Focaccia reubens

This is Week #45 of my 2011 cooking challenge! Click on the above graphic to view all P&TC recipes. All recipes created for this challenge come from the Food and Wine Annual Cookbook 2010: An Entire Year of Recipes.

You all know about my love for salads and vegetables, but I have another love to profess: sandwiches. One of my long-term goals is to write a sandwich cookbook because there are endless options when it comes to stacking ingredients between two pieces of bread. One of my favorite and most indulgent sandwiches is The Reuben. Mmmm, is there anything better than sauerkraut with corned beef and dressing and cheese? So needless to say, I have been very excited to make this recipe. I was very pleased with the outcome. This sandwich is a new favorite!

In a medium bowl, toss together:

One 1/2-pound green cabbage, thinly sliced (4 cups)

2 tablespoons cider vinegar

1 tablespoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Let stand, tossing occasionally, until softened, 30 minutes.

Heat a griddle (or Panini press). Arrange four 4x6-inch focaccia pieces (split) on a work surface, cut side up.

Slice eight 1/4-inch-thick slices of Gruyere cheese (4 ounces).

Set aside 1/2 pound thinly sliced corned beef.

In a small bowl, combine:

1/4 cup ketchup

1/4 cup mayonnaise

Layer the sandwiches:

Focaccia bottom

Ketchup-mayo dressing

A slice of Gruyere

Corned beef slices

Pickled cabbage

Remaining slices of Gruyere

Focaccia top

Spread outsides of focaccia with butter and place on the griddle. Cook over moderate heat until the cheese has melted and the focaccia is crisp and golden, 6 minutes. Halve the sandwiches and serve immediately.

Click here for a printable recipe!

Pickle roll-ups

It seemed fitting that I make this quick and scrumptious appetizer when Ebby came to visit last month. I introduced her to The Pickle Roll-Up in college and we often found ourselves feasting on them in our dorm room after a trip to Hy-Vee to get supplies. We never shared them with anyone!

If you have never tried these, I can honestly say you are missing out. The salty-sweet combination is so simple yet so very tasty. They are easy, guest-pleasing appetizers that are great for parties or football games or any type of gathering.

Lay four stacks of two corned beef slices on a cutting board or cutting mat. Top each with a layer of cream cheese (it does not have to be pretty) and a medium-sized dill pickle.

Roll the corned beef slices around the pickles. The cream cheese will act as the delicious glue that holds everything together.

Cut each pickle roll into four equal slices and serve on a plate. These will not last long. I have a very difficult time keeping my fingers off of these once I have made them.

Click here for a printable recipe!