Hatch Me Some Loving Savoriness

Hatch Chile season has arrived!  The anticipation of this wonderful green chile grown in the Hatch Valley of New Mexico either has old friends waiting eagerly or met with "what is a Hatch Chile?".  Either response lends for us true afficiandos of this lovely pepper that holds it own with celebrations of a parade, recognized as New Mexico state vegetable, a Hatch Chile Queen festival and more is just one of the many reasons we stand with grills fired up, pans in hand with recipes waiting as we say "Arriba! "  And....just to be correct..this delicious little morsel known as pungent smoky with sweetness is just waiting for all of us foodies to create a new little culinary delight.  

http://www.hatchchilefest.com/

https://youtu.be/AaObd8hJARw

At work I am a cook..I write recipes to invoke the simplest of cooks to seasoned cooks to "hatch" palatable eatables that beckons their guests to scream..MORE please!

Below is a few pictures that I took over the weekend as we celebrated the Annual Hatch Chile Fest at my work.  

Avocado Cream Sauce

2 large avocados

¼ cup cilantro

2 t cumin

1 T  sea salt

1 T EEO olive oil

½ c sour cream

1 T lime juice

Cut, peel and pit avocados.  Add all ingredients in food processor or blender to smooth.

Spicy Coleslaw

2 c shredded red cabbage or ½ head of small red cabbage

4 c shredded cabbage or ½ head of small cabbage

¼ cup chopped cilantro , stems removed

½ c chopped red onion

1 t chili powder

1 t paprika

¼ t red pepper flakes

Vinaigrette

1/3 c Canola oil

1 T lime juice

1 T brown sugar

½ c apple cider vinegar

1 T Mexican seasonings

Whisk ingredients together.  Add the vinaigrette to slaw and toss together to marry the flavors for 30 minutes. 

Pulled Pork

½ carton large 365 chicken broth

4 to 5 pound pork butt roast * trim excess fat

3 cloves garlic

5 T of Mexican seasoning

7 hatch chiles - chopped fresh or 3 cups of roasted chopped chiles

3 c of peaches* peeled

Place all ingredients into crock pot.  Cook for 4 hours (3 on high, 1 on low).  Turn off slow cooker, save some of the juices.  Remove the pork roast to shred then add the peaches, chiles and roast back to cooker with juice to keep on low to serve on your favorite buns!

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June is Here! June is Here!!! Summer is around the corner

Summer is the time when one sheds one's tensions with one's clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit.  A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all's right with with world. ~Ada Louise Huxtable

Oh, the days when the temperatures rise, the days are beautiful with bright blue skies, and the smell of summer is just around the corner.  You know the smells of summer....snowcones, fresh churned ice cream, heady scents of flowers, deep dark nights with bright twinkling stars with faint aromas of outdoor grills...the sounds of summer...laughter,dancing, outdoor movies, outdoor concerts, outdoor activites abuzz with your friends..the smell of the lake, swimming holes,boating,  the beach, the sand, the rocks..Ahhhh..the crisp clean summer will arrive with the Summer Soltice.  Are you ready????

When I embrace the season upon us I find that I want to make each day filled with adventure.  The Gypsy's Table is always ready to be creative!

Over the few months of summer we will explore simple ideals to decorate your outdoor living area, lake home, beach house, your home with just a few simple touches of summer so you can enjoy all the season has to give to you, your friends, family and loved ones.

Concerts in the parks have recently begun here in my hometown.  A great early evening to gather your friends to have a picnic, a great chilled glass of wine and enjoy the local music.  I always enjoy taking quite a few little morsels to enjoy while listening to those great tunes.

Picnic 

Roasted Red Pepper Grilled Chicken Sandwiches

2 Multigrain baguettes
6 Red Leaf Lettuce leafs
1 small pinch of Arugula
Red onion sliced
6 Small Grilled chicken breasts * these can easily be picked up in your Prepared Food section of your market if you do not have time to grill.  1 Large breast can be cut into 2
2 Sliced Roma Tomatoes
Pesto Aoili Sauce
6 slices of Roasted Red Peppers
2 Slices of Mozzarella Cheese

Grill your chicken breasts season with lemon mixed with a little olive oil, garlic salt, sea salt and pepper or pick up grilled chicken breasts from your market prepared food section.

