Category: SANDWICHES & SLIDERS

LOOSEMEAT PHILLY CHEESESTEAKS ~ BLOG 366.128

I needed to make Philly Cheese Steak sandwiches for a crowd and didn’t want to be a short order cook ALL night. So this version came to mind using ground beef and a sheet pan.

LOOSEMEAT PHILLY CHEESESTEAKS ~ serves 6, but easily doubles or triples adapted from FACEBOOK

1 1/2 pounds QUALITY ground beef
6 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 teaspoons Montreal hamburger seasoning
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons avocado oil
8 ounces white button mushrooms, sliced
3 LARGE bell peppers (green, red, or yellow), sliced *SEE NOTES
1 cup diced onion
8 ounces sliced or shredded Provolone cheese
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
Sandwich rolls
butter and garlic salt for rolls
Mayonnaise for rolls
Creamed Horseradish, to taste

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • In a small bowl whisk together mayonnaise and creamed horseradish with a little salt to taste. Set aside for dressing rolls before serving.
  • Spray a deep jelly roll sheet pan with non-stick cooking spray or line with foil.
  • In a large skillet, cook the beef over medium-high heat until browned. Drain.
  • Add the cream cheese, steak seasoning and Worcestershire sauce, cooking over medium heat or until cream cheese is melted and combined. Add a little milk or cream if you want the sauce thinner.
  • Add FRESH ground salt and pepper to taste.
  • Spread beef mixture on sheet pan.

  • Wipe out skillet, or use a second pan while the beef is cooking and heat oil over medium high heat.
  • Add the mushrooms, bell peppers, and onion cooking until veggies are soft.
  • Season to taste with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Spread veggies on top of beef mixture.
  • Top veggies mixture with Provolone cheese and bake in the oven for about 5-10 minutes or until cheese is melted.
  • Serve immediately on sliced grilled rolls that have been buttered and toasted with prepared mayonnaise.


NOTES:

  • I omit green bell peppers because I just can’t tolerate them and really prefer the sweetness that a red bell pepper adds to the mix.
  • Adding a little salt and creamed horseradish to the mayonnaise for the bread really OOMPHS up the flavor, but can easily be omitted.

“MOCK” KENTUCKY HOT BROWN SLIDERS ~ BLOG 366.37

This sandwich was created in 1926 in Louisville Kentucky by Fred Schmidt of the Brown hotel as an alternative to ham and egg sandwiches for late night diners. It became their second signature sandwich. I’ve only ever heard it called as a Kentucky Hot Brown, but I have read that it is also known as a Louisville Hot Brown.

Traditionally this is served hot and open faced on a thick white bread toast and has turkey breast, bacon and creamy mornay sauce and a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese. Originally it was not served with the bacon, but added soon after. Variations can include ham, pimientos and tomatoes. It is then broiled a few minutes until the toast is crisp and sauce is bubbly and browning.

The Kentucky Hot Brown became a favorite choice of 95% of the Brown Hotel’s restaurant customers. It became a Louisville area specialty favorite sandwich and is popular throughout Kentucky as a whole long after the hotel shut its doors in 1971. The hotel reopened in 1985.

This sandwich was featured on a 2013 episode of Throwdown with Bobby Flay where he actually lost, but barely. 😀 Bobby competed against Joe and John Castro, brother chefs at the Brown Hotel.

There are also a few “oddball” variations out there. For a while there was a “cold brown” that was either sliced chicken or turkey with hard boiled egg, lettuce and tomato served open face on rye bread covered in thousand island dressing.

There are 2 other versions one being the Prosperity sandwich with origins in St. Louis at the Mayfair hotel also in the 1920’s and still served in the area today as well as the Turkey Devonshire served in the Pittsburg Pennsylvania area in the 1930’s.

I started making Kentucky Hot Brown sandwiches about 20 years ago, but had no idea of the extensive history at that time. Now fast forward to a magazine I found recently trying to update this to a slider version using King’s Hawaiian rolls. I have to admit I wasn’t sure about this recipe, but decided to try it anyway.

