The Ultimate Bacon Caprese Sandwich Food

BACON CAPRESE SANDWICH

Steps:

• Cook bacon to desired crispiness.
• Meanwhile, slice your tomato and mozzarella.
• Slide bread and add mayo, tomato slices, mozzarella slices, basil, bacon, and salt & pepper.

THE ULTIMATE CUBAN SANDWICH

Steps:

• Begin by braising the pork shoulder. Tie the shoulder in 4 places with kitchen twine so it will hold its shape while being cooked or ask your butcher to do this for you. Season the pork with salt, pepper, cumin and oregano. Set the base of a pressure cooker over low-medium heat and add a 2 count of olive oil.
• Add garlic and chili flakes and as the oil heats up it will become fragrant and infuse the oil. Add the pork. Add onions around the pork and brown slightly before adding orange juice, lime juice, stock and bay leaves.
• Secure the lid of the pressure cooker and cook for 20 to 25 minutes depending on the size of your pressure cooker. The pork should be tender when done. When done allow to cool in juices before removing twine and slicing.
• To prepare Cuban sandwiches, split bread in half then layer the sandwich with mustard, cheese, pickles, ham, pork then cheese again (the cheese glues everything together). Season with salt and pepper in between the ham and pork layers. (Optional: drizzle a little of the pork braising liquid over the meat as well).
• To cook, heat a large cast iron skillet or grill pan over medium heat and lightly coat with olive oil. Place the sandwiches on the skillet and top with another heavy skillet and a couple of heavy weights (bricks, or cans of tomatoes work well). Press down firmly and cook for 5 to 7 minutes per side until the sandwich has compressed to about a third of its original size and the bread is super-crispy. Serve with beans, rice and plantain chips.

THE ULTIMATE BACON CHEESEBURGER

Steps:

• Put the bacon in a large nonstick saute pan over medium heat. Cook just until the fat is rendered out, 5 to 7 minutes. (The bacon should not brown at all.) Remove the bacon from the pan and place in the bowl of a small food processor. There should be about 2 tablespoons of bacon fat that has collected in the pan.
• Place the buns into the warm bacon fat, cut-side down. Toast the buns they are until golden brown around the edges, about 2 minutes. Set aside for burger assembly.
• Pulse the par-cooked bacon in the food processor until it is coarsely ground, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Transfer the bacon to a large mixing bowl. Add the ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Use your hand to gently work the bacon and seasonings into the ground beef. Divide the meat into 4 portions (6 to 7 ounces each). Loosely pack the meat into 4 thick patties, using your thumb to create a shallow dimple in the center of each. Sprinkle the outside of each patty with salt and pepper as desired.
• Preheat the grill and generously oil the grill grates. Place the patties on the grill and cook to the desired degree of doneness, 3 to 5 minutes on each side. Top each patty with a slice of American cheese and cover the grill to allow the cheese to melt, 30 seconds.
• Assemble the burgers and top with ranch, lettuce, tomato slices and red onion. Serve immediately.

CAPRESE SANDWICH

Steps:

• Salt the tomatoes and layer on the bottom piece of bread with the mozzarella and basil. Drizzle with Basil Oil. Top with the remaining piece of bread. Slice into portions.
• Add the basil to boiling water for 45 seconds to 1 minute. Remove to a bowl of ice water to stop it from further cooking. Dry and add to a blender. Add the olive oil, and blend until smooth. Strain through cheesecloth into a bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add the lemon juice right before serving.

MAKE-AHEAD HAM AND CAPRESE PICNIC SANDWICH

Steps:

• Add the olive oil, vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper to a mixing bowl and whisk to combine. Then add the tomato and coat in the dressing. Set aside.
• Slice the loaf of bread in half through the center and open it like a book, cut side up. Remove some of the crumb from the bread and use for something else.
• Spoon 3 tablespoons of the tomato dressing over the bottom half of bread. Place the ham on top of the bottom half of bread in an even layer. Top the ham with the mozzarella and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Layer the tomatoes on top of the mozzarella. Top the tomatoes with the basil. Drizzle the remaining tomato dressing on the top half of the bread. Place the top on and wrap the sandwich tightly with plastic wrap.
• Refrigerate the sandwich for 3 to 4 hours. Unwrap and cut into 6 pieces when ready to serve.

CAPRESE SANDWICH

Steps:

• If using focaccia, cut the slices across the middle so you have a total of eight slices. Spread 1/4 tbsp pesto over four of the focaccia or bread slices, and drizzle each of the remaining four slices with 1/2 tsp olive oil.
• Divide the rocket, mozzarella, tomatoes, basil leaves and red onion slices over the pesto-topped focaccia or bread. Drizzle 1/4 tsp balsamic vinegar over each of the remaining slices. Sandwich the slices together, wrap up for a picnic or serve straightaway. Best eaten on the day they're made.