Cut the baguettes into thirds then split to open.  Take a heaping tablespoon of the pesto aoili sauce to spread evenly on both sides of baguette,1 slice of roasted red pepper then  chicken on one side , 2 slices of mozzarella cheese, 1 leaf of red lettuce, a pinch of arugula, roma tomatoes with 1 to 2 slices of red onion, season lightly with sea salt and pepper.

Pesto Aoili Sauce

3 T Pesto
2 T lemon
1 C Mayo

Mix well.

Serve with fresh fruit salad, sea salt pita chips or your favorite salad.

I hope you will take the time to stop by to visit me at The Gypsy's Table on your travels during the summer.  My table always has an extra chair or two...let's create together the perfect summer season!

Hemp - A Natural Source of Goodness

Hemp Seeds

Hemp - misunderstood and under rated.  Farmers, since 1937, have been prohibited growing hemp seeds in the U.S..  This  is just another way for a natural resource to not be able to reach us at local markets.  We can import, as most farmers do, from Canada and other sources.  This crop can be grown without the use of pesticides or commercial agriculture!!!  What in the world are we waiting for?????  We could all do without the use of chemicals in our food, right?  We could all do with a natural seed to be worked into clothing....right?

Maybe it is the myth that needs to be debunked of "you can get high if you eat hemp seed"!  The farmers are working hard to educate, bring awareness of this versatile seed and definitely enlighten the masses that this hemp is the not the same as marijuana with little to no THC residual in the seed and absolutely no drug value.

Hemp seeds have been eaten for thousands of years.  They are full of nutrition with fiber, high quality protein, all omega essential fatty acids, amino acid essentials , iron, zinc and magnesium.  A versatile seed that can be eaten raw, ground into hummus or pestos, milk, baked and clothing.

You can begin by making your own recipes or look for several awesome products at your local markets.  I am, for one, a huge fan of this little bundle of awesomeness.  How about you?

Hemp Seed and Avocado Goodness Sandwich
Yield:  2 sandwiches
Prep:  10 minutes

Hemp Seed Bread
Lemon Hummus
3 large avocados
sea salt
black pepper
cilantro* use only if you like or use your favorite mexican seasoning
1 large seeded jalapeno - chopped fine
Radish sprouts, bean sprouts, or sprouts of your choice
Fresh tomatoes * take advantage of your beautiful orange or yellow to add a pop of color
2 large roasted pepper slices
Arugula


 Avocados mashed with lemon juice, sea salt and black pepper.  Add one seeded jalapeno, cilantro* or mexican seasoning.
Toast hemp seed bread.  Spread lemon hummus on both sides of toasted hemp bread.  Spread the avocado goodness on one side, lay roasted red pepper, then tomatoes, arugula.  Lay second slice on top.

Enjoy your healthy yummy sandwich.  Serve with a whole wheat flax seed and onion pita chip or a cup of cold gazpacho soup!

Rain Falls

Ahh.... the deep aromatic scents of rain..earthy, seedy, rich, heady, sweet...just a few descriptives.  However, there really is a scientific term or two that actually describe the scents we smell and react to when we experience the good rain that creates those downpours actually brings to our Mother Earth.

I love rain.  I love the clap of the rolling thunder, the dance of lightening, the amazing changing colorful palette of the sky, the happiness of the birds singing, and the great rewards we receive from Mother Earth.  The way the raindrops pelt against my windowpanes reminding me that this is liquid sunshine.  Yes, I love rain.

We, in Texas, have been in a drought for so long.  We have experienced the loss of beautiful lakes, farmers crops,cattle ranchers livestock loss, loss of livestock and water reservoirs have suffered extreme loss.  I know that the torrent rains can bring serious damage with sheets of rain causing flooding, animal and people needing to be rescued, hail, tornadoes, high winds..oh yes the wrath of the storm.  Yet when the storm faces us we quickly gather as we heighten our natural direction to survive, to protect, to assist others in need and we see that through the storm we are refreshed, rejuvenated, stronger, and grateful.  Grateful...I am grateful.

