Thursday, March 29, 2012

Awsm Avocado & Bacon Grilled Cheese Sandwich



To make a grilled cheese sandwich you need a griddle pan ideally but a frying pan will work too.

Ingredients:
  • 2 slices of bread
  • 3/4 rashers of cooked dry cured
  • smoked pancetta bacon
  • 1/2 avocado sliced
  • mature cheddar
  • chilli sauce

Heat your pan on a high heat then either butter or brush oil onto the outsides (not the sides the fillings go in) Build up your sandwich and then place onto the pan. Cook for a few minutes on each side or until the cheese starts to ooze. Placing the butter or oil on your bread ensures you get that lovely golden & crispy outside.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Awsm Grilled, Stuffed Portabella Mushrooms



Ingredients
  • 4 medium to large, portabello mushrooms, stems removed and washed
  • 1 large bunched, swiss chard, stemmed and cut into large pieces
  • 4 medium to large, scallions, chopped
  • 8 oz, goat cheese
  • 4 large cloves, garlic, chopped
  • 3 tbsp, olive oil
  • to taste, salt and pepper
Method

Boil water in a large pot or sauce pan. Keep a small pot or pan of ice water handy. Blanch all the leaves of swiss chard by dipping them in to the boiling water for a minute or two. When they are bright green and limp switch them over to the ice water bath, squeeze the water from them and set them aside.

Place the goat cheese into a medium to large size bowl. Chop the blanched chard into smaller pieces and then mix it into the goat cheese until it is evenly mixed.

Chop the scallions and the garlic. The ratio is 1 large garlic clove and 1 medium to large scallion per mushroom. Place the oil in a pan over high heat. When the oil is warm, add the scallions and garlic together. Cook until the garlic is just turning golden (about 2 minutes). Then add garlic, oil and scallions to the cheese and chard. Mix evenly.

Wash, dry and destem the mushrooms. Place about a 4th of the cheese and chard mixture on top of each mushroom and spread evenly over its top. Grind a little pepper and salt over the top of each mushroom.

When your grill is hot add the mushrooms and allow to cook. I checked them every 5 minutes or so and they took 15 minutes to cook for me. I was using a gas grill and kept it on high for the first 5 minutes and low thereafter. They are done when the tops are nice and browned. Cook them to taste. Enjoy!

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Awsm Bavarian Pot Roast


Ingredients:

  • 1 beef pot roast, about 3 to 4 pounds
  • 1 tsp. vegetable oil
  • 1 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/8 tsp. pepper
  • 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
  • 3 whole cloves
  • 4 med. apples, cored and quartered (leave skin on)
  • 1 sm. onion, sliced
  • 1/2 c. apple juice or cider
  • 3 tbsp. flour
  • 3 tbsp. water

Preparation:

Trim all excess fat from roast. Lightly rub top of meat with vegetable oil. Sprinkle meat with the salt, pepper and ginger. Insert the whole cloves in meat.

Place apples and onions in the bottom of the Crock Pot and put the roast on top of the apples and onions. Pour in the apple juice. Cover and cook on a LOW for 9 to 12 hours, until tender. Remove the roast and apples to a warm platter when fully cooked.

Turn the slow cooker to HIGH. Make a smooth paste with the flour and water and stir the paste into the liquid. Cover and cook until thickened. Pour gravy over roast when serving.

Makes about 6 to 8 good sized servings.