salt and black pepper
1/4 tsp celery seed
You will also need 2 burger buns
Season the chicken with salt and black pepper. Melt
the butter over moderate heat in a skillet. Add the chicken and brown
it lightly on both sides. Whisk together the BBQ sauce, vinegar and hot
sauce. Pour over the chicken. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a
slow simmer, and cook, covered for about 10 minutes until cooked
through, turning the chicken over halfway through the cook time.
Transfer the chicken to a plate. Shred with two forks, then return to
the sauce in the pan and keep warm.
Whisk
together the mayonnaise, buttermilk, vinegar and sugar for the slaw.
Whisk in salt and black pepper to taste, along with the celery seed.
Stir in the shredded cabbage and carrot. Toss to coat.
Toast your buns or not as desired.
These were really, really, REALLY good. The pictures are making me hungry for them all over again!
We quite like sliders in this house. Sliders are small sandwiches or burgers baked all together in one sheet in the oven, and then cut apart into single servings after baking. I have done a few versions of them on here in the past, including Heavenly Ham and Cheese Hots, Reuben Sliders, Salmon Melt Sliders (You could also use Tuna), and Turkey Fajita Sliders to name a few. Love them all. They make quick and simple suppers when served with some chips or salad on the side, and are also perfect for game nights, etc. with the family. (Think FHE here!)
Today I made BBQ Beef Sliders with Caramelised Onions. You can use deli sliced beef in them, or you can use leftover sliced roast beef. Either one would work well. Todd has an easier time eating meat which is thinner sliced, so for things like this I tend to use deli meat as it is sliced much thinner than I can do myself at home.
I buy my buns at Asda. You can get a bag with 24, unseparated, called a freezer pack for about £2, and they work perfectly. They are also in a nice study bag so you can freeze the ones you don't need to use right away.
You begin by caramelising some onions. What is is about the smell of caramelising onions that gets the taste buds to tingling? There used to be a guy with a sandwich/burger van in downtown Chester by the town hall that was always frying onions. I always felt super hungry when I would walk past his van. It didn't matter if I was really hungry or not, just the smell made me hungry.
You layer the caramelised onions on the bottom half of the buns and then top with a bit of BBQ sauce. Today I used Bullseye because that is what I had, but you can use whatever kind you like. On top of that you layer on the meat.
I then put a layer of cheese. I buy a four cheese blend at the shops and just sprinkle it all over the meat in a nice layer. It has orange and white cheddar, mozzarella, Gouda . . . a nice mix that makes for good melting.
The cut side of the top bun gets spread with a horseradish mayo, which as you know goes very well with beef. Aside from the flavour it also helps to hold the cheese in place before it start to melt.
Finally you simply brush the top with a mix of melted butter, Worcestershire sauce and herbs. This gilds the lily, and adds another layer of delightful flavours!
And they truly are delightful flavours . . . you get the sweetness from the caramelised onions, a smoky touch from the BBQ, the richness of the roast beef, that creamy melty ooze from the cheese, a touch of creamy heat from the horseradish mayo, and of course that buttery, herbed crispy bun at the top. Everything just works together heavenly. I served them with some vegetable chips, which had carrots, parsnip and beetroot, but they would be nice just with coleslaw or even a green salad or potato chips. Its all up to you!
*BBQ Beef Sliders with Caramelised Onions*
Makes 12
These are simple to make and oh so delicious. A real family and crowd pleaser.
1 TBS flavourless oil
2 large onions, peeled and thinly sliced
130g BBQ sauce (1/2 cup)
73g mayonnaise (1/3 cup)
1 TBS creamed horseradish sauce
1 package of soft dinner rolls (12 count)
12 slices deli roast beef
120g grated 4 cheese blend (1 cup)
2 TBS butter, melted
1/2 TBS Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp each garlic and onion powders
1 tsp dried parsley
To caramelise the onions, heat the oil in a large skillet over
medium/high heat. Add the onions, reduce to medium low and cook,
stirring frequently until golden.
