Throwback Patty Melts

Some nights you are just not going to feel like cooking--maybe even most nights--but you gotta eat! So, make it worth even the littlest effort you are willing to put forth...might as well be good, right?

Let's take a look at the quick-fix-TV-dinner-era for some inspiration, ie the '70's, but let's make it better. Specifically, let's talk about the infamous patty melt!! 

Essentially this is just a hot, open-faced sandwich with melted cheese--thats really all there is to it--the limiting factor here is only your creativity!

Ready? Here are a few classic, obvious and novel options:

1. Pizza Patty Melt

2. Cheeseburger Patty Melt

3. Classic 70's Tuna Melt

Pepperoni Pizza Patty Melt

Equipment:

Toaster oven or regular oven

Cookie sheet or metal tray

Ingredients:

Turkey Pepperoni

Low-Fat Organic Mozzarella Cheese

Marinara or Pizza Sauce

Dried oregano, thyme, basil

Red Pepper Flakes

English Muffins, halved

Olive oil

Salt & Pepper

Instructions:

1. Wash your hands. 

2. Toast muffin halves with a splash olive oil, salt & pepper.

3. Add 1 Tbls marinara.

4. Add dried herbs.

5. Add layer of cheese.

6. Add pepperoni.

7. Repeat cheese and meat. 

8. Finish with splash of cheese, herbs and red pepper  flakes.

9. Heat in 350F degree oven x 5-10 min.

10. Broil x 30 sec or until golden brown.

Cheeseburger Patty Melt

Ingredients:
1 lb ground hamburger, seared and browned
Sharp cheddar cheese, grated
Ketchup
Mayo
Mustard
Pickles

Instructions:
1. Wash your hands.
2. Brown your meat.
3. Toast your muffins.
4. Add ketchup, mustard, mayo.
5. Add ground meat.
6. Add pickles (optional)
7. Add cheese

70's Classic Tuna Melt

Ingredients:

1 can of tuna

1/2 cup mayo

1 medium onion, finely diced

Salt & Pepper to taste

Sharp cheddar cheese

Hard-boiled eggs, chopped or whole slices (optional)

Pickles / Relish

Instructions:
1. As above--get your muffins toasted.
2. Combine all of the ingredients into a bowl.
3. Add a scoop on top of your toasted muffins.
4. Add some grated cheddar on top.

Snack Stacks

Lighten up fall snacking with this easy-breezy stack of goodness. Apple, caramel, cinnamon, crunch--all packed into one! Or, need something to fill a chocolate craving? Think about this option.

Loved this idea from Food Network. See what you think. 

Equipment:

Knife, for spreading 

Ingredients:

Option 1:

Caramel Rice Cakes

Reduced-Fat Cream Cheese

Pinch of Cinnamon

Granny Smith Apples, thinly sliced

Caramel Sauce or melted Kraft Caramels

Option 2:

Chocolate Cookie Wafers

Reduced-Fat Berry Cream Cheese

Fresh Strawberries / Blackberries / Blueberries / Raspberries

Chocolate Sauce

Redi-Whip

Chocolate Chips

Instructions:

1. Wash your hands.

2. Spread 1-2 tsp cream cheese onto rice cake.

3. Sprinkle with cinnamon. 

4. Layer 4-5 slices of apple.

5. Drizzle with caramel sauce.

6. Try Option 2!
7. Spread berry cream cheese on your chocolate wafers.
8. Top off each wafer with strawberries, blueberry, blackberries, or raspberries.

9. Choose an upgrade: chocolate drizzle, Redi-Whip, chocolate chips, or a pinch of powdered sugar!

10. Bite size awesome!

Spicy Sticky Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Loved this recipe the minute I watched grillmaster and iron chef, Bobby Flay,  make this on his new show 'BBQ Addiction'.  Talk about a budget-friendly, mouth-watering meal! This is about as simple as it gets to making something good even better:

1. Make a terrific sauce. 15 min. 

2. Add to grilled meat. 13 min.

3. Wrap in lettuce. 1 min.

It can be that simple.
Or, you can "complicate" matters by adding extras:, i.e. water chestnuts, sprouts, green onions, sautéed mushrooms, siracha sauce, and rice.  A lettuce burrito if you will. 

I marinated the meat in a little sesame oil, soy sauce, ginger and garlic while I prepped the sticky-spicy sauce and cooked the rice--just to add more Asian flare!

If you are feeling up to it…go for it!  But if time is of essence, keep it simple!

Tip:  The spicy chicken is also fantastic over rice and a little more satisfying!

Spicy Sticky Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Equipment:

Grill or Grill-skillet

Mixing Bowl, if marinating meat

Whisk

Medium sauce pan

Ingredients:

8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs

Canola oil, for brushing chicken

Salt & Pepper

Green Onions

Butter Lettuce

Sticky Spicy Marinade:

1 cup orange juice

1/2 cup ketchup

1/4 cup light brown sugar

2 Tbls white wine vinegar

1 Tbls Worcestershire sauce

Pinch of red pepper flakes

1 clove garlic, coarsely chopped

Instructions:

1. Wash your hands frequently while handling any raw meats!

---If you are choosing to marinate the meat or serve with rice, now is the time to prep for both of these.

---Remember white rice takes 15 minutes, but brown rice 45 minutes.

2. Combine marinade ingredients into a medium saucepan and bring to a boil.

3. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until thick--about 15 min. Set 1/2 cup aside.

4. Preheat your grill or grill skillet to 'HIGH' heat.

5. Remove chicken from marinade, pat dry, and brush with canola oil, then salt & pepper.

6. Grill smooth-side down, covered until a good sear / char develops. Approx 3-4 minutes, untouched!

7. Flip each thigh and lather with the marinade, cover and cook until seared, approx 4-5 minutes.

8. Flip again, lather with marinade and cook another 1-2 minutes uncovered.

9. Remove thighs and allow to rest x 5 min before slicing into thin strips.

10. Fill your lettuce cups, butter or ice-berg, add your extras and a little extra drizzle of marinade.

Challah Cheddar Grilled Cheese

There's a time and place for everything. Classic recipes have their place and will always be popular, but sometimes...you need to amp up the volume! 

So, after our recent vacay, we came home around 10:30-11:00pm to an empty fridge except for a small block of sharp cheddar, 2 granny smith apples, 2 jalapenos on the verge of going bad, and stale Challah. Reality check immediate!

What to do? Make the most of what you have!
Be creative when you are stuck with only a few ingredients. 
Combine them! Use them in different ways, but...

Waste nothing, and boy...are we glad we didn't.  
You can try this on any bread, but Challah has a little sweetness that carmelizes when you sear it with butter.

Simply delish with a touch of sweet, heat and crunch. Perfect go-to snack after classes! Of course, if you just like things they way they have always been, check out The 70s Grilled Cheese Classic posted way back!

Equipment:

Non-skillet

Ingredients:

2 slices of Challah

Softened butter

Sharp cheddar cheese

Granny Smith Apple, cored &sliced horizontally

Jalapeno, thinly sliced

Instructions:

1. Wash your hands. 

2. Prep your cheese, apples, jalapeños. 

3. Spread butter on each slice of Challah. 

4. Heat your skillet with butter on MEDIUM to MEDIUM-HI heat. 

 **Remember: Golden brown crust, perfectly melted cheese requires a slow heat!

5. Layer cheese, jalapenos, and apples. 

6. Cover with second slice of bread. 

7. When cheese begins to melt and crust golden brown, flip it gently.

8. Brown the second side until heated through and oozing cheese! 

9. Dig in for a surprise!

What a find!