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How to Make a New Jersey Sloppy Joe

partysugar — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 06:50:45 -0700

A couple of weeks ago, Brian Sugar, came to my desk with an incredibly giddy look on his face. He had purchased 10 pounds of turkey and 10 more of pastrami, quarts of coleslaw and Russian dressing, and countless loaves of Rye bread. He was going to make a "New Jersey Sloppy Joe." According to Mr. Sugar, in New Jersey, a sloppy joe isn't the common combination of ground beef and juicy tomato sauce, it is rather, a wet sandwich somewhere between the classic Reuben and a pastrami sandwich. Intrigued, I followed him to the conference room where a makeshift assembly line was set up. Naturally, I had to document the technique to share with you. To learn how to make Brian Sugar's New Jersey Sloppy Joe, simply start clicking!

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Monday's Leftovers: Vegetarian Reubens

partysugar — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 09:13:31 -0700

Wondering what to do with the leftover spinach and mushrooms from last night? Put them in a sandwich! This variation of the Reuben pairs mushrooms and spinach with rye bread and swiss cheese. A quick homemade Russian dressing flavors the rye bread that is lightly grilled. To see how it's made, read more.

Vegetarian Reuben
From Eating Well

Ingredients

Russian dressing:
2 tablespoons reduced-fat mayonnaise
2 teaspoons ketchup
2 teaspoons chopped capers
1 teaspoon chopped pickle or relish
Sandwiches:
3 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 cup sliced mushrooms
5 cups baby spinach
Freshly ground pepper to taste
4 slices rye bread
1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat Swiss cheese, such as Jarlsberg Lite or Alpine Lace (2 ounces)
1/2 cup sauerkraut

Directions

Prepare Russian dressing: whisk mayonnaise and ketchup in a small bowl until smooth. Stir in capers and pickle (or relish).
To prepare sandwiches: heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and mushrooms; cook, stirring often, until the onion is softened, 4 minutes.
Add spinach and cook, stirring, until it has wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a plate.
Coat the pan with the remaining 1 teaspoon oil and return to medium heat.
Add the bread; divide cheese equally among the slices. Divide sauerkraut between 2 slices and divide the spinach mixture between the other 2 slices; cook until the cheese has melted and the bread is golden brown, 4 to 6 minutes.
Transfer sandwich halves to a cutting board. Divide the dressing between the spinach halves. Carefully place the sauerkraut halves on top. Cut sandwiches in half and serve.

Serves 2.

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Cornmeal-Crusted Catfish Rolls

partysugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:15:24 -0700

Serving fish lightly fried is a great way to introduce nonfish lovers to the pleasures of the sea. The technique is familiar - who hasn't had fried chicken?! - and the texture is ideal because it's both crunchy and soft.

This recipe takes fried catfish fillets and makes them even more accessible by slathering them with a quick Russian dressing and sticking them in between two pieces of toasted bread. It's a crisp and filling sandwich that makes a well-rounded meal. To check out the recipe, read more.

Cornmeal-Crusted Catfish Rolls
From Better Homes and Gardens

Ingredients

1-1/2 lb. catfish fillets
1/4 cup cornmeal
2 tsp. Cajun or blackening seasoning
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 baby sweet peppers or 1/4 of a large sweet pepper
1 stalk celery
1/4 of a small red or sweet onion (optional)
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1 Tbsp. ketchup
1/4 to 1/2 tsp. bottled hot pepper sauce (optional)
8 cocktail-size rolls, split and toasted

Directions

Rinse fish; pat dry. Cut in 8 pieces.
In a shallow dish combine cornmeal and 1-1/2 teaspoons of Cajun seasoning; coat fish with cornmeal mixture.
In 12-inch skillet cook fish in hot oil over medium-high heat for 8 to 10 minutes or until browned and fish flakes when tested with fork.
Meanwhile, thinly slice peppers, celery, and onion and combine in medium bowl.
In small bowl combine mayonnaise, ketchup, remaining 1/2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning, and hot pepper sauce. Add 1 tablespoon mayonnaise mixture to pepper-celery mixture.
Spread some of remaining mayonnaise mixture on cut sides of rolls. Place catfish pieces on roll bottoms. Top with celery mixture and roll tops. Pass any remaining mayonnaise mixture.

Serves 4.

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'Wich of the Week: Classic Reuben

YumSugar — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:00:24 -0700

The Reuben is such a classic American sandwich that two people claim to have invented it: Reuben Kulakofsky of Omaha, NE, who enjoyed the sandwich at a weekly poker game, and New York deli owner Arthur Reuben, who said he first made the sandwich around 1914.

