SMASHED CHICKPEA SANDWICH

    GOOD MORNING :D
Today is Wednesday,  2012,  January 11th
 Wow !!  Can you believe how fast 2011 escaped us?  Then 2012 made a grand entrance in many areas.
Here in Florida, it was Beautiful, quiet, and spent with a few friends here at the house.
I am always on the lookout for new  foods.  I opened a can of chickpeas, I was going to make hummus.  
My Tahini,  was so thick I could not even stire it.  That was the end of that.  I began to look for recipes for chickpeas and found this one on ......SMITTEN KITCHEN.........This sandwich is delicous.   I like my beans, veggies, and change.  I really like the saying " why be normal "    :D
   


CHICKPEA SANDWICH

Smashed Chickpea Salad
Inspired by ‘wichcraft


INGREDIENTS
1 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 tablespoons pitted, halved and very thinly sliced black olives
1 tablespoon finely chopped red onion
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Zest and juice from half a lemon (if you’ve got one of those sad, juiceless lemons, use both sides for juice)
Couple good pinches of salt
A few grinds of black pepper
A few glugs of olive oil (the original is quite oily, like bread-soaking oily, I went a little lighter. Both ways are delicious)


DIRECTIONS
Mix everything but the olive oil in a small to midsize bowl. Very lightly smash the chickpea mixture with the back of a fork or a potato masher. You’re not looking for a hummus-like puree but something closer to a coarse chop with a few smaller bits to hold it together. Add the glugs of olive oil, mix it lightly and enjoy.


NOTES AND TIPS
This is also awesome as a sandwich on toasted bread, and it needs nothing else on it. But, if you want to doll it up, here are some ideas: A slice of roasted red pepper (as they do at ‘wichcraft), watercress (ditto), a slice of pickled garlicky red pepper(our way). We schmeared the bread with a tahini dressing, which was just tahini, lemon juice and a minced garlic clove thinned with water, but if you’ve got some harissa, I bet that would also be delicious.

CINNAMON APPLE GRILLED CHEESE

   I really like grilled cheese sandwiches,  back in the 90's I went to a little cafe' in ormond by the sea. 
I was working at Publix grocery store at the time and the cafe' was next door.  I ordered a 
GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH ...... when I got it, to my suprise they added a nice tomato on it.
Something I did not think about doing.  I really liked it and from that time on i have made my grilled
cheese sandwhiches with my favorite cheeses and either one large tomato or a couple smaller pieces.
    I love to cook and one day I found this grilled cheese recipe.  I fixed it for Eric and I and ..... :D
we were not disappointed.  It is delicious.    


INGREDIENTS
1 cup of sliced peeled apples  ( i use yellow delicious ) you can use tart if you prefer
3 teaspoons of butter ( unsalted ) divided 
1/3 cup of chopped walnuts
1 tablespoon of honey
3 tablespoons of cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons of confectioners sugar
dash of cinnamon ( I use fresh and grate it )
dash of nutmeg  ( I use fresh and grate it )
dash of apple pie spice
4 slices of cinnamon raisin bread 
4 slices of Muenster cheese ( or your fave )  


DIRECTIONS
  IN  a large skillet suate apple slices in 1 teaspoon of butter,  until tender.  Add cinnamon and 
nutmeg.  Meanwhile in another small skillet cook and and stir walnuts  and honey over medium
heat for 2 to 3 minutes  or until lightly toasted.  
   In a small mixing bowl,  beat the cream cheese confection sugar, dash of cinnamon, dash of nutmeg, dash of apple pie spice,  until smooth.  Stir in walnut mixture.  
Spread over two slices of bread,  layer with Muenster cheese, apple slices and remaining bread.
Spread remaining butter over the outside  of each sandwich.  (  i cook mine in a dry non stick skillet )
   In a large non stick skillet coated with non stick cooking spray toast sandwiches for 1 to 2 
minutes on each side until golden brown and cheese is melted.  ( i do not use butter, i use a dry skillet).
    servings  2   
I didnt think i could like these grilled cheese sandwiches as much as i do ......  they are so good and 
the kids will love them.  I believe even the pickiest eaters will like this :D