Sunday, December 30, 2012

#SundaySupper Kicked-Up New Year's Potluck...Featuring Columbia Street Grinders from Emeril's Kicked-Up Sandwiches Cookbook!

Sandwiches…who doesn’t love them? Little (…and not-so-little) kids love PB&J…and grown-ups love BLTs and chicken salad. Here’s the thing, though. Done incorrectly, a sandwich can be a little on the boring side...but done right? They are a thing of beauty. Emeril Lagasse is my kind of chef: he specializes in the big-flavor cooking that I crave. His latest cookbook is Emeril's Kicked-Up Sandwiches. As part of this week’s New Year's Eve Potluck #SundaySupper Emeril Style, I was selected to receive a copy of this amazing book and share a recipe with you. What can I say? This book is AWESOME! I found so many recipes that I can’t wait to make! Check out these selections: French Bread Pizza Sandwiches with Hot Italian Sausage, Roast Beef "Debris" Po'Boy, and Chicken and Biscuits with Redeye Gravy. I'm going to have a blast cooking my way through this cookbook!

One recipe stood out as the perfect Texans football game-watching food, though: Columbia Street Grinder. This stuffed hoagie-style sandwich pairs crusty bread with tons of tasty deli meats and cheese, flavorful veggies, and a zingy herb-flavored balsamic vinaigrette. This sandwich is super-easy to assemble the morning of the big game, and you don't even have to fire up the oven. I followed the recipe exactly, with one small exception: since I'm making my sandwich for a party, I made two large sandwiches rather than four smaller ones. Then, when everyone’s ready to eat, they can simply slice off part of the sandwich and dig in. Men especially seem to love eating a meaty sub sandwich for some reason, so this one’s going to be a big hit at my house!

Columbia Street Grinder 
 Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse, Emeril’s Kicked-Up Sandwiches, William Morrow Publishers, New York, 2012
Sandwich Ingredients:
  • Four 6-inch loaves Portuguese stick bread, or Italian or French loaves
  • Balsamic-Herb Vinaigrette (see below)
  • 8 ounces provolone cheese
  • 8 ounces sliced mortadella
  • 8 ounces sliced spicy ham, such as capicola
  • 8 ounces sliced salami
  • 1 large tomato, cut into eight 1/4-inch-thick slices
  • 12 thin onion slices 
  • 12 jarred hot or sweet cherry peppers, drained and roughly chopped
  • 2 cups torn green-leaf lettuce
Balsamic-Herb Vinaigrette (makes 3/4 cup):
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil leaves
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano leaves
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

To make vinaigrette:
1. In a small mixing bowl, combine the balsamic vinegar, basil, oregano, and garlic; whisk well to mix. Continue whisking while slowly drizzling in the olive oil in a slow, steady stream. Add the salt and pepper, and whisk to combine.
2. The vinaigrette may be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

To assemble the sandwiches:
1. Cut the loaves of bread in half lengthwise, and arrange them in a single layer, cut sides up. Liberally brush the bread with the vinaigrette. On the bottom half of each loaf, evenly layer one-quarter of the provolone, followed by one-quarter of the mortadella, one-quarter of the spicy ham, and one-quarter of the salami. Top with 2 slices of tomato and 3 slices of onion. Divide the cherry peppers among the sandwiches. Stir the vinaigrette and generously drizzle it over the onion and tomato.
2. In a small bowl, toss the torn lettuce with some of the remaining vinaigrette. Divid the lettuce among the 4 sandwiches, top with the other halves of the bread, and serve.

Verdict: this sandwich is anything but boring…Emeril scored a touchdown with this sandwich! Flavorful deli meats, creamy provolone, zesty onions and peppers…and that tart, herby vinaigrette combined to make one heck of a sandwich! I plan to serve this sandwich with two kinds of chips, a couple of dips, and homemade cookies. Because this sandwich was made ahead of time, I won’t have to miss one play of today’s Texans-Colts game! I especially loved that the recipe offers up a couple of variations on the bread and peppers that can be used. To me, the key to this sandwich is to buy the best-quality meat, cheese, and bakery bread that you can get your hands on. When a dish is simple, the quality of ingredients makes all the difference.