The recipe I found was okay, but I have to agree to disagree on these being a version of the original Hot Brown because the recipe used the sweet brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce and butter topping that just didn’t taste anywhere close to what this sandwich is about.

I have renamed this recipe AND adjusted the ingredients to try and keep them more traditional, ut yet an actual sandwich. The author used a “slice of cheese” to replace the Mornay sauce and there just isn’t any comparison to me.

“MOCK” KENTUCKY HOT BROWN SLIDERS
1 tray King’s Hawaiian sweet rolls
2-3 tablespoons mayonnaise
6-8 slices thick sliced deli turkey
8 slices bacon, cooked crisp
2 heirloom tomatoes, sliced
6-8 slices Gruyere or Baby Swiss cheese, optional
1/4 cup FINELY grated Parmesan cheese

  • Preheat oven to broil.
  • Slice entire package of rolls in half horizontally. Do not individually slice rolls.
  • Arrange bottom half in a baking dish LIGHTY sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Spread mayonnaise on roll bottoms.
  • Arrange turkey on top evenly.
  • Arrange bacon slices on top of the turkey evenly.
  • Arrange a single layer of thick cut tomatoes on top of the bacon.
  • Arrange cheese slices next OR a layer of Mornay sauce.
  • Broil 2-3 minutes until toasted and cheese is bubbly.
  • Top if desired with sweet roll tops and eat as a messy sandwich or eat as intended with a knife and fork.

MORNAY SAUCE
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 ½ cups WHOLE milk
pinch FRESH ground nutmeg
FRESH ground salt and black pepper, to taste
2 ounces of a hard cheese, grated (Gruyère, Swiss, Cheddar, Parmesan)

  • Heat a medium sized saucepan over medium-high heat.
  • Melt butter.
  • Whisk in flour until golden.
  • Slowly add the milk while constantly whisking.
  • Bring the sauce to a SLOW boil and immediately reduce the heat to a simmer and continue cooking for 3 to 4 minutes, being careful not to let the sauce burn by whisking frequently.
  • Remove the pan from the heat and add the nutmeg, salt and pepper, stirring well. At this point you have a Bechamel sauce. Once you add the cheese it becomes your Mornay sauce.
  • Still off heat, add the grated cheese, whisking until all the cheese melts into the sauce making it thick and smooth.
  • Adjust seasoning to taste.

After all of this my favorite version is the casserole version I adapted from Damaris Phillips a few years ago.

PB&J SHREDDED PORK ~ BLOG 365.104

I originally found this recipe in an old Taste Of Home magazine and it’s now a family favorite. It’s perfect for a crowd or a church potluck. You’ll get lots of requests for the recipe 😀

I altered it a bit to accommodate my mustard allergy, but it’s absolutely delicious!

PB&J SHREDDED PORK

3-4 pound boneless pork shoulder butt roast
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
2 cups homemade chicken stock
1 cup creamy JIF peanut butter
3/4 cup SMUCKERS apricot pineapple preserves
1/4 cup PACKED brown sugar
1/4 cup finely choppedVidalia sweet onion
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons Bragg’s liquid aminos
8 ounce can crushed pineapple with juice
1-2 garlic cloves, FINELY minced
2 tablespoons butter, melted
6 ciabatta rolls, split
Coleslaw, optional

  • Generously sprinkle roast with FRESH ground salt and pepper.
  • Transfer to a 5 quart slow cooker.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the broth, peanut butter, preserves, brown sugar, onion, vinegar, liquid aminos, pineapple and garlic.
  • Pour over meat.
  • Cook, covered, on low 6 hours or until meat is tender.
  • Preheat broiler.
  • Remove roast; cool slightly.
  • Shred pork with 2 forks.
  • Return pork to slow cooker; heat through.
  • Brush butter over cut sides of rolls.
  • Place rolls, buttered side up, on an ungreased baking sheet.
  • Broil 3-4 inches from broiler for 30-60 seconds or until golden brown.
  • Using a slotted spoon, spoon pork mixture onto roll bottoms, top with coleslaw if desired and replace tops.