Preheat oven to 190*C/375*F/ gas mark 5. Have ready a 13 by 9 inch baking dish with sides. Lightly butter. Set aside.
Whisk together the mayonnaise and horseradish sauce.
Slice
the buns in half through the middle, keeping both halves in one sheet.
Place the bun bottom sheet into the prepared baking dish. Cover with
the caramelised onions. Divide the BBQ sauce amongst each bun section,
smoothing it over with the bottom of a spoon. Top with the sliced roast
beef and sprinkle the cheese over top of the beef. Spread the
mayo/horseradish sauce on the inside of the top bun halves and place
over all, sauce side down. Whisk together the butter, Worcestershire
sauce, garlic and onion powders and dried parsley. Brush over the tops
of the buns. Cover loosely with aluminium foil.
Royal weddings aside, I do like to pull the boat out a bit at the weekend when it comes to breakfast/brunch. I actually did this last weekend, but am only getting to show it to you now. I found and adapted the recipe from a site which I like called Tablespoon.
There were a few things I liked about the recipe. One was that it was built especially for two people and we are only two. Secondly I liked that it was simple and used things I normally have on hand.
I confess right now, I am not a huge fan of ricotta cheese. It is a consistency thing. I MUCH prefer cream cheese, which is smoother and richer. So that is what I chose to use instead. By all means use ricotta if you prefer it. I don't.
The cheese is mixed with some honey and lemon peel and then spread onto slices of french bread. Easy peasy. You spread it on all of the slices of bread, and then top only half of them with the fresh raspberries.
I adore fresh raspberries. It was not always so. My sister and I gorged ourselves on freshly picked raspberries from a neighbors bush when I was a girl, and I ended up getting sick afterwards. That was a really naughty thing for us to do really, so fair dues that I ended up sick. A fitting punishment. It was a very long time before I could face a raspberry and my father was hoovering raspberry seeds out of the carpet in our car for a very long time. Lets just say I was not very popular with either the neighbors or my dad!
Thankfully I have since gotten over my aversion to them. I really enjoy them now, but do have to watch my consumption somewhat due to my diverticulitis. Enough said!
They work beautifully in this recipe, but I expect any berry would work well. So just pick your favourite kind and go with the flow!
The honey in this is also a real favourite for me. I adore honey. For this I used Acacia honey . . . lovely delicious flavours!
*Lemon Raspberry French Toast*
Serves 2
Preheat the oven to 200*C/400*F/ gas mark 6. Line a 15 X
10 X 1-inch baking sheet with foil. Spray with non-stick cooking spray.
Whisk together the cheese, 2 TBS of the honey and 2 tsp of the lemon zest. Spread about 1 rounded TBS onto each slice of bread. Place 3 berries on top of half of the slices of bread and cover with the remaining bread slices, cheese side down.
Beat the egg, milk, salt, vanilla and cinnamon together in a shallow bowl. Place the sandwiches in the bowl. Let soak for 5 minutes, then flip over and soak for a further 5 minutes. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet.
Bake for 13 to 15 minutes, until golden brown. To each sandwich with the remaining raspberries, drizzle with the remaining honey and sprinkle with the remaining lemon zest. Serve immediately.
Whew! After all of the cooking I have done over these past few days I am exhausted! I really pulled the stops out for the wedding weekend and am happy now to go back to normal. A bit of restraint is now in order! I wonder what I will cook up next? Hmmm . . . food for thought! Bon Appetit!
I confess when I was younger I was not all that fond of chicken salad sandwiches. I am not sure why. It is something which I have taken to mostly in my older life. There wasn't anything really per se that I didn't like about them, I guess I just always preferred sliced chicken to chicken salad. To be honest, I hadn't really tried it . . . I just always thought that I wouldn't like them, and so I was hesitant to try. When I worked at the Manor though, I used to make Chicken Salad for my boss now and then, and in the process I was required to taste it, and I then learned that actually, Chicken Salad was kinda tasty!
