Betty B’s Fresh Wrap (a la McDonalds)


It has happened to all of us:  you are driving on a highway and have to get something to each.  Your choices are leaving the highway and taking goodness know how long to find a restaurant or stop at Mickey D‘s.  We were faced with that choice recently and didn’t want to add an hour or more to our journey so we opted for McDonalds thinking a small hamburger would tide us over.  We were surprised to find a new option on the menu: a Fresh Wrap.  We ordered it and were even more surprised to find it was quite good.  Of course, immodestly,  I felt I could made a better version at home.  Freshly grilled chicken and some slices of ripe avocado make this a lunch I would happily serve to guests. 

1 thin chicken cutlet, lightly rubbed with olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper
1 cup lettuce, finely shredded
1 medium tomato, chopped
¼ cup sharp cheddar, shredded
4 slices crisp bacon
8 slices avocado
2 flour tortillas

Dressing:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
Pinch of salt
Pinch of pepper
½ teaspoon Dijon mustard

Grill the chicken breast until done.  Lightly grill tortillas to soften. Slice chicken into thin strips.

Mix lettuce and tomato with dressing.

Place ½ of lettuce and tomato on each tortilla.  Top with ½ each of cheese, bacon, avocado and chicken.  Roll up tightly and enjoy!

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Quiche Lorraine

Quiche Lorraine - essentially a fancy sounding French name for what the Brits would call a bacon and egg pie! Still, the combination does produce an elegant dish that is at home for brunch, lunch or supper. Even better - you can make it ahead and even freeze it. Doesn't get much more versatile than that.

Ingredients:

1 prebaked pie shell, 9 to 10 inches
4 slices bacon cooked till quite crisp and crumbled
1 large onion, sliced about 1/4" inch thick and cooked until softened in bacon fat
4 ounces Swiss or Gruyere cheese, shredded
2 whole eggs and 2 egg yolks
2 cups heavy cream
a few gratings of nutmeg

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Combine eggs and cream either in a food processor or mix well with a whisk.
Put onion, drained of fat, in bottom of pie crust, top with bacon pieces.
Add cheese and pour in egg/cream mixture.
Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes, lower temperature to 350 degrees and bake for another 15 minutes or until pie seems fairly firm when shaken.

Variations:

Cooked broccoli and cheddar cheese
Smoked salmon, Swiss cheese and asparagus.



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A lovely Mother's Day message from a viewer....



My mother use to cook like you cook...many years ago...wish I could roll back the years and visit her just one more time on this Mothers day...I can't wish my mother a happy Mothers day, so I will wish you a happy Mothers day instead!!! 
JW

Grilling Tip: Barbeque Rub

Barbecue season has finally arrived!  In preparation, I have made a double batch of my favorite rub.  It's great on pork and chicken and I'm thinking I'll use it next time I grill some salmon.  Just rub it on whatever you are planning to grill an hour or two ahead of time to let the flavors seep in.


3 tablespoons sweet Hungarian paprika
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon dry mustard
1 tablespoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons kosher salt
Grill until almost done and baste with your favorite sauce.

Tip for Today: Potato Ricer


 
Tip for today:  If you own a potato ricer, it is the best tool for squeezing the liquid out of defrosted frozen spinach!  It gets it absolutely dry and saves lots of time.