melty deliciousness

me again. and first off, i apologize for the bad photo. number one: the whole meal was less "oily" than it appears. my flash does funny things with food. i was just in a rush. number two: i really did take a bite of this and immediately jump up to get my camera thinking "this has GOT to go on the blog"! i think alan called it "super fantastic" and we both agreed this is going to be a new standby in the peck household, ranking right up there with our old favorites, blt and tacos. it's quick and easy too! so, without further ado:

Apricot-and-Cheddar Chicken Melt

(courtesy of september's Everyday Foods magazine)

in a plastic ziploc bag, combine:

¼ cup white wine vinegar
2 TBSP Dijon mustard
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, split horizontally

place chicken in the bag, seal, and marinate at room temperature for 15 minutes or up to 24 hours in refrigerator.

4 slices good-quality bread, very lightly toasted
heaping ¼ cup apricot preserves
4 slices deli ham (i used black forest)
1 cup grated white cheddar cheese (i used regular cheddar)

line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and spray lightly with non-stick cooking spray.

lift chicken from marinade and place on baking sheet. broil (without turning) 4-6 minutes, until chicken is cooked through. transfer chicken to a plate and set aside. remove foil from baking sheet.

spread the bread with the apricot preserves. place bread on baking sheet and top with chicken, ham, and cheese. broil 4-6 more minutes, until bread is toasty and cheese is melted.

posted by spyderette

Grape and Apple Salad

1 TBSP olive oil
½ - 1 TBSP white wine vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
1-2 TBSP honey (to taste)
whisk together in a bowl and toss with:

½ - 1 granny smith apple, cored and thinly sliced, slices halved
½ cup red grapes, halved
romaine lettuce

i’m thinking of miss Rachel and the vinegar problem and i think this dressing would be yummy with white grape juice in place of the vinegar and honey…it would give a little sweetness, a little tartness, and an overall brightness to the dressing. anyone want to give it a try? the salad was a really nice accompaniment to the sandwich. two thumbs up from my worst critic, Alexander.