Who first grilled up that savory stack of rye bread, corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Russian dressing, we'll probably never know. But that won't stop me from enjoying an endless parade of Reuben recipes, from pastrami to tempeh. Of course, it's hard to beat a good, old-fashioned corned beef Reuben, grilled on rye bread that's buttered to perfection. So try this classic recipe

Fast & Easy Dinner: Tempeh Reubens With Caramelized Onions

partysugar — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 07:50:45 -0800

Traditionally, a Reuben sandwich is made with meat; however this vegetarian version removes the meat and uses tempeh instead. Similar to tofu, tempeh's made from soybeans. In this recipe the tempeh is cooked in a mixture of apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, black peppercorns, and caraway seeds. Then it's placed on a piece of bread and topped with the classic Reuben fixings: Russian dressing and sauerkraut. To check out the recipe, read more.

Tempeh Reubens With Caramelized Onions
From Vegetarian Times

Ingredients

Russian Dressing:
4 Tbs. eggless mayonnaise
1 Tbs. tomato paste
1/4 cup minced dill pickle
2 Tbs. minced red onion
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
Tempeh Reubens
1 8-oz. pkg. tempeh
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 Tbs. tamari or low-sodium soy sauce
1 Tbs. black peppercorns, coarsely crushed
1 Tbs. caraway seeds
2 1/2 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil
4 cups thinly sliced onions
Salt to taste
1 1/2 cups sauerkraut, drained and rinsed
4 to 6 slices hearty whole grain bread
1 bunch arugula, stemmed, rinsed and dried

Directions

To make Russian Dressing: mix all ingredients in bowl until thoroughly combined. Cover, and refrigerate until ready to use.

To make Tempeh Reubens: using sharp knife, cut tempeh crosswise at 45-degree angle into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Combine 1 1/2 cups water, vinegar, tamari, peppercorns and caraway seeds in large saucepan. Add tempeh, spooning mixture over it. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and cook 15 minutes. Remove pan from heat.

Meanwhile, heat 1 1/2 Tbs. oil in skillet over medium heat. Add onions and salt, and cook, stirring often, over medium-low heat about 10 minutes, or until juicy.

Increase heat to medium, and cook 5 minutes more, stirring often, until well browned. Remove pan from heat.

Heat remaining 1 Tbs. oil in nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium, and add tempeh slices, in batches if necessary. Cook until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes per side.

Warm sauerkraut in saucepan over medium-low heat.

To assemble sandwiches, spread each bread slice with 1 heaping Tbs. of Russian dressing. Layer bread with arugula, tempeh, sauerkraut and onions. Serve warm, either open-faced or topped with another slice of bread.

Serves 6.

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Come Party With Me: Travel Party - The Look & Music

partysugar — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 06:31:38 -0700

In my opinion, the best part of a travel party is transforming each room to resemble a different country. With a little imagination, it's easy to come up with festive and fun decor.

Mexico: Dress the table with Mexican blankets and hang a Mexican banner in a crisscross pattern along the ceiling. Plate chips and dips in plastic sombrero shaped serving platters. Use bright candles, flowers, and clear glasses for the tequila sunrises. Create a playlist with your favorite Latin stars: Luis Miguel, Mana, and my personal favorite Paulina Rubio.

Japan: Set the scene with red, white, and black decorations. Instead of floral arrangements, place bamboo in small vases filled with black stones. Rest a cherry blossom Japanese shade along one of your walls. Floating candles add a zen and relaxing touch. Search iTunes for some fun Japanese tunes. I recommend Pizzicato 5 and Cornelius.

Russia: Ornate metallic gold decorations with red accents are perfect to create a lux Russian room. Cover furniture with fur throws and arrange flowers in open Russian dolls. For music play Tatu and your other favorite Russian groups.

England: Plaster the ways with images of the Royal family, soccer teams like Manchester United, and a Union Jack banner. Instead of a tablecloth, cover the table with old covers of Hello magazine. If using red, white, and blue decor, be sure to make it British rather than American. Robbie Williams, Anastacia, Joss Stone, The Spice Girls, New Order, Oasis, Elton John and the Beatles should be playing softly in the background.

Cuba: Make posters that say, Abajo Fidel (Down With Fidel) in large block letters and pin to the walls. Wrap Cuba Libre glasses in Cuban flag beads. Allow more musically inclined friends to play the Cuban bongos or turn on a regatton radio station.

Do you have a great decorating or music idea for my travel-themed party? Tell us in the comments below!

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