Another Friday is here… the weekend is upon us!  I hope you had a great week.  As I write this post, I am just getting back from the stand up comedian show put on by Jeremy Hotz… simply amazing.  My cheeks still hurt from smiling and laughing so much.  If you have not heard him before you should check out his website or look him up on youtube.

SUPER BOWL Sunday is drawing closer and I will be making lots of traditional treats such as ribs, wings and nachos. In addition to those tasty treats, I thought I would share with you a kicked up appetizer, called Cauliflower Popcorn, to watch the pregame with.  I originally seen this idea from Bob Blumer (The Surreal Gourmet) on the food network.  This is a great way to jazz up a pretty plain vegetable.  Check it out.

Ingredients

• 1 head cauliflower
• 1 Tsp. Red Pepper Flakes
• 1 dried cayenne pepper
• 1/2 Tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1/2 Tsp. ground cumin
• 1/4 Tsp. freshly ground black peppercorns
• 1/4 Cup olive oil
• Salt to taste

Method

1. Add the cayenne pepper, ground nutmeg, ground cumin, and ground black pepper in the bowl mixing well. (Do not add the salt yet! It has to be added after cooking, or it would dry out the vegetables). Pour this spice mixture into the olive oil and mix together well.
2. Put the oven rack in the middle position and preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Meanwhile,  cut cauliflower into individual bite-sized florets and coat with spice mixture.
4. Toss until well mixed.
5. Spread onto baking sheet.
6. Once the oven is preheated, put in the cauliflower and roast it, keep tossing it every 15 minutes or so
7. Leave the cauliflower to roast until it is tender.
8. Top with salt.
9. ENJOY!

Zesty Tip: When cooking vegetables, always salt after the cooking process is complete but make sure you do it right away.  Same holds true when you deep fry anything.

Have a great weekend and if football is your thing… ENJOY the game!

Take care

zesty

Good morning, good afternoon or good evening… depending on when you are reading this and what part of the world you are located.  This week has flown by very quickly which is a good thing since I enjoy the weekends so much.  Even though it’s a weeknight, I am going to a comedy show starring Jeremy Hotz.   I am pretty excited as it will be a nice break from the regular routine.

So I guess you’re wondering about the title, Not your average ham and cheese.  I had some Pita bread that I picked up from the bakery and I always seem to have some roasted turkey breast or deli ham in the fridge for a quick sandwich. As I love to use leftovers, I thought I would share a pita sandwich that I put together.

It is nothing fancy but great as a lunch or even a quick meal on the run.  Another great way to kick this up and add a different texture is to grill it with an indoor grill or even on the barbecue.  Basically grill it until the pita browns and the cheese melts.

Ingredients

• Pita Bread
• Ham Slices
• Lettuce
• Parsley (only if you have any)
• Tomatoes
• Cucumbers
• Parmesan Cheese ( sliced )
• 1 Tsp. Chili Powder
• Mayonnaise
• Mustard

Method

1. Cut the Pita bread in two and create a pocket like opening.
2. Mix chili powder, mayonnaise, and mustard together to make a spread.
3. Smear inside pita bread with some of the spread.
4. Place all other ingredients in the pita (be gentle).
5. ENJOY!

Zesty Tip: When using pita bread, if you find it is getting stale or simply not as fresh – a quick technique to bring it back to life is to slightly dampen the bread with your wet fingers and then place it in the oven for a few minutes.

Question of the Day:

What is your favorite Deli Meat?

I hope you have a great Thursday and I look forward to hearing all your answers regarding today’s question.

Take care

zesty