Thursday, December 31

Eat Your Way to a Lucky New Year with Eight Great Lucky Foods

2009 was a terrific year. 2010 is going to be better. How do I know? Because I'll be eating my way to a prosperous 2010.

Whether it's long noodles for longevity, lentils for wealth and abundance, or pork for prosperity, there's a lucky food to suit any palate.

Check out my SDNN.com article "Eight Great Lucky Foods for a Prosperous New Year," for 24 delicious recipes for New Year's Day. Happy New Year!

Asian noodle salad with tofu and mango
Long noodles are symbolic of a long life; just be careful not to break them when eating them, or you risk a shortened life -- Yikes!

Monday, December 28

Two Terrific Leftover Turkey Sandwich Recipes

Me: I should post the turkey sandwich with the cranberry sauce. Everyone will have leftover cranberry sauce to use up.

Me: Nope. Too much like Thanksgiving. I'll go with the Southwest sandwich.

Me: But cranberry sauce won't be around much longer; habanero Gouda cheese is around all year.

Me: No, no. Too much like Thanksgiving.

Me: I'm just gonna post both; that way, people can decide for themselves.

Jeff: Who are you talking to?

leftover thanksgiving turkey sandwich with cranberry sauce, gouda, and sage mustard DSC_0014
Turkey, Cranberry, and Gruyere Sandwich with Sage Mustard

This Turkey, Cranberry, and Gruyere Sandwich with Sage Mustard is all about opposites attracting: toasty, fragrant rye bread and moist, savory turkey; tart cranberry sauce and mild Gruyere cheese; earthy sage and tangy mustard. Somehow, they all come together in perfect harmony.

leftove Thanksgiving Southwest Turkey Sandwich DSC_0002
Southwest Turkey Sandwich with Habanero Gouda

This spicy Southwest Turkey Sandwich was inspired by our recent visit to Winchester Farms. Winchester Farms, which is located about 75 minutes from San Diego, is owned and operated by Jules Wesselink, who was born and raised in Haarlem, Holland. Jules has been operating his own dairies in California since the 1950's, so he knows how to make Gouda cheese.

Winchester Farms's Gouda cheese is exceptional. They offer numerous varieties ranging from mild to sharp and include stand-out flavors like garlic Gouda and habanero Gouda. The fiery habanero Gouda is the secret to my Southwest Turkey Sandwich. With its tender texture and bold flavor, you don't need much else to make this sandwich shine. Although I do highly recommend pairing it with some salty tortilla chips and a cold Dos Equis. 

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Turkey, Cranberry, and Gruyere Sandwich with Sage Mustard

Makes 1 sandwich
Print recipe only here.

2 slices rye bread
2 teaspoons spicy golden mustard
1 large sage leaf
3-4 thick slices of turkey meat
1 ounce Gruyere cheese, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon cranberry sauce

1. Lightly toast the bread. Mix the mayo and sage together, and spread on both slices of toast.

2.Heat turkey in a skillet on the stove top for several minutes, until warmed through. Add to the sandwich. Add turkey, cheese, and cranberry sauce. Slice in half, and eat immediately.

leftover Thanksgiving Southwest Turkey Sandwich DSC_0015

Southwest Turkey Sandwich
Makes 1 sandwich
Print recipe only here.

2 slices multi-grain sourdough bread or bread of your choice
1 tablespoon mayo
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
3-4 thick slices of turkey meat
1 ounce habanero Gouda cheese or other hot, spicy cheese, thinly sliced
3 small slices of fresh tomato

1. Lightly toast the bread. Spread both slices with mayo, and top with cilantro.

2.  Heat turkey in a skillet on the stove top for several minutes, until warmed through. Add to the sandwich. Top with cheese and tomato. Eat immediately.


You might also like these sandwiches from Food Blogga:
Frittata Sandwich
Pork Tenderloin Sandwich
Turkey Burger with Apples, Gruyere, and Sage Mayo
Turkey and Prosciutto Sandwich with Gorgonzola and Arugula 

Here are more terrific turkey sandwiches:
Turkey-Apple Salad Melt Panini recipe at Panini Happy
My Favorite Turkey Sandwich recipe at Food For My Family
Skinny Turkey Cuban Sandwich recipe at Gina's WW Recipes
Chipotle Turkey Salad Sandwich recipe at Simply Recipes

Tuesday, December 22

Christmas Day Brunch and Breakfast Recipes

Jeff and I have been starving ourselves for the last two days. Well, not actually starving. We did have our morning coffee. Oh, and I sneaked in a couple of double chocolate pomegranate cookies yesterday. But those don't count. I was recipe testing.

Why are we starving ourselves? Because in less than 48 hours on Christmas Eve night, we will be enjoying a traditional Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes. That means fried calamari, fried smelts, and crab cakes. Snail salad, bacala (a dried, salted fish), and shrimp cocktail. (Those are just the starters.) Then comes the pasta. Two types of pasta, actually -- one with mixed seafood including shrimp, scallops, and lobster; the other with olive oil, clam sauce, and parsley. Then we'll finish with jumbo stuffed shrimp and garlicky broccoli rabe.

Jeff figures if he can lose enough enough weight to tighten his belt by one notch, then that'll leave him a whole notch-worth of eating on Christmas Eve. Genius.

You might think that we wouldn't eat on Christmas Day. We do. Christmas breakfast or brunch always upstages Christmas dinner because who feels like eating turkey and vegetables after all that seafood? Fruit salad, pancakes, and frittatas are much more appealing. Chances are good that even if you don't celebrate Christmas Eve, you'll have a special Christmas Day breakfast or brunch. So if you're looking for Christmas Day breakfast and brunch ideas, here are some of my favorite archived recipes.

Happy Holidays!

Italian pannetone French toast

Ricotta Hotcakes with Warmed Spiced Apples and Maple DSC_0252
Ricotta Hotcakes with Warm Spiced Apples and Maple Syrup

spinach and ricotta frittata 2
Spinach and Ricotta Frittata

cherry, prune, and almond granola
Cherry, Prune, and Almond Granola

savory sausage, fennel, and sun-dried tomato galette
Savory Sausage and Fennel Galette

banana, coconut, and Medjool date bread

Need a few more ideas? Check out these recipes from Food Blogga:
Spiced Coffee
Winter Jewel Fruit Salad with Honey-Citrus Glaze
Pear and Cardamom Coffee Cake with Pecan Streusel
Old-Fashioned Spiced Apple Streusel Muffins
Lemony Medjool Date and Pomegranate Scones
Chestnut Pancakes with Pancetta, Creme Fraiche, and Cinnamon Maple Syrup


Here are more delicious Christmas breakfast and brunch recipes:
Holiday Breakfast Wreath recipe at The Kitchn
Pumpkin Waffles recipe at Smitten Kitchen
Gingerbread Pancakes recipe at Homesick Texan
Sausage Breakfast Casserole recipe at Simply Recipes
Spiked Egg French Toast recipe at Pinch My Salt

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