Deli @ Home: Reuben

I love sandwiches. My hubby doesn't. The compromise? Reuben sandwich. A reuben is so much more than just a sandwich, especially this one. The Russian dressing spread, good swiss cheese, and freshly sliced corned beef brisket makes this reuben one of the best ones you will ever taste.

Reuben Sandwich

Reuben Sandwich
From Simply Recipes
Serves 2
Ingredients
Sandwich

• 1 tbsp of butter, softened
• 4 slices of rye bread
• 4 slices of Swiss cheese
• 1/2lb corned beef brisket, thinly sliced (get this fresh, from your local butcher or deli counter)
• 1/4lb sauerkraut
• 1/4 cup Russian Dressing

Russian Dressing

• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1 1/2 tbsp ketchup
• 1 1/2 tsp horseradish
• 1/2 tsp Worchestershire sauce
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

Recipe

1. Butter one side of two slices of bread, and place the buttered-side down on a large piece of wax paper on a flat surface. Top each with a slice of Swiss cheese, and then divide half of the corned beef among them.
2. Squeeze out as much excess moisture from the sauerkraut as you can. Divide the sauerkraut among the sandwiches, and top each with one tablespoon of Russian dressing. Add another layer of corned beef and a second slice of Swiss cheese to each sandwich. Top with the remaining bread slices; butter the side facing out.
3. Heat a medium or large saute pan over medium heat. Cook the sandwiches on one side until the bread is golden brown. Use a spatula to carefully flip the sandwiches over and finish cooking on the second side. Cut the sandwiches in half before serving.

Bye bye, IKEA

IKEA was my first (and unfortunately, my only) encounter with Swedish meatballs, so when I thought about creating the dish, the idea of making an unfamiliar dish scared and excited me at the same time. How nice would it be to enjoy those delicious meatballs comfortably at home as opposed to snacking on them in between shopping for chairs and office desks?

Like Germany, Swedish food tends to be practical and sustaining, but like the country itself, neighboring countries have extended their influence over Swedish cuisine. Swedish meatballs, probably Sweden's most popular and well-known dish, are usually accompanied by lingonberry jam. I figured that the jam is probably served to not only sweeten, but also lighten the thick creamy meatball sauce. I decided to reinvent this dish to create a modern Swedish Napoleon.

Swedish Napoleon - Swedish Meatballs, served with Cherry syrup and Whipped Sour Cream

I boiled down some fresh cherries and sugar to create a fresh cherry syrup to replace the lingonberry jam. I used puff pastry to give the dish some starch and crunchy texture. I also fluffed up some sour cream and milk (using a beater) to bridge all the layers together to create an explosion of flavors when you take your first bite. I will say this much - IKEA is no longer good enough for me!