This picture is taken by an awesome photographer (credits in lower right corner of pic) of my hometown, Austin.

I hope that you find the path to gratefulness of the beauty of the rainstorm.  The rainbow is always at the end of the storm.  Just look for your rainbow.

Rainy Day Recipes


French Bread Pizzas
Yield: 16 slices
Prep time:  45 minutes
Bake time: 10 -15 minutes
Oven: 350 degrees

2 Large loaves of french bread
Cut veggies to include red onion, heirloom tomatoes, spinach, basil, rosemary, eggplant, yellow squash
Saute or oven roast veggies with
1 C of cooked chicken or other meat
2 T olive oil * you may need to add 2 T of olive oil to saute
Sea Salt to taste
1 T of Italian Seasoning
Grated Parmesan, Cotija Cheese
Pesto or your choice of spread



Marinate veggies in olive oil with sea salt for around 30 minutes. Pan saute veggies to bring to a "tender state" but do not overcook.  Brush sides of bread with pesto or you choice of spread.  Spread veggies evenly over 4 split french loaves.  Add your cooked meat, let bake for 10 minutes then add cheese for the last five minutes to baking time.

You may grill these on your personal grill as well.  Just place over medium coals to grill bread first then add toppings to finish grill time of around 10 minute to 15 minutes

Cut into slices horizontally.

Grilled Dessert Delights
Prep Time:  30 minutes
Grill Time:  3 minutes
Yield:  6 or 12

2 packages  Angel Food Dessert Shells * 6 per package usually
Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, mangoes, strawberries - toss with honey or agave.  Let rest for 30 minutes
Heavy Whipping Cream - 1 pint  equals 2 C.  I am not listing whip cream amounts as you may wish to make more for personal use.
Powder Sugar

Whip heavy whipping cream with powder sugar.  Whip till peaks form.

Grill dessert shells on stove top griddle, grill, or George Foreman Grill.  Use a high heat non-gmo spray for your griddle or lightly brush personal grill with an oil over medium coals.

Remove dessert shells.  You may serve 1 dessert shell for each guest topped with fruit and whipped cream or you may stack dessert shells.

Enjoy!!

Happy Hour Is Really More Than An Hour

Happy Hour an event where we gather with friends, family, co-workers, acquaintances or possibly striking up a conversation with a new person enjoying their "Happy Hour".

I am drawn to definitions of words or terms that we apply to possibly justify celebrating any event or to possibly just use for us to wind down, amp up or collect our mess of a self to rally on throughout the week.

Happy:  feeling or showing pleasure or contentment.  synonyms:  cheerful, cheery, merry, joyful, good spirits, in a good mood, lighthearted, buoyant.  Also fortunate, lucky, favorable, advantageous, opportune, timely, well timed convenient

Hour:  a period of time equal to a twenty-fourth part of a day and night and divided into 60 minutes.  a less definite period of time.

Wow, I can see the benefits of the Happy Hour!  I am encouraged to show pleasure with a cheery, merry good spirit to celebrate a well timed convenient period of time or a less definite period of time. Who wouldn't be in a good mood as the opportune less definite period of time is most definitely fortunate  in a timely advantageous period of time dedicated to a joyful outing!   Whew, did I use my adjectives with my noun to paint the vision?????

I choose happy hours any time of the day.  You can turn any 60 minutes to a celebration at the table with coffee, morsels of sweet ooey goodness, rich savory noshes, warm or sweet wines or create your own cheery joyful less definite period of time to shake off the ol' arm of stress, celebrate a milestone or goal, special occasions or how about celebrating you?  Yes, you read that correctly, buttercup..celebrate you!

I love "Happy Hours"!!  After all...being happy, by definition, seems to be a perfectly awesome way to approach your journey.  Don't you agree????