BISTRO TURKEY SAMMIES

BISTRO TURKEY SAMMIES
2 tablespoons butter, divided
1 LARGE Granny Smith apple, sliced thin
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 small red onion, sliced thin
1/4 cup homemade cranberry sauce
1 pound sliced turkey
4 ciabatta rolls, sliced in half OR FRESH baked sourdough, sliced thick
4-8 sliced thinly sliced baby Swiss cheese
leaf lettuce or arugula, optional

  • Preheat broiler.
  • Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in large skillet over medium high heat.
  • Add apple, sugar and cinnamon sauteing 3-4 minutes until crisp tender. Remove from pan.
  • Add remaining butter. When melted add onion and saute 3-4 minutes.
  • Add apple slices to pan, stirring to mix apples and onions.
  • Spread cranberry sauce on one side of roll or bread.
  • Layer turkey, apple mixture and cheese.
  • Add sandwiches to baking sheet open face with tops along side.
  • Broil 2-3 minutes until cheese is melted.
  • Add lettuce or arugula and close sandwiches.
  • Serve immediately.

MONKEY MEAT SANDWICH SPREAD

I found the original recipe on face book, but it’s a new favorite of hubbies (despite the yellow color). Monkey Meat… it’s not what you think! I love how she begins this recipe, “Before you run away, let me clarify – no monkeys were harmed in making this Monkey Meat. There are also no bananas… let me explain…” I had no idea where the name REALLY came from, but I adored it so I read on. The mixture itself reminds me of the UNDERWOOD deviled ham from when I was a kid.

She said it was an old family recipe, a sandwich spread made by her grandma when she was trying to feed 4 hungry kids on a tight budget. She would grind up bologna with her homemade pickles to save a bit of money and stretch her food budget. Her grandfather, a quirky science teacher was the one that coined the name, Monkey Meat. And while an odd name, the recipe is so worth a try! Her recipe used only mayo, but hubby can’t eat bologna without mustard so I adapted it to suit him, though the color is a bit off putting 😀

MONKEY MEAT SANDWICH SPREAD adapted from I WASH YOU DRY

1 pound piece of bologna, cut into cubes
5 to 6 QUALITY baby dill pickles, drained
1/4 cup mayo
1/4 cup mustard

  • In a food processor pulse the bologna several times until it becomes very finely chopped, place in a large bowl.
  • Wipe out the food processor and add the dill pickles, pulse a few times until very finely chopped.
  • Toss the dill pickles with the bologna.
  • Stir in the may and mustard mixture.
  • Keep chilled.
  • Spread on crackers or your bread for a delicious sandwich!

PHILLY CHEESE STEAK SLOPPY JOES

PHILLY CHEESE STEAK SLOPPY JOES yields 6-8

1 pound lean ground beef
2 tablespoons butter
1 small Vidalia onion, diced
1 small red bell pepper, diced – most recipes call for green, but they don’t agree with me 😀
4-6 large mushrooms, minced
2 tablespoons QUALITY ketchup
1 1/2  tablespoons Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon cornstarch 
1  cup homemade beef broth
8  ounces Swiss or Provolone cheese, chopped
1 package Kings Hawaiian slider buns

  • Add the ground beef to a large cast iron skillet browning until completely browned, slightly crusty and crumbled.
  • Using a slotted spoon remove the beef, but leave the fat.
  • Add the butter and the onions, sautéing several minutes until softened.
  • Add the pepper, sautéing a few minutes more until softened.
  • Add the mushrooms, sautéing until cooked through and starting to caramelize..
  • Add the beef back into the pan.
  • Whisk the beef broth and cornstarch together.
  • Add the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, beef broth cornstarch mixture into the pan, blending well.
  • Cook 3-5 minutes until the liquid is mostly absorbed.
Turn off the heat, stir in the cheese.
  • Served on buns.

