Grilled Figgy Sandwiches and a 4 Flavors Coleslaw

One of the best pieces of information I took away from Thai cooking school was to always balance the flavors in a dish. Sweet, Spicy, Salty, and Bitter. When these four are in balance a Thai recipe will really shine.

I have started applying this information to other meals as well. This is how a simple grilled sandwich went from good to really fabulous. The balance of sweet fig jam, spicy arugula, creamy goat cheese, and a slice of prosciutto elevated the sandwich.

No sandwich is complete without a salad! A red cabbage was waiting to become salad, so it got mixed up with napa cabbage, green onion, oranges, raisins, peanuts and a spicy dressing. Again it all hit a great balance of flavors, and in this case textures as well.

I am brainstorming more ways to balance flavors. Any other ideas??

Figgy Sandwich
For 2 sandwiches
4 slices of country bread
2 tablespoons of fig jam (or more)
4 tablespoons of goat cheese (or more - some people like a bigger sandwich!)
2 slices of prosciutto
1/2 cup small arugula leaves
olive oil, butter or nonstick spray

1. Divide jam, cheese, prosciutto, and arugula between the two sandwiches. I think you can do it. If you want more detailed... let me know :) Have you ever had to do the lesson where you write up instructions to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? Then someone has to follow your directions exactly and make it in front of the class? Harder then you think. It is a fun way to "torture" your students and eat messed up PB&Js.
2. There are a few options when it comes to grilling a sandwich. If you have a sandwich maker, I would use that. I don't, so I use 2 cast iron pans.
3. Heat larger cast iron pan over medium heat for a few minutes. Lightly oil pan and lay sandwiches into pan. Lightly oil the bottom of a second, smaller cast iron, or other heavy pan and put on-top of the sandwiches. Check for toastedness after a few minutes and flip. Be careful because the top pan will get hot too.
4. Slice and eat up!


On a cabbage sidenote, I have been teaching my youngest students about the different parts of a plant which are edible. This week I brought in a bag of cabbage and other assorted edible roots, leaves, stems, flowers and fruits. It was a blast seeing 7 and 8 year olds munching away on raw veggies while catagorizing them and using all sorts of new vocabulary. My favorite statement came from a little guy who had eaten so much raw red cabbage his lips were purple. He announced, "Cabbage leaves are better then chips! Do you think my mom will let me eat them at home?" Yes, little man, I am pretty sure she will!

Four Flavors Coleslaw
For salad
1/2 of a small red (or green) cabbage, sliced thinly
1 small napa cabbage, sliced thinly
One orange, peeled and sliced
2 green onions, sliced thinly
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 peanuts
sesame seeds to sprinkle over salad (optional)

For Dressing
Juice from 1/2 an orange
1/4 cup rice vinegar
2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon grated ginger, or 1 teaspoon dried ginger powder
1 tablespoon of siracha or other spicy chili paste (you may want to start with less if you don't like things too spicy)
salt to taste

1. In a large bowl combine veggies.
2. In a small glass jar add dressing ingredients and shake until combined. Taste and adjust flavors.
3. Toss salad and let sit in the refridgerator for a least half an hour before serving. (So make this before the sandwiches!) Sprinkle with sesame seeds before serving.

Fig Vinaigrette

Do you remember my fig jam? It turned out a bit thicker then I expected, more like a paste then a jam. Natural pectin sure beats out the boxed pectin for stablizing power.

Even though it isn't very spreadable, we have still been enjoying the jam. It slices beautifully for a cheese plate and makes a pretty good fig newton.

I have been wanting to utilize the jam in other ways. I try to make most of my own salad dressing, mostly because it is so easy, but also it like to control the oil in it. When I had a few spoonfuls of fig jam left in the jar I added a spoonful of dijon mustard, a few glugs of balsamic vinegar and a couple spoonfuls of olive oil. I put the lid back on and shook it up. After a taste I added a bit of salt and black pepper.

Done!
The perfect Fall vinaigrette.
It is fabulous over a salad of greens, apples, nuts and a touch of blue cheese!

Cherry Clafoutis

We are on a French food kick! The more I read about French cooking the more I realize that it isn't all fancy sauces and expensive cuts of meat, but simple food made from really great ingredients. Well simple food, with cream and really great ingredients. I have bought more cream in the last few weeks then I have in my life as a cook. (That said, I don't think the food is all that bad for you, but I am eating lighter for lunch!)

When the weather turns colder I tend to keep the oven on to make the house toastier. This weekend while roasting up dinner (that recipe to come), I decided to whisk together a clafoutis. A clafoutis is sort of like a cross between a custard and a bread pudding with fruit in it. Most of the recipes I have found call for unpitted cherries. I think this is a bit dangerous, even if the pits empart a slight almond flavor. I have also made a clafoutis with rhubarb. (Just make sure to toss the tart fruit with extra sugar before mixing it into the batter.)


I received a jar of sweet cherries canned in amaretto. They were perfect in this dessert. This is a simple, quick dessert which looks beautiful spooned onto a pretty plate and sprinkled with powder sugar. I getting so brave with this French cooking, I may need to attempt a souffle sometime soon!


Cherry Clafouti
Adapted from The Food of France

2 cups pitted cherries (fresh or canned) or other fruit
1/4 cup sugar
2/3 cup flour
3 eggs
1 1/4 cup milk, or you can do 1/2 of the liquid as cream, if you have some extra laying around.
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon amaretto or kirsch

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a medium bowl combine eggs, sugar and flour. Add milk, vanilla and amaretto.
3. Finally stir in the fruit.
4. Pour into a baking dish. I have a rustic looking one I love!
5. Bake 40 - 45 minutes. The top tends to puff when it is done, but will fall as it cools. Serve with whipped cream or powdered sugar.