Bruschetta is an Italian dish with crusty bread, olive oil, tomatoes and basil.  I love to step out into the creative culinary delight by creating toppings that can be included with the Tuscan Tomato Bruschetta recipe listed below.

Bruschetta Bar

French Baguettes, sourdough mini boules -
Proscuitto
Sopressta
Salami
Rare sliced steak
Salmon
Shrimp
Hummus
Artichokes
Olives - visit your
Cheese - goats, bleu cheese, gorgonzola, aged cheddar
Brie
Nuts
Roasted vegetables
Roasted peppers
garlic buttons
sweety peppers
tapenades

Slice your french baguettes into rounds - toast  with parmesan, garlic/olive oil, or leave natural.  For larger bruschettas you can slice a mini sourdough boule or a flavored sourdough like rosemary into a larger slices.  For the larger slices considering toasting to turn into a mini pizza or larger bruschetta.

Arrange breads on a large platter.  Surround the platter with small ramekins filled with any of the suggested toppings or select your own.

Tuscan Tomato 
Yield:  12- 20 servings
Prep Time:  15 minutes

6 Organic large roma tomatoes
Sweet peppers * I love the sweety peppers from Whole Foods located on our olive bar
1 jar of organic artichoke hearts
Lemon Pepper
Sea Salt
Fresh Spinach Leaves
Fresh Basil
Pinch of garlic salt
Cracked pepper feta cheese

Slice firm roma tomatoes into chunks- think small not large.  Combine with artichokes, sweet peppers, sea salt and lemon pepper.  Remove stems from spinach and fresh basil.  Chiffonade the spinach and basil.  Mix all together to let flavors marry.

Be sure to add the Cracked Pepper feta cheese to the bar mix as it is delightful with the Tuscan Tomato topping.  This topping is also fun when creating grilled pizzas!

Lemon and Blood Orange  Zinger Wine
Yield:  12 servings
Prep Time:  10 minutes

2 bottles of Savignon Blanc
1 bottle of lemon sparkling water
1/2 to 1  bottle of Blood Orange  Italian Soda
2 large lemons
2 small oranges

Mix all the wine, sparkling water and italian soda  together.  Slice the lemons and oranges into rings add to the pitcher of wine mixture.  Save some lemons and oranges for drink garnishes or freeze in ice cube trays! Be creative with italian sodas for the flavor can change your zinger wine.  I love blood orange, pomegranate, cherry, strawberry, orange, lime, chili infused!!!


So..what are you waiting for?????  Let's gather at the Gypsy's Table to celebrate a cheerful, good time, joyful less definite period of time..aka Happy Hour

Yummy goodness

Morsels of sweet peppers, basil and vegetables

Cinco De Mayo

The merriment of Cinco De Mayo celebrated on May 5th, is  filled with festivals, traditions, music and great food!  I am posting  a few recipes for you to join in the merriment.

 We do not really celebrate Cinco De Mayo at work however there are is plenty a buzz to bring the merriment to the people who live and visit the local places peppered throughout downtown Austin. Our store is located near buildings housing businesses, condos, and of course our  everyday shoppers come to visit us reguarly.  

My job is a fun job at work.   I am a Sales Driver which is to create with our local, sustainable, own brands and exclusive products simple meals, special events, wine tastings, craft beer parties and just about any other event you would love to create.  I love to create simple offerings from our vast resources to show our guests that they can keep within their budget by choosing our offerings and to create the event with a minimal time of prep to the time to serve.

Today my merriment will include a pop up event.  A pop up event is where I create a simple meal, appetizer, or dessert for our guests to purchase.  I showcase our  local, sustainable, healthy food selections for my creations to bring knowledge to our guests about our products with simple recipes to recreate the menu at home!  I love that the products we use provide local in house prep from our departments, local or exclusive, our Health Starts Here program, own brand, and sustainable to guide our guests to a  awesome experience while in our store.

Yes, I love my job!  I am a baker, cake decorator, wet scratch baker, and pastry 1 baker with the mix of a cook.   An awesome experience each day that brings a never ending opportunity to learn and share my knowledge with our guests and my team members.