BBQ PORK SANDWICHES

BBQ PORK SANDWICHES
2-4 pound boneless pork butt
8 ounces tomato sauce
16 ounces BBQ sauce (whatever your favorite is)
1 large onion, SMALL chopped
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cumin
8 buns

  • Whisk together the tomato sauce, BBQ sauce, chili powder, cumin and cinnamon until well blended.
  • Stir in onion pieces.
  • Add mixture to a large dutch oven.
  • Generously season pork with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Submerge pork in sauce, turning to coat.
  • Bring to a boil and then immediately reduce to low and simmer 4 hours or until meat is tender and shreds easily.
  • Shred meat into sauce and keep warm until ready to serve.

NOTE: If you prefer this can be baked in the oven using the same pan and time frame.

GREEN CHILE CHICKEN SALAD MELTS & GREEN CHILE CHICKEN ENCHILADAS

This recipe is great for either cold or melt style sandwiches. I then use any of the leftover salad as filling for enchiladas.

CHICKEN SALAD for plain or melt SANDWICHES
4 cups FINELY chopped rotisserie chicken
3/4 cup FINELY chopped celery
1/2 cup FINELY chopped green/spring onions
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons sweet pickle relish, drained
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
Sliced white American cheese or shredded medium cheddar (optional)

  • Whisk mayonnaise together with the vinegar.
  • Season to taste with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Fold in pickle relish, celery and onions until well blended.
  • Add chicken, stirring until well blended.
  • Chill until ready to serve or prepare melt sandwiches. Butter outsides of sourdough bread.
  • Arrange cheese on bottom slice.
  • Top with chicken salad followed by more cheese.
  • Add top buttered piece of bread and press down slightly.
  • Grill over medium heat on pancake griddle.

GREEN CHILE CHICKEN ENCHILADAS
flour tortillas
sour cream
shredded taco blend cheese
green enchilada sauce
minced green onions

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Lightly spray baking dish with non stick cooking spray.
  • Spread a thin layer of sour cream over each tortilla.
  • Sprinkle a bit of cheese over each tortilla.
  • Add chicken salad to one third of the tortilla, roll up and place in baking dish.
  • Top with enchilada sauce and shredded cheese.
  • Bake 30-45 minutes until heated through.
  • Sprinkle with green onions and serve.

BAKED GRILLED CHEESE

Do you ever see those recipes on facebook or instagram that just look so perfect you have to try them? Or maybe they seem so so simple that it’s a no brainer. I’ve tried more than one that just didn’t live up to all the hype, BUT this isn’t one of them! Donna’s recipe for baked grilled cheese sandwiches has the same golden, crispy crust and gooey melted center you’ve always known and loved, but you can cook a HUGE batch for a crowd all at once in under 30 minutes total WITH THE ADDED BONUS OF NOT BEING TOO GREASY! I did adapt the flavoring to our likes, but the process is pretty much the same.

Adapted from the Slow Roasted Italian  Yield: 12 Sandwiches

BAKED GRILLED CHEESES
24 slices of thick sliced bread (Texas toast or a thick sourdough are perfect)
1 cup FRESH FINELY grated Parmesan cheese
12 thick slices Baby Swiss cheese
12 thick slices mild cheddar cheese
12 slices Havarti cheese
12 slices beefsteak tomato
12 slices bacon, halved and cooked crisp
1/2 + cup unsalted butter, room temperature
Tomato soup for dipping

Preheat oven to 450°.

