Last week we learned how to make simple and easy sandwich spreads, so this week let’s talk about sandwich fillings. Sandwich fillings, as mentioned in previous blogs, are what give your sandwich their substance. While most people fill their sandwiches with cold cuts and fresh vegetables, there are hundreds of other options that you have for a sandwich filling.
Now that it is officially fall, soups and stews are on many families’ menus. Leftovers from dinner stews and soups can actually make a great filling for a hearty sandwich. To make a sandwich with a soup filler you will want to start with a hearty artisan bread. White bread will simply be too soggy.
Start by cutting two thick slices of bread. Ladle a little of the stews gravy or the soup’s broth onto each slice of bread. Add just enough to moisten the bread. This is your sandwich’s sandwich spread. Next select elements from the soup or stew to add to your sandwich. Select pieces of vegetables, meat and add a little gravy or broth to tie the whole thing together. Stack your bread and wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate. You can eat these sandwiches cold or you can heat them up.
For recipe ideas for sandwiches, soups and other fall dishes, visit the blog on Serious Eats. Here you will find great recipes for delicious meals that are easy to make. You can also find more complicated recipes for special meals. Have fun with your fall menu and try new flavors and dishes this year.
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Last week we talked about how a sandwich spread can add both flavor and moisture to your sandwich. This week I’d like to provide you with a couple of my favorite recipes for easy/quick sandwich spreads. You can turn these recipes into low fat spreads by using non-fat or reduced fat butter, margarine and oils.
The first type of sandwich spread that you can make is a compound mayonnaise. The simplest way to do this buy a low fat mayonnaise and to mix it with herbs and spices. When mixing your compound mayonnaise you will want to adjust the ratio of mayo to herbs/spices to fit your taste. Here are a few ingredients you can add to your low fat mayonnaise to add flavor to your sandwich spreads:
Dill
Garlic
Chives
Italian spices
The second type of sandwich spread that you can make is a compound butter. Compound butter is simply whipped butter that has herbs and spices added into it. You can create savory compound butters by adding in ingredients like chives, Italian spices, dill, garlic, mustard and roasted red pepper flakes. You can create a sweet compound butter by adding in ingredients like honey, cinnamon, nutmeg and pumpkin pie spice.
To make your compound butter you will want to bring your butter to room temperature, then blend it using an immersion blender, once soft add in your spices and blend again. Then scrape the butter onto a piece of plastic wrap, form it into a log, wrap the butter and refrigerate it until you need it.
For more recipe ideas visit one of my favorite recipe blogs, 5 Minutes for Mom.
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Last week we started talking about the beauty of the sandwich. Today I’d like to continue that discussion by talking about the sandwich spread. Sandwich spreads are the glue for your sandwich. They are used to not only add a little moisture to your sandwich, but they are also added to your sandwich to help marry the ingredients in your filling with the bread that you have selected.
The simplest sandwich spreads are basic condiments. Mustard, mayonnaise and butter are all common sandwich spreads. You can use these spreads as they come in the jar, or you can jazz them up. When you add elements and ingredients to these condiments you create compound condiments. For example, you can add dill to butter to make a compound dill-butter. Experiment with your compounds and try to find interesting flavor combinations that work well with the ingredients of your sandwich.
Another sandwich spread that you can use are salad dressings. Salad dressings are best used on sandwiches made from drier or heartier breads. This is because they have a higher moisture content and require a heartier bread. Some of the best salad dressings you can use for your sandwiches include: Ranch (all varieties), Italian and special vinaigrettes. You will want to make sure you select a salad dressing that works with your sandwich ingredients, and that the dressing works as an accent and not the star player in your sandwich.
For recipes and ideas on sandwich spreads visit Delicious Days Blog. This blog was rated as a top blog in 2006 so you know the recipes and posts are quality. Have fun experimenting with your sandwich spreads.
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Well fall is nearly here, school is back in sessions and the work year has recycled to the fall rush. September is what I like to call a transition month. It is still pretty warm, you still have access to the last of the summer produce and you still aren’t quite ready for the hearty dishes of fall. This is the time of year when sandwiches are great for lunches, snacks and even dinner.
Sandwiches can be made from just about anything. The foundation for a great sandwich is the bread. While most people make a sandwich with sliced white bread, this type of bread really makes boring sandwiches. If you are ready for an adult sandwich, then experiment with different artisan breads. You can try a multigrain bread, a Baggett, rye bread or pumpernickel. In September shake things up by trying one or two new breads each week. Give each bread type at least a couple of tries, as it can take time to accustom your tastebuds to the new textures and flavors offered by your new bread.
The next element of a great sandwich is the filling. The filling of a sandwich can be meat, cheese, vegetables, stews and salads. The key to the perfect filling is balancing the moisture level of the bread with the moisture level of the filling. For example, if you are making a white bread sandwich, which is usually very moist and soft, then you will not want to add a wet filling as this will create a sogging sandwich. On the other hand, if you are using a drier, heartier artisan bread, then you will want to select a filling that is moist, such as a salad.
As you pull together the Jewish recipes you want to use this fall, don’t forget to add in at least a few recipes for sandwiches.
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