Black Bean Corn Salad
Yield: 12 servings
Prep time:  15 minutes

1 20 oz can of black beans (organic or you can make your own)
2 c of frozen corn (organic, non gmo or shuck from husks of corn * need to cook first if from fresh)
1/4 c of fresh chopped cilantro * you can chop or find chopped prepackaged in produce
1/4 c Lime vinaigrette
 2 T Gourmet Chili Lime Seasoning (or your own brand or your own recipe)
1 T cumin
1 T smoked paprika
3 T chopped red onion ( you can use more to taste)

Combine all the ingredients together to marry the flavors a day before or the morning of the day you are going to serve.  All the seasonings above can be adjusted to your own personal tastes.

Spicy Coleslaw

Yield: 12
prep time: 15 minutes

1 1/2  large packages of coleslaw * prepackaged or cut your own vegetables
Lime Vinaigrette to taste
1 to 2 T cumin
3 T cilantro
Gourmet Chili Lime Seasoning

Combine all the ingredients the night before or 5 hours before event to marry the flavors

Green Sauce Pulled Chicken 

Yield:  20 servings
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 6 hours
Warm time:  30 minutes

5 frozen chicken breasts
1/4 c chicken broth low sodium
2 T cumin
2 T Gourmet Chili Lime Seasoning
1 can green enchilada sauce * make your own if you do not want to use canned

Place chicken  in crock pot with ingredients on low for 6 hours.  Remove chicken from crockpot to shred using two forks.  Remove broth from crockpot.
Place chicken back in crockpot, pour the green enchilada with 2 T of stock, and 1 T cumin to mix and warm until serving.

Serve with soft flour tortillas, corn tortillas, flavored tortillas, or a mix of half flour/half corn tortillas.  Be sure to warm your tortillas for around 5 to 10 minutes.  Wrap your tortillas in foil to warm in your oven set at 350 degrees.

Serve soft tortillas with pulled chicken, spicy coleslaw and avocado crema sauce

Avocado Crema Sauce
Yield: 12 servings
Prep time: 5 minutes

2 large avocados or prepared avocado dip/cream sauce located in produce section
2 T cumin
1/2 C Sour Cream or Greek Yogurt
Lime Vinaigrette dressing to taste * I used around 1 T to 2 T
1 t cilantro * used to your taste

Be sure to serve with my Raspberry Lemonade Sangria posted earlier.


Feliz Cinco De Mayo!

May Day Celebration

As I sit to reflect the long week there is joy in warmly remembering all my adventures with a smile on my face and a cup of joe in my hand.  Perfect morning, right?  Birds are singing, crisp morning air embracing the anticipation of a great 1st weekend for May.

I am taken back to a time where there were celebrations of brightly colored wrapped poles with the bright streamers flowing as we reached out to wrap our hands around dancing and laughing.  Ahh,  the simple joys of youth enjoying an old tradition.  May Day traditions.....

I wanted to learn more about this tradition of May Day.  Where do I go?  Google of course to learn more about this ancient celebration.  There are several sites to give a simple explanation to a long historical summary.  I simply like to think of May Day as the holiday as the time between the equinox and solstice celebrating the waxing of the sun with an age old art of tradition of a brightly wrapped pole to dance gleefully. In olden days a tree was wrapped with ribbon as trees are a symbol for vitality and abundance for Spring.

 I am not sure of this tradition is practiced very much but I think to revive this lovely ideal would be wonderful.  In the 20th century the tradition of small paper cones of beautiful flowers or sweets were anonymously taken to hang on the neighbors doors, left on porches or doorsteps.  I think this lovely gift would be perfect to give to anyone on your journey.  A co-worker, a new neighbor, a life long friend or a new friend would be surprised and pleased with this small token of a fragrant gift, don't you think?

I hope that today on your May Day celebration that you take the time to create a fun tradition with your friends and family.  The table is a place for you to reach deep inside to find the creative slumbering soul.  Just reflect on what the holiday could mean to you, friends, neighbors and family to bring a beloved old tradition refined into a new tradition to celebrate May Day.

