Whether canned, frozen or refrigerated, prepared foods and convenience items are the cornerstones of quick meals. When the January issue of Saveur magazine listed the 10 supermarket items its staff likes best, it was worth paying attention to for a few new ideas.
Refrigerated corn biscuits that come in a tube were one of the entries. Here, the big, golden disks are put to use as the basis for a sandwich menu that will make a fast and delicious meal during Super Bowl viewing. It also will work wonderfully for casual suppers or weekend lunches.
Hot and spicy ham and Cheddar sandwiches Lone Star caviar Vegetable crudites Ginger-peach passion tea Gingersnap cookies
Hot and spicy ham and cheddar sandwiches
Lone Star caviar
Vegetable crudites
Ginger-peach passion tea
Gingersnap cookies
HOT AND SPICY HAM AND CHEDDAR SANDWICHES
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 17 minutes
Yield: 8 sandwiches
1 tube (17.3 ounces) refrigerated corn biscuits
1/4 cup each: chutney, mayonnaise
1 teaspoon ground red pepper or to taste
1 small onion, very thinly sliced
12 ounces thinly sliced ham
4 ounces aged Cheddar cheese, thinly sliced
1/2 cup cilantro leaves
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Arrange biscuits on ungreased baking sheet, spacing 2 inches apart. Bake until golden, 15-18 minutes. Stir together chutney, mayonnaise and red pepper; set aside.
2. Remove biscuits from oven. Working quickly with biscuits still on the baking sheet, split each in half; spread bottom half with about 1 tablespoon chutney mixture. Layer with onion, ham, cheese and cilantro leaves. Top with biscuit half.
4. Return briefly to oven, just to warm through, 2-3 minutes. Serve hot.
Nutrition info per sandwich:
Calories ……….. 340 Fat ………… 17 g Sat. fat …….. 6 g
Cal. / fat ……… 46% Chol. ……… 35 mg Sod. ……. 1,350 mg
Carb. …………. 30 g Protein …….. 16 g Fiber ……… 1.2 g
LONE STAR CAVIAR
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Yield: About 1 1/2 cups
More commonly known throughout the Southwest as Texas caviar, this party-minded mix can be served as a salad, relish, even as a dip for tortilla chips. The recipe easily can be doubled; if that’s your strategy, try mixing up the beans. The black-eyed peas can be partnered with black beans or pintos, or try them with hominy.
1 can (15 ounces) black-eyed peas, drained
1/2 each, finely diced: red and green bell pepper
1 bunch green onions, thinly sliced
1 jalapeno pepper, minced
1/4 cup prepared vinaigrette dressing
2 teaspoons each: ground cumin, chili powder
Salt, freshly ground pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients in medium bowl. Serve at room temperature or chilled. Can be refrigerated up to 2 days; adjust seasoning at serving time.
Nutrition information per 1/4 cup:
Calories ………… 120 Fat ………… 6 g Saturated fat .. 1.2 g
% calories from fat .. 41 Cholesterol … 5 mg Sodium …….. 335 mg
Carbohydrates …… 17 g Protein …… 2.7 g Fiber ………. 3.9 g
GINGER-PEACH PASSION TEA
Preparation time: 8 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Ginger-peach is one of the many varieties of flavored teas that are increasingly available in supermarkets. Orange-spice can be used in its place.
4 ginger-peach tea bags
1 1/2 cups boiling water
1/4 cup frozen passion fruit juice concentrate
Put 1 tea bag in each of 4 warmed tea cups; pour boiling water over. Steep 5 minutes. Remove bags; stir 1 tablespoon juice concentrate into each cup.
Nutrition information per serving:
Calories ………… 30 Fat ………… 0 g Saturated fat … 0 g
% calories from fat .. 1 Cholesterol … 0 mg Sodium ……… 3 mg
Carbohydrates …… 7 g Protein …… 0.4 g Fiber ……… 0.1 g
