Mexican Breakfast Sandwich

Texas is known for it's breakfast tacos and everyone in this home is crazy about them. A quick look in the refrigerator this morning and the first thing I thought was "I guess I'll make breakfast tacos again." Out came the chorizo, eggs, and cheese. However, I was feeling uninspired. Then I spotted the ciabatta rolls on the counter. Instead of breakfast tacos, I decided I'd make breakfast sandwiches. They had all the delicious ingredients of a taco, I just used rolls instead of tortillas. It ended up being a great decision. Here's what you'll need:

  • 1 ciabatta roll per person
  • 1 egg per person
  • 1 pkg chorizo
  • 1 can refried beans
  • cheese (whatever kind you like) 
  • 1 avocado, sliced
  • Romaine lettuce
  • chipotle sauce

 

Start by cooking the chorizo. While it's cooking, split the rolls and spread some refried beans on the bottom of each one. 

When the chorizo is fully cooked, drain off the excess grease. Spoon a generous amount of chorizo on top of the refried beans. 

Now put some cheese slices on top of the chorizo and put the sandwich bottom in a 350 degree oven until the cheese is melted. 

While the cheese is melting, Spread some of the chipotle sauce on the top half of each bun. 

Add some sliced avocado. 

And some lettuce. In the skillet that you cooked the chorizo, fry an egg. I left a little of the grease in it for flavor. 

Now it's time to put the top and bottom together. You can do it.  

How good does that look? That yolk running down the side is a thing of beauty!  I fired up some fingerling potatoes with a little chorizo to serve on the side. Just looking at the picture makes we want another one...

 

Enjoy! 

Lynn

Caesar Salad with Spicy Fried Chicken

I love Caesar salad and lately I haven't been able to get enough of it. I had some leftover spicy fried chicken and just knew that it would be the perfect addition to today's caesar salad. The dressing is so good! Don't be scared off by the anchovy fillets and don't leave them out either. If you've never used them before, you should know that when you mix them in as an ingredient, they aren't fishy tasting. Instead they add a rich flavor that makes people say "This is so good! What's in it?" Go ahead and give it a try. Here's what you'll need:

  • Spicy fried chicken
  • Romaine lettuce
  • Parmesan cheese

for the dressing

 

  • 1/4 cup fresh Meyer lemon juice 
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 TBL Dijon mustard
  • 3 anchovy fillets
  • 1 TBL red wine vinegar
  • salt & pepper
  • 1/2 C olive oil
  • 1/4 C grated Parmesan cheese

 

In a blender, add the lemon juice, garlic, Dijon mustard, anchovy fillets, and red wine vinegar and blend until smooth.  With the blender running, slowly add the olive oil, mixing until emulsified.

In a bowl, add the chopped Romaine. Cut up the chicken and add it to the bowl.  With a vegetable peeler, shave some of the Parmesan into the bowl.

Add some of the dressing and toss. 

Cut up the spicy fried chicken. 

Add the chicken to the bowl and toss. Delicious! You'll even have dressing left over for another salad later... 

Enjoy! 

Lynn

Key Lime Ice Cream Sandwiches

I had this idea to make Key lime ice cream sandwiches and decided that the sandwich should be graham crackers. After all, that's the kind of crust you have with a Key lime pie. I scoured the internet for a recipe for graham crackers and made the recipe that was the most highly rated. I had to wait a week because I couldn't find graham flour and so I ordered some online. The flour came and I was excited to begin. After making the dough and refrigerating it, I rolled it out nice and thin and cut out round cookies, baked them, and set them aside while I made my ice cream. I made a simple no cook ice cream using sweetened condensed milk. Delicious!!  Then I assembled them. Now came the moment of truth--the taste test. The ice cream was delicious. the graham crackers, however, were not. So disappointing. So what was going to be a 2 part post about homemade graham crackers and key lime ice cream has become a single post about key lime ice cream. Take my advice and don't waste your time making your own graham crackers. Buy the good old fashioned honey grahams and use those instead. here's what you'll need:

  • store bought graham crackers
  • 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 (5-ounce) can evaporated milk
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 C key lime juice (more if you like it tart)

Mix together the sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, whole milk, sugar, and salt. Stir in the lime juice and refrigerate the mixture at least 30 minutes. 

Once the mixture is cold, pour it into your ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturers instructions.

Transfer into a container and freeze until hard. 

When you're ready to assemble the sandwiches, place a scoop of the ice cream onto a piece of parchment paper and cover with another piece. With your hand, press down on the ice cream until the scoop is flattened. Place the ice cream on one cookie then top with another. 

I wrapped these individually and put them in the freezer so that it would be easy to grab one whenever you want. 

Enjoy! 

Lynn