Italian Hero with a Twist ;)

Everyone probably knows what an Italian Hero is - ham, salami and provolone, lettuce, tomato, onion, oil and vinegar on a hero roll.  Now, while that sandwich has its place among football gatherings, pizzerias and other casual get-togethers, I want to give you my classed up Italian Hero recipe.

I know I have said it before and I will say it again - I cannot heat up the kitchen in the Summer - it's freaking unbearable.  So if anyone is wondering where the actual cooking recipes went to, rest assured they will be back in the end of September and I can't wait - roast chicken, roast beef, roast veggies, mashed potatoes, I'm counting the days until my favorite season - Fall.  In the meantime I am giving you this...this awesome, classy, delicious sandwich - eat up bitches.

INGREDIENTS

Prosciutto di Parma sliced paper thin

A nice high-end Italian salami

A REALLY good sheep's milk cheese - I like Manchego even thought it is Spanish cheese, not Italian but I'm not all Italian and I am part Spanish so I'm allowed to make these crazy adjustments to the Italian hero.

Good Italian bread or French baguette from a BAKERY - not a supermarket

Arugula

Thinly sliced shallots

Thinly sliced tomatoes

Salt, pepper, olive oil and balsamic vinegar to taste

The rest is easy, cut a piece of bread as big as you want your hero to be then cut that piece in half longways.  I like about 6 inches.  Pour about 2 teaspoons of olive oil and one teaspoon of vinegar onto the bread - make sure it is evenly distributed.  Sprinkle a little salt and pepper on. 

Pile on the meat - prosciutto first, about 2 slices then salami, depending on how big the salami roll is 2-3 pieces.  Do not overdo it on the cheese - sheep's milk cheese has a strong taste and you don't need a ton plus the less cheese the less calories.

Then comes the veggies, arugula first, a small handful.  Then as much or as little sliced shallots as you like. 

Here is the important part - the tomatoes.  Don't overdo it on the tomatoes!  Just 1 or 2 very thinly sliced pieces of tomato are all you need! Too much ruins the sandwich by soggying it up!

This goes really well with an Italian Pinot Grigio or a Prosecco which is what sparkling wine from Italy is called :) 

Now go and enjoy your classed-up sandwich night!!!

Chocolate Strawberry Ice Cream

One of the best presents I ever got was this ice cream ball.  I highly recommend getting one - they are inexpensive and I have seen them at Target.  Whenever I want to occupy my kids for a half hour or so I fill up the ice cream ball and let them roll it around on the kitchen floor.  They love it because they know they will have ice cream when they're through.  I love it because it gives me a half hour to do whatever I need to do.  

You also get to be as creative as you want in inventing your own ice cream flavors and you can make it much healthier than store bought ice cream.  It's a very simple process, you fill the outer part of the ball with ice and the inside container with the following ingredients :)

INGREDIENTS

1 cup organic whole milk 

2 tablespoons chocolate syrup

2 tablespoons organic sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 cup chopped fresh organic strawberries

1/4 cup chocolate chips

SOOOOOOOO simple - just stir the chocolate syrup, vanilla and sugar into the milk then pour it into the inside container with the chocolate chips and strawberries.

Then hand the ball off to your kids and have them shake it and roll it around.  It does take about a half hour to freeze up and I always have to add more ice about half way through but there is NOTHING like homemade ice cream!!!

This should make about 2 servings but if there's any leftover you can put it in the freezer and have it as dessert the next night - Enjoy :)

Banana Nutella and honey Sandwich

I believe I have said before that Summer is not my favorite cooking season - I really shine in the Fall and Winter when I can BAKE THINGS!!!  But here is a healthy and easy vacation recipe that the kids will love and is perfect for lunch :)

1/2 banana sliced

2 pieces whole grain bread lightly toasted

1 tablespoon Nutella

1 teaspoon honey

Spread Nutella onto toast and drizzle honey over it.

Place banana slices on top of that.

Place the other piece of toast on top of that.

Cut into triangles and serve.

It's a great way to save some money on vacation and give the kids a delicious lunch - enjoy!!!

Dirty Blue Chese Bacon-Tini

I am in a contest to win a year's worth of bacon - bacon is very important to me!!! Please help me out and like my recipe on facebook!!

Thank you soooooooooo much :)

https://www.facebook.com/WholeFoodsMeat?

The Oakland Journal has my Sangria recipe up :)

http://theoaklandjournal.com/

White Sangria

Sangria can be made from basic ingredients that (if I have taught you anything) you should already have in your bar set up and ready to go for sangria in the summer :)

I use a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc, 1 tablespoon of Cognac, I can diet or regular Sprite, 1/2 cup triple sec, 1 cup mango juice, and any freshly picked summer fruit you can get your hands on. 

Throw everything besides the Sprite in a pitcher overnight then add the Sprite right before serving - oh my God - it's awesome.  

Today, I used raspberries from School Lunch Farm who is at the Oakland, NJ Farmers' Market on Saturdays and also has a CSA drop off there and also runs this awesome organization slowfoodnnj.org 

Stop by the farm and pick up some of her great organically grown, delicious produce - Municipal Lot on Ramapo Valley Rd. Saturdays, 9-1 now through October - see you there!!!  :)

Green Summer Martini

Summer is not a time I really enjoy having the oven on and I shortcut a lot of meals to keep my house cool.  What I do do a lot of in the summer is cocktail so I'm putting up my Green Summer Martini Recipe for you :)

INGREDIENTS

1 shot vodka (a good vodka!)

1 shot banana Malibu Rum

1 shot Midori

1/4 cup Pineapple Juice

Shake all ingredients over ice - and I mean really shake them in a shaker until there are little tiny pieces of ice floating in it and the pineapple juice has frothed up.  Then strain into a chilled martini glass and enjoy!

If you are feeling extra fancy you can garnish with a nice chunk of honeydew melon but save it till the end so it soaks up all the alcohol ;)