May Day Celebrations

Paper cones made of brightly wrapped paper embellished with bright ribbon streamers. Fill the cones with sweets (homemade or bought) or bright colored flowers.  Place on your neighbors doorsteps, take one to work, give to a friend.

Create a Maypole with streamers to have a May Day dance and potluck with neighbors.  Create a crown with a wreath of flowers with bright ribbons to wear for the girls and a crown of leaves with sticks for the boys.  You might want to include music with everyone who plays a musical instrument to sing songs around the firepit as you gaze upon the magnificent stars.

Create a farm to table decor with the table decorated with fresh cut flowers, garlands of ivy, lights in mason jars to give a fairy effect and place cards written with small tokens of what spring brings to us.


May Day  Merriment

Spring Salad

Yield:  8 - 10 servings

1 package of Herbed Spring Mix Salad
Feta Cheese or crumbled goats cheese
Edible Flowers * usually found in your packaged herb section at local  market
Red, orange and yellow bell peppers
Strawberries
Blueberries
Roasted pecans
Dried Cranberries
Unsalted sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds
Whole Foods Lemon Tahini Dressing

Use one container or package of herbed spring mix salad.  Garnish with red, orange, and yellow bell peppers cut in thin julienne strips.  Add strawberries cut in half with blueberries and dried cranberries.  Toss roasted pecans, crumbled goats or feta cheese with lemon dressing.

Mozzarella Basil Tomato Sandwiches
Yield:  8 sandwiches

2 loaves of Sea Salted Ciabatta bread
Basil Pesto * 1/2 c or more to your taste
Spinach leaves * fresh from bin or packaged
Mozzarella sliced thick
Thick cut slices of Heirloom or local grown tomatoes
Basil leaves or Sprigs of Rosemary
Olive oil to drizzle lightly

Split the loaves of ciabatta.  Spread the basil pesto on both sides of the loaves ( I love basil pesto so I said to start with a 1/2 cup for each loaf).  Place the thick slices of mozzarella, leaves of spinach to cover the mozzarella, slices of tomatoes, drizzle lightly with olive oil.

Place the top layer of bread on top of the bottom layer filled with mozzrella, basil pesto, spinach leaf and tomato goodness.  Cut your bread half  then in quarters.  Each loaf should yield  4 sandwiches.
Wrap in parchment paper or tissue wrap with a string then place a sprig of rosemary or basil leaf tucked into the bow of the string.

For the Kids

Make My Day Pizza

Pizza dough homemade, Burrito sized tortillas wheat or white or gluten free, packaged pizza dough from Traders Joe or go by your local bakery inhouse of your favorite grocery store.  If they have a scratch bakery or make french bread ask to purchase a unbaked loaf of the dough

Roll out your pizza dough then cut into rounds.  Make the size of rounds to your liking

Toppings for kids to select from to place on pizza
Precooked chicken strips
pepperoni, hamburger meat * all precooked
grilled onions, peppers, mushrooms * all precooked
Mozzarella cheese, goats cheese or Parmesan * all grated

Be sure to use the medium heat side on your grill.  Take a thick towel to dip in olive oil to rub on grates.  Be sure to have a mitt on for safety to your hands. 
Grill the dough for 2 - 3 minutes on each side
Add toppings and cheese.  Keep on grill just to melt cheese.  You may close the lid but watch
carefully


Dessert Pizzas

Grill as above
Add fresh strawberries, blueberries, pineapple
Drizzle with chocolate over pizzas


Happy May Day!


* I hope to start taking my pictures soon as I cook.  Balance..balance and Just Breathe.  I used pictures from just generic pics found so you can see for reference

Let's Celebrate Food!!!

We have reasons to celebrate food.  Yes, we can celebrate food with food holidays  or month long celebrations of food everyday of the month. Can you imagine the endless stream of possibilities for each of us to indulge in our favorite foods or even to take the journey of the unknown as we bravely decide to try a food or drink that we might not otherwise experience on our food journey.

