Summer Vege Sandwich (Tian)

This is my favorite way to use garden zucchini and tomatoes.

These are as good cold on the second day
as they are straight out of the oven.

Ingredients
1 crusty loaf of bread
olive oil
caramelized onions
roasted red peppers
1 to 2 zucchini, sliced thin
3 to 4 tomatoes, sliced thin
sea salt
cracked pepper
thyme

Slice bread open.  Drizzle oil in a 9x13 pan or other of desired shape and size.
Pack bread slices, cut side up, very close together so they are touching but not on top of each other. Drizzle bread tops with more oil.  Top with caramelized onions.  Lay roasted peppers on top of onions.  (Or mix onions and peppers, if sliced, together and then top bread.)  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Layer zucchini and tomatoes on top, alternating, and being sure to keep a little of the outside of the bread slices showing. Drizzle with a little more olive oil.  Sprinkle with salt, cracked pepper, and thyme.  Cover with foil and bake at 350F for 1.5 hours.  Uncover and bake another 10 minutes.

Bagel Dogs

Makes 10

Dough
1 1/2 c warm water
2 1/4 tsp yeast
1/4 c sugar
1 1/4 tsp salt
1 T honey
1 lg egg white
3 T oil
1 tsp malt powder (or brown sugar)
3 c white whole wheat flour
3 c a.p. flour

Water Bath
1/4 c honey

Additional
10 hot dogs
5 slices American cheese, halved
10 slices bacon
Salt, seeds, onion flakes

Mix dough ingredients with a dough hook until a smooth dough forms.  Let rise two+ hours.
Microwave bacon 2 minutes on high.
Using a paper towel, dry hot dog juice off hot dogs and cut deep slits down hot dogs. Fold cheese to fit into slits and stuff.
Preheat oven to 450F.
Fill a large pot 3/4 full of water.  Bring to a boil and add the 1/4 cup honey.
While you wait for the pot to boil, divide dough into 10 pieces.  Roll pieces into large enough rectangles to fit dogs in.  Wrap each dog in a piece of bacon and then roll dough around bacon dog to cover.  Pinch seams to hold.  Once all the dogs are wrapped and sealed.  Boil dogs for 1 1/2 minutes.  The water should be more of a simmer than full boil.  The dogs will pop up to the surface when they are ready to come out.
Place dogs on a parchment lined cookie sheet.  Sprinkle with salt and toppings.
Place dogs in oven.  Reduce heat to 425F and bake 15 to 20 minutes.
Let cool at least 10 minutes before serving.

Corn Buns

These are light and soft. A really good sandwich bun.

Makes 18 Large Buns

1 can corn, drained
2 c milk
1 c corn meal
1/2 c warm water
2 T yeast
1/2 c butter
1/2 c sugar
3 large eggs
2 1/2 tsp salt
1 c whole wheat flour
2 c white whole wheat flour
2 c ap flour

In a medium saucepan, cook corn meal with milk until it thickens.  Remove from heat.  Add butter, stir briefly to melt.

In a mixer bowl, combine yeast and warm water.  Let sit to bubble.

If you do not want whole corn kernels, add canned corn, sugar, salt, and eggs to the corn meal mixture.  Puree with a hand blender.  If you prefer whole kernels, skip the pureeing.  Add to the yeast mixture.

Using a dough hook, add flours and knead 5 to 8 minutes.  Let dough rise 2 hours.  Divide into 18 pieces.  On a floured surface roll pieces into ovals.  Place on baking sheets dusted with corn meal.  Cover with towels and let rise 30 to 40 minutes.  Bake 20 minutes at 350F.  Remove from sheets and cool on racks.

Hot Ham & Cheese Sandwiches

We had these for Grandma Gentle's birthday party, last night.

Makes 16 Sandwiches

16 Rustic Rolls, halfed

Side 1
1 c mayo & 1/4 c Dijon, combined
48 thin slices ham
8 sandwich slices swiss cheese, halved

For Side 2

Mushroom Topping
In a large skillet, saute 20 oz. of thinly sliced baby bella mushrooms and 4 diced shallots with 1 tablespoon thyme.  Cool.

Morney Sauce
Melt 1 T butter in a small saucepan.  Whisk 2 T flour with 1 cup milk.  Add milk mix with 1 tablespoon thyme and a dash of nutmeg to saucepan.  Cook until thick.  Stir in 1/2 c Parmesan cheese and hot sauce, salt, and pepper as desired.

Split Rustic Rolls in half.  Place on a baking sheet with cut sides up.  Top one side of each roll with mayo/mustard mix.  Place three slices of cheese on top, followed by one slice of Swiss cheese.  On the other side, spread Morney Sauce.  Top Morney  with drained mushroom mix.  Sprinkle additional Paremsan on top of mushrooms.

Place in a 400F oven for 8 minutes.  Broil an additional 2 minutes to melt cheese. Reassemble sandwich halves and eat.

PB&J Buns

I came up with these to take on the "uncrustables."