Going out for one of these was always a real treat. With tender roasted meat with gravy between two thick slices of white bread with more gravy ladled over top, they would be served up hot, on large platters, with plenty of hot chips, veg and coleslaw on the side. You could also have gravy on your chips (fries), or not as per your choice. In Canada we love gravy on our chips, and here in the UK, they also like gravy on their chips, or curry sauce. (Something I have yet to try.)
I had some leftover roast chicken today and so I made us Hot Chicken Sandwiches for a change, instead of the usual casserole. Of course with there only being two of us and with neither of us having huge appetites these days, we basically only each ha half of a sandwich, along with the suggested trimmings. It looks like rather a lot, but we only ever use a sandwich plate for our meals these days, never a full dinner plate. And it is plenty for us.
2 TBS of appropriate stock
about 720ml (3 cups) of hot leftover or fresh gravy 
Good chips/fries are a must! If you want to make your own from scratch this is a cracking recipe. You can also use oven chips. I like the crinkle ones in that case, or if you are really lucky and have a chippy close by, you can just send hubby out to pick up a large portion of chips. By the time you have the remaining elements ready, he'll be back and you'll be set to go!
There
are two things you need for perfect chips. One a really good potato.
You want a nice floury one, such as a Maris Piper. You cannot make good
chips with new potatoes. Old ones are best. Second you want to start
with pure hard fat or dripping, preferably an animal fat. Third . . .
patience. Good chips require several cookings. The first is a quick
poaching in lightly salted water. . Let them cool and then fry for
about five minutes just until cooked through, then a final fry in hotter
fat to brown and finish cooking. See . . . patience.
a good solid fat to half fill your pan when melted
a frying thermometer
a frying thermometer
I added a dollop of cranberry sauce to the top of mine . . . coz I'm crazy like that, and I love cranberry sauce with both roast chicken and turkey. You will want a nice gravy to serve with your hot sandwiches. You can of course use Bisto granules and make it that way, but if you have leftover drippings, etc. its really quite easy to make a better tasting gravy from scratch!
2 TBS plain flour
360ml pan juices, broth, water, wine or a combination ( 1 1/2 cups)
Coleslaw is a must. You won't get any meal at a diner in North America, that doesn't come with a small container of coleslaw on the side. At some places it might be a vinaigrette coleslaw, but more often than not it will be a delicious creamy slaw. Just like this.
*Creamy Coleslaw*
Serves 8 to 10A deliciously cream coleslaw that has just the right amount of crunch and flavour! There is no sogginess here!!
10 ounces of white cabbage, trimmed, cored and very thinly cut
(about 1/2 of a medium cabbage)
5 ounces of carrots, peeled, trimmed and julienned
(1 medium carrot)
4 inches of an English Cucumber, trimmed, seeded and cut into small dice
(Do not peel)
2 - 3 large dessertspoons of good quality mayonnaise
1 TBS of Dijon mustard
2 TBS white wine vinegar
1 tsp caster sugar
1/2 tsp celery salt
freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/2 tsp onion powder
Place the vegetables into a large bowl. Whisk together the mustard, mayonnaise, white wine vinegar, sugar, celery salt, black pepper and onion powder. Mix well. Pour over the vegetables and toss to coat. Cover and chill for at least one hour before serving.
Note - the amount of mayonnaise you use depends on the cabbage, some cabbages take more mayonnaise than others. It also depends on how creamy you like your coleslaw!
Of course there may be times when you don't have any leftover gravy, or even gravy granules, but don't worry! That doesn't mean you can't still make a delicious gravy as this next recipe proves quite deliciously! Adapted from a recipe found in the Fanny Farmer Cookbook. (So you know that it just has to be good!)
This isn't something which we have very often, maybe only once a year. Back in the day I could eat a whole one of these sandwiches, and then a polished of a slice of cream pie as well. Mind you, back in the day I was a very busy and active mother of five. Things change . . . Bon Appetit!
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