  • Generously butter a slice of bread.
  • Sprinkle a tablespoon of Parmesan cheese evenly over the butter and press cheese gently into the buttered surface. Place it face down on your baking sheet.
  • Place a slice of Baby Swiss cheese on each slice of bread followed by a slice of Havarti, a slice of tomato, 2 bacon slices and then a slice of cheddar.
  • Place a slice of buttered bread on top.
  • Sprinkle a tablespoon of Parmesan cheese evenly over the butter and press cheese gently into the buttered surface. Set aside and repeat until you have enough sandwiches for your crowd.
  • Bake 5 minutes until tops are golden and crusty. Watch carefully to make sure sandwiches don’t get too brown.
  • Flip sandwiches and bake another 5 minutes until second side is golden and crusty and centers are melted.

PHILLY CHEESESTEAK EGG ROLLS

PHILLY CHEESESTEAK EGG ROLLS yields 15 egg rolls
1 pound ribeye, sliced thin
1 tablespoon butter
1 red pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
3/4 cup WHOLE milk
1/2 cup shredded provolone cheese
1 ounce Velveeta cheese
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
15 egg roll wrappers
oil for frying
Sweet chili sauce for dipping

  • In a large skillet melt the butter.
  • Cook steak slices 4-6 minutes over medium high heat until browned.
  • Add pepper slices and onions stirring 3-4 minutes until tender.
  • Reduce heat.
  • Stir in milk and cheeses until melted.
  • Remove from heat.
  • Stir in garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. Cool.
  • Place 2 tablespoons of filling in the center of an egg roll wrapper.
  • Fold bottom corner up over filling.
  • Fold sides over filling.
  • Wet remaining edges with water.
  • Roll tightly until edges are sealed.
  • Repeat with remaining egg roll wrappers.
  • Heat oil to 375°.
  • Fry egg rolls until golden brown.
  • Drain on paper toweling.
  • Serve hot with chili sauce.

KILBOURN SANDWICHES

KILBOURN SANDWICHES yields 10 sandwiches
1 1/4 pounds sliced turkey
1 1/4 pounds sliced tavern ham
10 slices baby Swiss cheese
20 slices QUALITY white bread
4 cups buttermilk pancake mix
oil for frying
powdered sugar for dusting

  • Layer meats and cheese on 10 slices of bread. Top with other 10 slices of bread. Cut each sandwich in half diagonally.
  • Prepare pancake mix according to package directions.
  • Dip sandwiches into batter mix, allowing excess to drip off.
  • Arrange sandwiches on a wax paper lined baking sheet.
  • Freeze until firm.
  • Heat oil to 375.
  • Fry frozen sandwiches 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown. Fry in batches.  DO NOT CROWD PAN.
  • Drain on paper toweling.
  • Serve with dipping sauce.

DIPPING SAUCE
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup strawberry preserves

  • Dust with powdered sugar.
  • Combine the preserves and sour cream.

HOT ITALIAN SANDWICHES

HOT ITALIAN SANDWICHES
1 package King’s Hawaiian sweet rolls
1/2 cup QUALITY mayonnaise
2 tablespoons Classico tomato pesto
6 slices provolone cheese
6 slices Tavern ham
6 slices Hard Salami
6 slices oven roasted turkey
6 slices Pastrami
1 cup giardiniera, chopped small
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1 cup FRESH basil leaves
1/2 SMALL red onion, sliced thin
1/4 cup River House Parmesan Herb dressing (or a zesty Italian)
Pepperoncinis, garnish
Giardiniera, garnish

  • Preheat oven to 350.
  • Slice the rolls horizontally in half.
  • Lightly spray a 11×7 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Whisk together the mayonnaise and pesto until well blended.
  • Spread mayonnaise mixture over the cut rolls.
  • Place roll bottoms in baking dish.
  • Layer the provolone cheese followed by the meats in an even layer.
  • Add basil in a single layer followed by the red onion slices and giardiniera.
  • Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
  • Place roll tops over the ingredients.
  • Gently press to flatten.
  • Bake 10 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and and brush with dressing.
  • Bake another 5 minutes.
  • Cool slightly before slicing.
  • Serve with pepperoncinis and giardiniera.