gherkins

European Baguette Sandwich

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Food Plating: European Baguette Sandwich! WYKYK. My all-time favorite lunchtime sandwich begins with a bakery fresh French baguette. It has become the starting point for what I consider a staple in France and Europe. Perfect for picnics, compact enough for lunch, and elegant enough to eat with your fingers. Of course, it’s all about the ingredients. You may recall, my husband and I order French sea salt butter online after visiting the country years ago. I can’t buy it in America. But that’s okay because it freezes well. Personally, I love Emmental cheese and can buy that locally, along with prosciutto sold without added preservatives. Choose your ingredients wisely. One bite and you’ll practically feel your eyes roll back in heavenly bliss. 

EUROPEAN BAGUETTE SANDWICH

Ingredients: 

1 French baguette, halved and split lengthwise (makes two servings)

4 tablespoons French sea salt butter, room temperature

1 cup mixed greens

2-3 Swiss cheese slices

4 ounces prosciutto, thinly sliced 

2-4 sweet gherkins, sliced lengthwise 

Instructions:

To build your sandwich, place all four halves on the counter, open-faced. Slather each cut side with French sea salt butter. On the baguette that will be the top, divide the micro greens between the two portions. For the bottoms, layer the Swiss cheese onto the buttered side, followed by the paper-thin prosciutto. Finally, arrange the sweet gherkins over the prosciutto. Carefully place the tops of the sandwich onto the bottoms. Wrap each baguette sandwich in waxed paper. 

Relish Charcuterie

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? The Chow Down: Relish Charcuterie! Everyone knows the best defense is a good offense, especially when it comes to group gatherings and holiday parties. Low-calorie items are always a wise choice. Keep it healthy with a nice assortment of raw veggies packed with nutrients and fiber. Besides, they’re colorful and festive. By filling a plate with appealing choices like these, you can splurge later on with a sampling of dessert.

RELISH CHARCUTERIE

Ingredients:

1 head celery, with stalks and ribs

3 large carrots, cut into strips

7 ounces pimento stuffed queen olives

10 ounces grape tomatoes

1 pint sweet gherkins

8 ounces wild caper berries

6 ounces Kalamata olives, pitted

12 ounces imported pepperoncinis

1 bunch garden radishes

1 red onion, thinly sliced

Pickled garlic

Instructions:

Wash all fresh vegetables in cold water. Pat dry on paper towels. Chop and slice as needed in unique shapes. Use small dip bowls for height and color. Arrange ingredients on a nice platter so designs are appealing to the eye. It is better to keep it looking full by switching around shapes and color. Small plates and toothpicks or skewers encourage snacking.

Chef’s Plate

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Food for Sharing: Chef’s Plate! Pull together a party-friendly charcuterie platter where finger foods rule. Make it as elaborate as you choose, depending on the size of the guest list. Obviously for an intimate dinner for two, something like this is a perfect balance of contrasting flavors. Keep the bread crunchy and the jam or jelly sweet. It offsets the fatty, salty meat by cutting through the richness of the buttery cheese. The tartness of gherkins is a classic choice for nibbling in between. Be creative. Anything goes.

CHEF’S PLATE

Ingredients:

Jalapeño Pepper Jelly

Cornichons Gherkins

Red Onion

Baguette Toast

Mixed Nuts

Summer Sausage Sticks

Aged Bleu Cheese

Bite-size Dry Salami

Instructions:

Fill small condiment bowls with pepper jelly, baby gherkins, and assorted mixed nuts. Slice baguette. Rub with olive oil and bake in a 350° oven for 10 minutes. Turn over and bake 5 minutes longer. Place on a chef’s board or in a bread basket. Arrange cured hard sausages around the wedge of Bleu cheese. Slices red onion and “fan” near the bread. Once the food is arranged, open a bottle of wine, and enjoy the experience of grazing.