A Dagwood For All

Sometimes all you need is a big sandwich A Dagwood covers this >It's an easy make on a too hot summer's night and the perfect beach or picnic bring along.

The sandwich is named for the famed cartoon character Dagwood Bumstead  who has a penchant fot multilayered sandwiches. His were several layers high resembling a sky scraper. A better and more realistic version is the club sandwich or BLT. What os good about this is you can get creative. You can spread a layer of egg,m tuna or chicken salad on one layer. Top with sliced gherkins for some sweetness.The next layer could be any kind of cold cut and cheese that works with the salads. Spinach and tomato slices are anther great top layer, These give you nutrition as wells as color and crunch. You can also make a vegan Dagwood with soy pastrami, bologna and bacon along with one featuring nothing but healthy greens Remember to use heart healthy vegan mayonnaise too. This is made with soy protein instead of eggs. Also sub in brown bread bread too.

A Dagwood sandwich is a fun change up from the usual sandwich fare.Get creative to make a combo worthy of Dagwood Bumstead himself. It's a fun and yummy treat,

Pizza On The Grill

 We always use the grill for barbecuing, but you cn also use itr for pizza. This is a nice change up from all those hot dogs and burgers.It's perfect on a hot Weekend evening. topped with veggies from the garden

Thr great chef J. Kenji Lopez-Alt wrote about it along with giving a recipe for it in yesterday's New York Times Food section. Chef Lopez-Alt has had some experience in making these delicious pies.He created them for Cambridge 1 up in  Cambridge Massachusetts. Grilled pizza is made a little differently than oven fired. THe  store bought dough is rolled into a ball and then dipped in a bowl of olive oi for an hour or so of proofing. It's then  dusted with flour , rolled out an carefully draped over the grill. Both sides must be baked first before putting on the sauce and cheese on.As  for the sauce Chef Alt-Lopez recommends a pureed plum tomato mix which has bits of tomato in it.The mozzarella should be a low moisture one or shredded Once topped, the pizza is returned to the gill to melt. If you're adding meat or seafood toppings make sure they're cooked, Finish with a drizzle of olive oil ad a good sprinkling of chopped basil or scallions.

Pizza fresh off the grill is a nice change off from all those burgers and dog. It 's the perfect meal for a summer Saturday or Sunday night. Have it with a salad and a cold drink for  the best outdoor meal ever.

A Classic Closes

 Many restaurants are closing these days, Blame the next generation wanting something new. It's happened now to Lusco's in Greenwood Mississippi.

Brett Anderson wrote about this century old eatery located in the heart of the state. LIke many Southern establishments it does have a dark history of racism>Its' heyday was during the JIm Crow South and was even documented in 1966 on CBS with waiter Booker Wright telling is story. There was a revival in the town thanks to the Viking Range Company.It was founded in the town in 1987. Funny how the pandemic actually helped to extend the restaurant's life. There are booths and private rooms where diners can enjoy Lusco's famed steak and shrimp dinners in a kind of seclusion.Curtains protect them so it's relatively safe  to eat out.There are other restaurants like Fan and Johnny's.

Lusco's may have had a checkered history but it also has a beloved one in Greenwood<Regulars and fans will miss their amazing family cooking.It is a trip through the area's past

No Meat Allowed Barbecue

 It's easier than ever to have a vegan barbecue these days. Impossible Burger and Beyond Meat make it possible along with some Morningstar Farm products.These are a healthy alternative to the real thing.

Beyond Meat and Impossible Meat have patties that taste just as beefy as any animal based hamburger. If you want to jazz them up a bit then dusr both sides with onion powder before grilling.This brings to mind our mothers and grandmothers; recipes that combined  ground beef with minced onions.  You could also try a dusting of chili powder to give them heat.For those dog lovers , try Morningstar Farms hot dogs. Brush with olive oil or melted I Can't Believe It's Not Butter for a crisper skin. Also think about adding Miyoko's vegan Shredded Cheddar along with chili sauce for an over the hot dog. Use the cheese on the burgers too for a tasty good for you cheeseburger.

Nowadays it's easy to have a meat free barbecue. There are so many plant based products to make this happen. Try them for a healthier grilling experience.

Grown Up Floats

 There's something about an ice cream float on  a hot summer's day. Amp it up by making it an affogato, vanilla ice cream swimming in a pool of espresso.It's a yummy treat on an August day.

The Sunday New York Times Magazine had ErikKim's recipe yesterday and it's a definite must make. It's a scoop or two of vanilla or chocolate ice cream drowned in a heady shot of esspresso. Mr. Kim recommends gelato , something without eggs, but any type of non dairy ice cream can work too. I'm planning mine with an extra shot of chocolate syrup for a mocchiato vibe. A puff of whipped cream wouldn"t go amiss here either.

This is the perfect dream dessert for these humid days, Try it for a tasty take on this Italian classic,It's a blast of icy goodness during these dog days.

Anchovies And Peppers A Quick Summer Treat

 This is the time for garden veggies, especially peppers. One way to have them is with anchovies, a popular Piedmontese treat This is a great starter fo grilled steaks or a good lunch with plenty of Italian bread,

 You can use any color bell pepper, red yellow or green.First char the whole pepper. over an open flame or on the grill. Cut into strips and discard the seeds. Mix with the anchovies to form a kind of salad. You can add some olive oilbut not too much because the fish is already packed in it. I love it (as did my uncle) with thick slabs of Italian bread. You could turn the anchovies into bagna calda with the addition of a tiny bit of olive oil, butter and minced garlic. This is also good poured on peppers and even tomatoes and perfection over grilled steak,

Take advantage of the pepper harvests right now, They're great in a variety of dishes. They're elevated with rthe addition of anchovies.

Lucky Day For Fruit

 Even though it's Friday the 13th it's a lucky day for fruit. You can have it in a variety of different ways.Think frozen to cool off or fresh baked to end a hot dinner.

Puree strawberries and cantaloupes and then freeze into colorful ice cubes> These are perfect in lemonade or seltzer. They"re also great for homemade ice pops. Keep in mind that those berries are good in an easy to make crisp or cobbler. It's just an easy mix of flour sugar and butter . Fruit is dropped over this and then baked for an hour.If a hot oven is too much on these steamy days you can microwave it for only two to three minutes.

Take advantage of all the fruit out there right now. IT's a nice addition to these sweltering days. It's good eating and that's a lucky thing,