Bacon and Peach? Sandwiches on Pretzel Buns

Sigh...

I need to apologize for my unannounced leave of absence.  I realize my posts have been few and far between lately, and I hate to think I have left anyone hanging.  I have no excuse other than lately my recipes have been a flop.

No...more like, an inedible mess.  

Do you ever get like that?  Find yourself in a cooking slump...unable to think of anything new and exciting to make?

That's been me lately. I wish I could show you all of the failures I've had lately, but trust me, I did not want photographic evidence of these recipe disasters.

I was slowly strolling the aisles of Costco, pouting no doubt...when I found these little petite pretzel buns.  I have bought them before, and made delicious cheddar burgers on them.  I threw them in my basket and continued shopping.  By the end of my Costco trip my basket was overflowing with goodies.  A big box of white peaches, a block of my favorite Tillamook vintage white cheddar cheese, bacon, some Pirate's Bootie (white cheddar popcorn) and some staples.

As soon as I got home from the store  I immediately ripped open the pretzel rolls and had a taste.  They were salty and tasted like pretzels (duh).  Next I sliced a piece of that vintage white cheddar off and had another taste.  Yum this would be good on the pretzel rolls.

I looked over at the peaches.  What am I going to do with a 5 pound box of peaches before they go bad?  I know lets slice them and put them with the cheese and pretzel rolls.  And hello, what doesn't taste better with bacon?

Bacon and Peach Pretzel Bun Sandwiches

2 pretzel rolls, sliced in half
4 thin slices of white cheddar cheese
1 white peach, sliced thin
handful of spinach
4 slices of bacon

Assemble the rolls in front of you and start piling on the ingredients.  Layer spinach, bacon and peach slices evenly across the bottom of the rolls.  Top with cheese then put the top of the sandwich on.  Put into a panini press for a couple of minutes just to melt the cheese and warm up the roll.

Serve and eat immediately.

Salty pretzel bun, crispy bacon, sharp white cheddar and sweet juicy peaches? Yeah that's not weird at all.

Chocolate Mocha Granola

I recently just got back from vacation in Oregon and it was really great to see my family and Charlie my dog.  When I moved to Chicago I decided to leave him in Oregon, which was a really hard decision for me to make.  He is a farm dog though, and I knew he would be miserable going from a big house and big yard, to a tiny apartment and being indoors all day. So he stays with my parents in Oregon and I know it's the right decision because he is so happy.  And has become a bit of a grandma's boy.  Look at that blanket baby.

While I was home I took him for a few country drives and you can just look at the picture below and see that he is one happy dog.  Who wouldn't be happy with a daily view like that?

 Serenity my friends.

While I was home I also went wedding dress shopping...with my dad! My poor mother was recovering from knee replacement surgery and regrettably couldn't go with us.  I was so surprised that my dad was as good of a sport as he was.  He helped me in and out of wedding gowns, and made very thoughtful and insightful comments as to what looked good (and what didn't).  I found not only one gown, but 2!  My parents got me my dream dresses and I couldn't be happier, or more thankful.  I got to see friends, my lovely nieces, eat at my favorite hometown restaurant, Kwong's cafe, and my grandmother gave me a very special keepsake.  She gave me a pearl ring that my grandfather had given her.  It will be my "something old" on my wedding day.  My dad also made me his french toast, which I love.  It was a yummy brunch. 

  I also love granola for breakfast.  It's one of those things that is super easy (and much cheaper) to make than buy in the store.  Not to mention it just tastes a whole lot better.  The store bought granola is often too hard.  Like teeth-shatteringly-crunchy.  We all know I love crunch, but I'd also love to not be in pain after eating breakfast or a snack.

I've made lots of variations to my general granola recipe.  Sometimes adding dried fruit, different types of nuts and seeds, or peanut butter and white chocolate.  All combos are good in my opinion.  Granola is delicious on top of fruit, ice cream or yogurt, mixed in a parfait, cut into bars for an easy snack on the go, or just by the handful. 

Chocolate Mocha Granola

2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 cup coconut
1 cup slivered almonds
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup canola or vegetable oil
1/4 cup honey
1 Tbs instant espresso/coffee powder
2 Tbs cocoa powder
2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt

Mix oats, coconut, almonds and brown sugar in a bowl and set aside.  In a smaller bowl combine oil, honey, coffee powder, cocoa, vanilla and salt.  Mix well then pour over oat mixture.  Stir everything to combine and coat all of the oats and nuts with the chocolate mixture.

Spread evenly onto a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.  Stir every 5 minutes.  Your house should smell amazing at this point.  After 15 or so minutes, take the granola out of the oven and allow to cool before storing in an air tight container. 

I think I'll have breakfast for dinner tonight.

Iced Coconut Chai Tea

This really shouldn't even be considered a "recipe".  It's that stupidly easy.  So why am I posting it? Well...because it's good. Enough said.

I honestly love coffee shops like Starbucks and Caribou, but I hate the coffee shop price tag.  It's honestly ridiculous how much they charge to mix pre-made chai tea concentrate with milk and then charge me $4.50 for it.  Lame.  And I have to admit it was a convenience thing in the past.  Yes I could easily walk the 10 steps into the kitchen and make a drink myself but why not just let someone do it for me.  Yes I have felt that lazy on occasion, especially when it's so hot outside I literally can't breathe.

I like to buy Tazo or Oregon Chai in a pack of 3 from Costco.  It's so much more cost efficient and you will get way more drinks this way then if you were to go to a coffee shop.  It's worth it.  I typically make my chai cold, over ice with some 2% milk, but I decided to change it up a bit today and make it with coconut milk.  2 ingredients and a few seconds later, you can be sipping your own Starbucks quality chai tea but with the satisfaction of knowing it's costing you a fraction of the price.

Ice Coconut Chai Tea

2 cups Tazo or Oregon Chai Tea Concentrate
1 can coconut milk
Ice

Divide the Chai concentrate among 2 glasses.  Shake the can of coconut milk vigourously, to mix it well.  Divide the coconut milk between the two glasses.  Stir and top with lots of ice to make it nice and chilly.  Sip and enjoy.

*To make a hot chai, simply combine chai tea and coconut milk in a small saucepan and gently heat over medium heat until it steams but does NOT boil.  Pour into mugs and serve immediately.

I'm thirsty.