Sandwiches Make Everything Better

We had a tough morning. We drove out to the beloved Little Cabin in the Woods to collect some items to bring home.  You see, my Dad sold his share of the cabin to his brother in law so we are unable to go out there this summer. This was just plain tough for us as we do love that little piece of paradise so much. (We took the canoe to the neighbours so we can still drive out, visit, and go for a canoe ride!) After the drive home, the Boy worked on some homework, hubby had a nap, and I went to the grocery store. To be quite honest, I know we were all feeling a little down.

After some thinking and wondering around, I decided on a menu for a dinner that just might cheer us up.  The plan involved the Boy and I working in the Little Kitchen together and since that is always fun, I figured I'd give it a go!

Rewind to last year when we were in St. Louis,MO on a baseball related trip, we watched a lot of Food Network's Next Food Network Star.  We don't get the American FN shows until about a year after they air in the States but we really liked Jeff Mauro and the fact that he won.  Unfortunately, we had to wait until this year to start getting his show, 'Sandwich King'.  We PVR the show and watch it together and love to see what sandwich he is going to make next. (Long time readers may remember that the Boy is quite the Sandwich hound).

Okay, I know I am rambling on now so to make a long story short, I picked up the ingredients to make Schnitzel Biscuits! The recipe on that link has great instructions so I am not going to re write it but trust me...this is tasty! We followed the recipe for the pork to a T! We even brined the pork tenderloin...don't skip that, it is fabulous!

While the pork was resting in the fridge in its brine, I made my favourite buttermilk biscuit recipe to go with the schnitzel. If you have a go to biscuit recipe, use it. I did make some braised cabbage, but I did not follow Jeff's recipe too closely.  I used already shredded cabbage from a cole slaw mix and halved the recipe. (Also left out the caraway seeds).

I now present to you, Schnitzel prep, in photo form!  After the Boy brined and patted dry pork tenderloin,  he cut it into 8 portions that he then pounded thin...I think that was his favourite part!

Get those frustrations out!!

Put the pork between 2 pieces of plastic wrap and gently pound

We only had to pause once to glue the mallet back together...we will be investing in a nicer one!

The Boy set up his breading station and kept on working!

Ready for the pan!

The Boy seems to have the patience to wait long enough for the perect golden brown!

Let me tell you, the sweet acidity of the braised cabbage really does make the schnitzel biscuit a fantastic sandwich. It cuts through the butteryness of the biscuit and the pork and just makes this sammy oh so delicious!

I couldn't even take the pictures with the Boy trying to gobble up these sammies! I don't blame him one little bit...they were just that fabulous!

Cooking with the Boy this evening really helped cheer us up. Some time together in the kitchen was just what we needed!

Until next time, stay warm and eat well!

Saturday Mornings: Buttermilk Biscuit Sammies!!

Best Biscuits Ever!!

 YES!  I  LOVE breakfast!!! Saturday mornings seem to be the day for laid back brekkies in the Little Kitchen....this could have something to do with the Boy's 6:00am Sunday morning practices, but who knows.  During the week, especially in winter, I stick with my oatmeal and fruit but on the weekends, I like to treat us to some yummy breakkie treats, such as last week's breakfast muffins!!  I have been wanting to try the buttermilk biscuits Gareth posted on Stumptown Savoury.   These turned out so incredibly fantastic!  Now I thought about mixing in some grated cheddar and chopped up ham but I really wanted to give these biscuits a go plain, just to try them out....WOW!  You really should make these.  I am not going to even try to post his recipe here but I will send you to his blog so you can get the recipe direct from him! Click here for his post on buttermilk biscuits!

Sooo gooooood!!

As I rooted through the fridge, I found some more things I could possibly mix in but then I remembered how much the Boy loves to make sandwiches out of everything!  No, really, he does....last week he made a sandwich out of the breakfast muffins!! (I should have taken a picture). I found some left over frittata from dinner the other night as well as some tomatoes, ham, and cheddar!!  Winna, winna, breakfast sammie flava! 

Breakfast sammies it is!!

Since I had everything but the biscuits on hand, I made the biscuits and while they were in the oven, I sliced up:

• 1 tomato
• some cheddar cheese
• some ham

I also took out of the fridge and cut into sammie size pieces the leftover frittata from the other night. This particular fritatta has in it.

• potato slices, cooked
• onion
• yellow pepper
• 1 jalapeno
• 1 10 oz pkg frozen (but thawed and squeezed out) spinach
• a handful or two of halved cherry tomatoes
• cheddar cheese, cubed
• 8 eggs
• 1/2 cup evaporated milk (no water added, straight from the can) (I was out of milk and half and half)

Frittatas are simple. In a large, over proof skillet, saute the onion, peppers, potatoes and  spinach until hot.
In another bowl, beat the eggs and the evaporated milk.
Pour the eggs over the yumminess in the pan and give that pan a quick stir or a shimmy shake to evenly distribute the eggs.
Top with (they will sink in a little) the small cubes of cheese and the cherry tomatoes.
Place in a 350F oven until cooked through, about 20 minutes.

When the biscuits were ready, I split them, layered in the sammie ingredients, took some photos, and was so incredibly ready for breakfast, it wasn't even funny!

I heated the frittata in the microwave so it was hot for the sammies!