Our #SundaySupper group is featuring two Emeril cookbooks today: the Emeril's Kicked-Up Sandwiches book I received and Emeril's Potluck! I have both of these books in my cookbook collection and love them! They can be purchased by clicking on the following links:



 Be sure to join the #SundaySupper crew for a Twitter chat tonight at 600 CST. We’ll be sharing all our favorite tips for making great sandwiches and potluck foods. As a special post-holiday treat, Willam Morrow Publishers is going to give one of my readers a copy of Emeril's Kicked-Up Sandwiches. To be entered to win, you have to take part in the Twitter chat this evening, and winners will be selected during the chat. I hope you'll take a few minutes to check out the fabulous Emeril recipes that my fellow #SundaySupper bloggers are sharing today...you’re sure to find something that’s perfect for upcoming bowl game parties or NFL playoff parties!

Sunday Supper NYE Potluck Drinks:
Sunday Supper NYE Potluck Starters:
Sunday Supper NYE Potluck Dishes and Sandwiches:  
Sunday Supper NYE Desserts:

30 comments:

  1. Oh that balsamic dressing must be the kicker for this sandwich. I love all the meats and cheese in it too.

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    1. The balsamic is SO good...especially when it has a few hours to sit in the fridge. The fresh herbs really infuse their flavor by then!

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  2. That surely is a "man-sized" sandwich! Have a safe and happy new year, Wendy!

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    1. You too! This one's pretty stuffed, but cutting it in half made it much easier to eat!

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  3. Okay, I want to drink the dressing! YUM!

    Happy New Year!

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  4. Seriously...the balsamic-herb vinaigrette is TO DIE FOR, right?!?!?! I loved all the sandwich ingredients, but the vinaigrette totally took it over the top.

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    1. Yes...it's AMAZING! I also went to the Central Market Deli and bought imported meats from Italy + Boar's Head provolone picante. This is one good sandwich...

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    1. Yes...fast to make and easy to eat! The meat was a bit pricy, but worth it for the end result!

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  6. That is one amazing looking sandwich! Wow!!! ~ Bea @ Galactosemia in PDX

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    1. It's got a lot of big flavor going on from the spicy meats, the pepper/onion, and the balsamic!

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  7. Sounds terrific. This is def on my must make list!

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    1. It's really great for feeding a crowd and is ready in less than 30 minutes...make the vinaigrette the day before, and it's even faster!

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  8. Wendy, you took this sandwich over the top! It looks absolutely amazing! Thank you for being such a big part of #SundaySupper! I am looking forward to many more #Sunday Supper events with you next year! Happy New Year!

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    1. Thanks, sweet Isabel! I had a blast making this sandwich...so good!!

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  9. I love Emeril!! That looks delicious!!!

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    1. He is one of my favorite chefs...New Orleans is one of my favorite culinary cities!

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  10. That sandwich looks amazing!

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    1. It is very good...the spicy ham, mortadella (similar to bologna), and sopprasetta salami are so spicy and good!

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  11. Wow! This is one gorgeous sandwich. Do you deliver;)

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  12. I love, love a sub with a vinaigrette! This one is no exception! I'm so glad you joined Sunday Supper this year, Wendy!!! Happy New Year! xo

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    1. I'm so very glad that I joined in as well...it's been a fabulous experience! Happy New Year to you too, Lizzy!

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  13. Mmmm... looks like you might have grabbed some fire-roasted peppers for your sandwich. Good choice! These sandwiches were delicious!

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    1. I did go for fire-roasted...they gave the sandwich a really nice flavor!

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  14. I was a funny child, I ever liked PB&J. My mom said I skipped that stage and went straight into liking sandwiches like this, especially BLT's. :) It was more work for her but I got a great culinary education at a young age. :)

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  15. We're watching football right now + I could sooo go for one of those grinders - a perfect football-watching meal. =) YUM! And an early Happy New Year's to ya!

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  16. Your beautiful shots of putting the sandwich together really got my stomach rumbling in hunger. Wow, did that bread ever look enticing with that gorgeous herb vinaigrette smothered all over it! I wish I had a giant sandwich right now :) Happy New Years to you and your family!

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  17. I LOVE this sandwich! It is totally a keeper. It would be perfect for both New Year's Eve and the Superbowl! Excellent photos, BTW!

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