Makes 15 Buns

1 c 2 T warm water
3 T honey
2 1/4 tsp yeast
4 T unsalted butter, melted
1 1/4 tsp salt
1/2 c mashed potato flakes
1/4 c dry milk
1 c rolled oats
1/2 c wheat bran
1 c white whole wheat flour
1 c a.p. flour, plus more if needed

15 T peanut butter
15 T strawberry jelly

Mix warm water and honey in mixer bowl.  Whisk in yeast.  Let sit 5 minutes.  Add other dough ingredients and knead using a mixer dough hook on low 8 minutes.  The dough should slightly pull away from the sides of the mixer bowl.  If not, gradually add more flour.  Coat dough with oil.  Cover with plastic wrap.  Let rise 2 hours.  Divide into 15 balls.  Smash dough into flat circles.  Spread peanut butter and jam on top.  Fold in half to seal edges.  Pinch sealed edges together and place seam side down in an oiled 9"x13" pan.  Gently cover with plastic wrap.  Let rise one hour.  Bake 25 minutes at 350F.

Rye Beer Buns

From Cooking Books
Makes 24 Rolls or 18 Sandwiches

Dough
12 oz beer
1/3 c packed brown sugar
1/4 c molasses
2 T unsalted butter
4 1/2 tsp yeast
2 tsp salt
3 c a.p. flour
2 1/2 c rye flour
1 T fennel seeds (anise or caraway would work too)
1 T tangerine zest (I used orange)

Egg Wash
1 egg mixed with 1 T water

Filling
1.5 lb thinly sliced and chopped corned beef
2 c swiss cheese, shredded
1 c sauerkraut
1/2 c mayo
2 T vinegar
1 T sugar
salt

Heat beer with sugar, molasses and butter to 110F.  Mix with yeast.  Wait until foamy.  Knead in remaining dough ingredients.  Cover and let rise 2 hours.

Divide into 18 pieces for sandwiches or 24 for rolls.  For sandwiches, combine filling ingredients.  Roll dough into think circles.  Place filling on top.  Pull sides together, pinching to seal.  Place on a baking sheet dusted with cornmeal.  Let rise 1 hour.  For rolls, form into balls on baking sheet and let rise 1 hour.  Brush with egg wash.  Bake 20 to 25 minutes at 375F.

Wheat Dinner Rolls

Grandma Gentle first made these.  They are my standard dinner roll.

1 c half & half
6 T unsalted butter
1/3 c sugar
2 c whole wheat flour
2 c a.p. flour
1 tsp salt
1 T yeast
3 lg eggs

Melt butter in half and half.  Cool to 110F.  Whisk sugar, flours, salt, and yeast.  Add half and half and eggs.  Knead 2 minutes.  Let rise 1 hour. Butter a 9"x13" glass pan.   Shape into 12 balls.  Let rise 45 minutes.  Bake 20 minutes at 375F.

Stuffed Greek Sandwich

I made this sandwich for the teachers' parent conference night.
I sent them in a medium sized pizza box.

Makes One 12" by 16" Sandwich

Bread Dough
1 3/4 c warm water
1 T yeast
1 T sugar
2 lg eggs
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 c olive oil
1 c whole wheat flour
2 c white whole wheat flour
2 c bread flour

Filling
2 28 oz cans whole tomatoes
3 tsp garlic
olive oil
1/2 lb chopped salami
3 tsp garlic, minced
8 oz feta cheese, crumbled
12 oz jar artichoke hearts, drained
6 oz container olives, drained chopped
coarse sea salt
cracked pepper

Dissolve yeast in warm water with sugar.  Let rest 5 minutes.  Add remaining bread dough ingredients.  Knead 8 to 10 minutes to form a soft dough.  The dough should pull away from the bowl's side.  If not, add more flour.  Let rise 2 hours.

Meanwhile, empty 2 cans of tomatoes in a roasting pan.  Break tomatoes in half.  Sprinkle with 3 teaspoons garlic and olive oil.  Roast at 400F for 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Saute salami over medium heat.  Drain on a paper towel.  Chop artichokes and olives.  Mix salami with artichokes, olives, and cheese.  Season mixture with salt and pepper.

Role dough out to form a 15" by 20" rectangle.  Lay tomatoes in a single layer on dough.  You will have lots of extra tomatoes to use for something else.  Spread half the salami mix on top of the tomatoes.  Roll dough up like a jelly roll.  Flatten and roll out to another 15" by 20" rectangle.  Spread remaining salami mix on top.  Roll again.  And roll out to a 12" by 16" rectangle, or to your preferred thickness.  Sprinkle a baking sheet with corn meal or semolina flour.  Place sandwich on top of baking sheet.  Brush top and sides with olive oil.  Season top with sea salt and pepper.  Cover and let rise 30 minutes.  Bake at 350F for 35 minutes.  Cool and cut into squares.

Burger Buns

These are my standard sandwich bun.
Even Jack ate these pretty easily.

Makes 16 large, 24 medium, or 32 mini buns

1/2 c warm water
1/4 c sugar
4 tsp yeast
1/4 c unsalted butter, melted
1 c warm milk
1/2 c dried milk
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
2 egg yolks
1 whole egg
5 cups white whole wheat flour
1 egg white mixed with 1 T water, for egg wash
seeds, if desired

Mix warm water with 1 tablespoon of the sugar and yeast.  Let sit for 5 minutes.  Add other ingredients.  Knead 8 minutes.  Grease bowl and cover.  Let rise 1 hour.  Shape into balls. Let rise 30 to 45 minutes until puffy.  Brush with egg white wash.  Bake 10 to 15 minutes at 400F.  Cool on cooling racks.