T his was yet again another wonderful week for food.  Given the cold and the snow ad infinitum I cancelled the broiled lobster and did a hearty lobster thermidor instead.  Wow!  What a treat.  It would be a super  dish for Valentine’s Day – very elegant and romantic.  And easy to do in advance.  In fact you would want to cook the lobster and remove the meat from the body and the claws well in advance as this is a bit messy and would do unpleasant things to your little black dress.  Having done that, one needs only to make the sauce, add the lobster, spoon it into the shells – and when ready, put it in the oven while you enjoy the glass of champagne!  Fast food at it’s best!

The pork roast was also  great – and again, a great visual. Brining does so much for  pork and then the addition of the pesto – great flavor as well. It worked well with our scalloped potatoes and sautéed cabbage – our Super Bowl dinner…

My open faced Rueben’s are always a success. And fast, easy and satisfying.  Here’s my rendition:

My Open Faced Rueben Sandwiches

For 4 Sandwiches

4 slices bakery quality rye bread

1 small bag of sauerkraut, drained

½ lb turkey pastrami (or more for bigger sandwiches)

8slices of Munster cheese

12 slices of pickle (your choice) sliced the long way

½ cup (or more) of Russian Dressing

1.     Pre heat the broiler.

2.     Heat the sauerkraut in microwave for 2 minutes

3.     Line a half sheet with foil and set out four slices of rye

4.     Spread sauerkraut over bread.  Top with turkey pastrami

5.     Set pickles over pastrami, cover each sandwich with 2 slices Munster

6.     Broil until cheese starts to melt.  Cover with Russian dressing.  Return to broiler until browned and bubbling and ready to serve.

Mon. AM             Steak and Eggs 

Mon. PM              Sole Grenobloise (with lemon and capers) 60 Min

                             Boiled Potatoes with Parsley and Butter

                             Roasted Beets

Tues. AM             White Bean, Ham and Kale Soup BKS 309 

Tues. PM              Lasagna with Sausage Ragu LIAK 156

                             Tossed Salad

                             Peasant Bread

Weds. AM            Chicken Soup 

Weds. PM            Roasted Pork with Pesto

                             Scalloped Potatoes

                             Sautéed Cabbage with Caraway

                             Tossed Salad with Pear

Thurs. AM           Lasagna 

Thurs. PM            Chicken, Andouille and Shrimp Gumbo GM 1/84

                             Steamed Rice

                             Tossed Salad

Fri. AM                Gumbo with Rice 

Fri.                        Pork Chops Braised in Marsala CIC 294

                             Pasta with French Tomato Sauce

                             Baby Peas

Sat. AM               White Bean Soup

Sat. PM      Lasagna with Sausage Ragu LIAK 156

                             Tossed Salad

                             Peasant Bread

Sun. AM              Curried Eggs on English Muffins 

Sun. PM               Cajun Calamari TNB 381

                             Sauerbraten OHC

                             Potato Pancakes OHC

                             Braised Red Cabbage with Apples