Breakfast Sandwiches!

Today's food section in the Chicago Tribune featured breakfast sandwiches! This image isn't exactly a breakfast sandwich.....it's from Foodgawker. But looks delish!
 I have been looking for new breakfast ideas to take to one of the schools I work in. I am always there, subbing and I would love to contribute either a breakfast casserole or, now I'm thinking, making some small breakfast sandwiches. The following are inspirational for me.
Bakin' & Eggs BLT- stacks of bacon, eggs, aged Cheddar, walnut and basil pesto, field greens and tomato-3120 N.Lincoln Ave.
And, at Chicago Cut's, 300 N. LaSalle, you get something similar with complimentary mini beignets, breakfast potatoes and a broiled tomato, all for $10!
Bodega N. 5's La Ribera- a pork sausage on a bun with egg, bell pepper, caramelized onion and Mahon -638 N. Michigan Ave
Corner Bakery's Anaheim Scrambler- a panini with bacon, mixed with tomatoes, green onions, cheddar and avocado, and scrambled eggs.
Fox and Obel has a similar one.
Jam's at 3057 W. Logan Blvd. has a sandwich with eggs, shredded pork cheek, ricotta salata and tart plum relish.
Other great sandwiches with the egg can be found at M.Henry, 5707 N. Clark; Juicy O's in Naperville and Willowbrook; Honey's Cafe in Glen Ellyn.
Nightwood's at 2119 S. Halstead has a bagel smeared with cream cheese, trout, over-easy egg, thick bacon slices and a dollop of slaw.

Rick Bayless has a great breakfast sandwich though available only briefly ( 7-10 a.m.) offers a slice  of bolillo that is slathered with roasted tomato, a bit of black bean, topped with poached egg which is topped with a dusting housemade queso fresco, green chile and raw onion. $5.

Pasta with Pistachios, Meyer Lemon and Broccoli

Recipe adapted from Jeff Cerciello, the artisan market at Farmshop, Santa Monica, CA.
1 c shelled pistachios
1T Kosher salt
1 1/2# medium, tubed pasta
1 large head broccoli, trimmed
2 garlic cloves
Juice and zest of 1 Meyer Lemon
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1 c flat leaf parsley leaves
1/2 c mint leaves
1 1/2 c evoo
2 T finely chopped chives
Seas Salt
Fennel pollen ( optional)
On a rimmed baking sheet, toast the pistachios for 5-6 minutes. Transfer to a large plate and cool then coarsely grind in a food processor. Transfer the ground pistachios to a bowl and set aside.
Meanwhile bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add some Kosher salt and the pasta and cook until almost al dente, about 8 minutes. When pasta is almost finished add the broccoli to the pot and cook for 2 minutes more. Reserved 1 cup of the pasta water and drain the pasta and broccoli through a colander.
In the same processor, combine, garlic, lemon zest and red pepper flakes and kosher salt and grind to a fine paste. Add parsley and mint and pulse to make a rough paste. With the motor running slowly drizzle in the olive oil. Transfer to a medium saucepan and stir in the ground pistachios.
Add the pasta water to the pesto; bring to a boil and simmer for 2 minutes.
In a large bowl, combine the pasta broccoli and pesto. Stir in the lemon h
juice and set aside for 5 minutes. To serve, divided the pasta among plates or bowls and garnish with the grated cheese, chives, sea salt and fennel pollen if using.

Monday's Mention

A late dinner at the YardHouse in the Glen ( GlenView, Illinois) and I had two of my most favorite dishes- a soup and an appetizer. The soup- chicken tortilla. I can't get enough of that soup when it's made as delicious as the YardHouse. And the appetizer I had for my main course: Hawaiin Poke- oh, so delicious! And I never feel full!

Beer and Pizza

A friend of mine, a very talented friend of mine shared with my husband and I some of her products- these products are items that she has designed either logo or labels for. And the most recent itmes are: a beer made and bottled in Rhode Island.

I consider my husband a beer 'foodies' be cause he is really particular with his beer. He's not a big fan of the newer wheat beers or some of the lighter beers that are being sold. But this one he really enjoyed. It is not distributed much farther than Rhode Island but if you come across it, tell them Jessica's friend Jeannie told you to try it!

In addition to the beer, Jessica also made some new labeling items for Pastorelli Pizza sauce. AND< for pizza crust as well. An important part of Pastorellis logo is the shepherd- can you see it at the center top of the label?

And here is what the packaging looks like for the pizza crust, which comes in 3 different kinds~

 Along with a recipe on the back of the package. Another great thing about these packaged items- LONG SHELF LIFE!

ENJOY!!!!!!

Restaurant Dinner Menu

This is a fun idea to try every now and then~Two weeks ago I had to do a dinner for 12 at one of the Churches where I cook. I decided to do recipes from various restaurants. I had a difficult time trying to find a dessert other than cheesecake-which seems to be the most popularly restaurant recipe to post. But, I did cookies- check them out.

Here is my first picture, I know it's unattractive, but I have a little sign next to each dish. Perhaps a restaurant logo on the paper would have been best. Another time I'll try that.

My menu was: Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits-

                      Hooters Pasta Salad -

                   Chili's Chicken and Mushroom Soup -

                 La Madeleine's Strawberries Romanoff and Famos Amos Cookies

Friday's Foto

This time last week, I was in Winter Park, Fla visiting my sister. While there we and her two friends had dinners in two WONDERFUL restaurants. The first one was White Truffle and these pictures are from White Truffle. The one looks like a pot pie. It is! And the second was sesame coated fresh tuna and it was basically on a salad bed that was reminiscent of the 'Asian Slaw' recipe. I , we both, just loved our dinners!

The second restaurant was Antonios in Maitland, Fla. I had a creamy, succulent pasta dish but I do not have the picture. My sister had the Veal Marsala with polenta. Oh! We had to get dessert- coconut cake and a really creamy creme brulee-SO DELICIOUS!
Try these place when you are in Winter Park. But all places in Winter park are UNBELIEVABLE!

Restaurant Week in Chicago

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