One of my favorite sites foodimentary.com list all the food holidays along with listing the national month, daily, and food history .  I love to peruse through the months becoming almost giddy as I know there are days to celebrate chocolate, crafted beer, popcorn, strawberry shortcake, blood mary, and even "I Love Food" national day!  Yes, creating these national food holidays or months certainly gives pure bliss for any foodie.

As we close in on the end of April take a few of these last days to enjoy:

National Florida Tomato Month
National BLT Sandwich Month
National Soft  Pretzel Month
National Soyfoods Month
National Grilled Cheese Month
National Garlic Month

April's Celebration Sandwich

6 Pretzel Rolls
12 pieces of bacon * real bacon or subsitute Morningstar or Turkey Bacon
Soy based veggie burgers or turkey breast sliced thinly  * 3 oz per sandwich
Gouda cheese or vegan cheese
Garlic Aioli
2 Florida Tomatoes
Arugula

Warm the pretzel rolls on your griddle, cook bacon pieces to crispness that you enjoy.  Cook your veggie burgers as instructed.  The deli turkey breast can be flavored if you want as there are several wonderful infused options.

Garlic Aioli
1 cup mayonnaise
1 T lemon
2 pods of garlic to taste.  You may bake your garlic then mash the pods to mix with your mayonnaise
sea salt and cracked black pepper to taste
*may be made the day before to marry the flavors



Open pretzel roll
spread garlic aioli
2 pieces of bacon
place turkey or veggie burger
gouda or vegan cheese
arugula with slice of Florida tomato

Serve this celebration sandwich with a spicy coleslaw, sweet potato fries or your favorite side dish.

Grab your plate, a glass of crafted beer as you prepare to savor the flavors of the foods celebrated for the month of April!

April is Grilled Cheese Month! I am immediately transported to a more simple time taken back to the kitchen table where a rich thick bowl of tomato soup paired with my grilled cheese sandwich made the day a whole lot better. I enjoyed the melty goodness between two slices of bread grilled to perfection in an iron skillet. But now we have taken this classic to another level to appeal to kids and adults with the goodness a wide selection of cheeses, toppings and breads.


The History of Grilled Cheese

The availability of processed cheese with inexpensive loaves of bread became  the staple in a persons diet in the 1920's and during the depression era. In World War II countless "melted cheese" sandwiches were served. The earliest forms of the grilled cheese or known as "melted cheese or toasted cheese" was typically served open face with grated American cheese throughout the years until about 1965 when a second piece of bread was added mainly to make the meal more filling.

The Comforts of Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

We all love to prepare grilled cheese sandwiches even in the simplest forms of just a great bread and cheddar cheese. Yet now we can embark on a culinary delight as our journey takes on to find great grainy breads, ciabattas with rosemary or sea salt, or sourdoughs. With an endless selection of breads  to choose  we step into our gooey goodness to make our grilled cheeses either prepared open faced paninis, outdoor grills or on a griddle. Take a stroll down the cheese aisles as rich Gruyeres, smoked goudas, aged white cheddars, spicy cheeses laced with peppers such as jalapenos, hatch chilies or habaneros, goat cheese, veined beautiful bleu cheeses just beckon to be made into your signature grilled cheese. Add some pizazz with pestos, aioli, roasted red peppers, bacon, avocados, pears, figs, or artichokes!

Heck, don't just stop with National Grilled Cheese Month make every month a way to explore the fun ways as you create your own favorite version of your grilled cheese.

Bacon, Aged White Cheddar and Guacamole Grilled Cheese

Loaf of Sourdough bread sliced on number 14
12 slices Bacon cooked to crispy perfection
1/2 cup of Aged English White cheddar per sandwich
2 Tablespoons of guacamole * make 1/2 cup to 1 cup of guacamole

Place 1/4 cup of Aged English White Cheddar on bread slice, 2 T of guacamole, 2 slices of bacon, top with the remaining 1/4 cup of cheese.  Lightly brush sourdough with high heat sunflower oil or spray griddle with high heat sunflower oil.  * note it is important to use high heat oils when using panini presses or griddles to prevent smoking.  The buttery richness of the sunflower oil is great!

Yields 6 sandwiches