Ham and Cheese Loaf

Mix 3 cups of flour, 2 Tablespoons sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 2 packages Rapid Rise yeast in a large bowl.  

Melt 2 Tablespoons butter in small saucepan. Stir in 1/4 cup Dijon mustard. Add 1cup water, and heat till 125-130°. Stir into flour mixture.

Measure out one more cup of flour. Work in as much of this as you need to make a soft dough. I use about half a cup and work most of it in while I’m kneading it. Knead for 4 minutes 

On greased baking sheet, roll out to 14 x 12 inches. Sprinkle 8 ounces of ham and 4 ounces of Swiss cheese (or cheddar) down the center. Make cuts from filling to dough edge at one inch intervals on each side. Bring ends from opposite sides together and twist.

Place 13x 9 pan on stovetop or counter and half-fill with boiling water. Place baking sheet on top of pan. Let dough rise for 15 minutes.

Brush loaf with 1 beaten egg. Preheat oven to 375° 

Bake at 375° for 25 minutes.

Sub Sandwich Fail

Homemade Sub

It's fast, it's easy, it's sandwich lover heaven, but when it comes to costs, the homemade sub is a fail.

We tried it anyhow: meat, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, a nice, soft hoagie bun, and bread spread of your choice. It assembles in seconds, no directions required. Leftovers are easy to use up. I used the hydroponic lettuce that comes with roots attached because it lasts longer. Lettuce left after a night of sandwiches can be used in a salad or grab a leaf and wrap up leftover lunchmeat in it for a quick lettuce wrap snack. If you resist eating the rest of the tomato in one sitting, make toasted tomato sandwiches for a late-night snack. Freeze remaining buns to use later.

But now let's look at the cost. If you're usually a 12-inch sub eater, you'll make two of these subs. Two buns are 36 cents, lettuce and tomato for both would be about $2.50, two cheese slices 54 cents, and a half package of mesquite smoked turkey divided between the two sandwiches $2.30 for a grand total of $6.10 That's not counting the cost of the unused buns, cheese, and meat because that can be used later. A 12-inch turkey sub at Subway costs $6.00, and you can have them add pickles, green pepper, peppers, olives, and cucumber for free. An 8-inch turkey and ham sub at Jimmie Johns is $5.25. The sub places win this round, but only if you can walk out their door without a pop or chips or a cookie. Well, maybe with a cookie.

Still, if you have all the ingredients waiting for you in your kitchen, it's nice to come straight home from work without any parking and standing in line. Might be worth a try.

Hot Dog, Eggs, and Cheese

Hot Dogs, Eggs, and Cheese = Mmmm

Sure, you can make a hot dog for dinner--put one in a bun and microwave it--but this is so much better. And, you can make enough to have it again the next night.

A good ratio is 4 hot dogs and 2 eggs, and about a half of a block of cheese. You hard boil the eggs: Put eggs in pan, cover with cold water, put on stove, cover with lid, and heat till the water starts to boil. Now, remove from heat and set the time for 23 minutes. Let the eggs sit in the hot water until the timer goes off. Immediately remove them from the water and rinse in cold water. Peel off the shells. (Let me know if you need tips on doing this effectively.)

While the eggs are cooking, cut each hot dog in half lengthwise and then into slices. Place in bowl. Cut cheese into cubes and add to bowl. When the eggs are peeled, slice in an egg slicer, turn 90 degrees, and slice again. Add to bowl.

Now you add the ketchup and mayonnaise. Start with two Tablespoons of mayo and a big tablespoon of ketchup. Add more as needed.

Spoon this into hot dog buns and place on plate in microwave. Heat on high, about 30 minutes per bun. You'll easily have enough for 3 one night and 3 the next.

Leftover ingredients: 4 hot dogs--you'll want to make this again in two weeks, or have hot dogs on the grill. Eggs--these last longer than the date on the carton. Still, if you're worried about not using 12 eggs in 2 months, buy the small carton of 6 or 8, or plan a couple of omelet dinner nights. Ketchup and mayo aren't leftovers--they're staples! Leftover hot dog buns will keep in your freezer.