Friend Generated Content

Friends are often great sources of inspiration--this blog for example!--and the culinary world is no exception.

I thought I'd share a few recent food inventions created by people I know.

First, from my co-worker Kaley Turner, is a rather interesting sandwich, though nameless it is nonetheless tasty:

For this sandwich you will require:

• 2 slices of your favorite bread


• 2 slices of your favorite cheese


• Your favorite peanut butter


• Your favorite hot sauce


• Cream cheese (optional)
  

To assemble:

• Apply peanut butter to one slice of bread and add as much hot sauce to taste.


• If using cream cheese spread it on the other slice and add sliced cheese, if not then apply sliced cheese directly to peanut butter and hot sauce.


• Place in toaster oven or under broiler until bread is toasty and cheese is sufficiently melty, alternately grill in a skillet or place in a George Foreman or other sandwich press.


• Slice, garnish with pickle, potato chips, more hot sauce and/or cream cheese for dipping, serve with beer

Next up is a refreshing beverage courtesy of Nicole Franks. She concocted this tasty sipper a few nights ago during a late night rummy game. Tentatively titled the "Soft Sailor," here's how it works:

How to build:

• In a glass of your choosing add 1-3 shots of bourbon (we had Even Williams)


• Add ice and ginger ale (we had Diet Canadian Dry on hand)


• Stir in 1/2-1 teaspoon of sweetened vanilla extract or vanilla syrup

Sure, bourbon and ginger is nothing terribly new, but the addition of the sweetened vanilla gave it a well rounded flavor and added some "warmth" to the beverage. It was agreed that a similar concoction could be made from bourbon and cream soda if a sweetened ginger syrup were added. As this was the first iteration of this drink it's too soon to tell if it must be made with diet ginger ale, but I feel like some Vernor's would be a nice alternative.

Finally, a sandwich of my own invention, inspired by a friend's desire for the following:

1. sandwiches


2. chocolate


3. bacon

Here's what I came up with, you may call it the "Jon Supreme":

Hardware:

• 2 slices of your favorite bread


• Cream cheese


• Honey


• Cinnamon


• Nutella
  
• Bacon


• Walnuts and/or pecans

How to make it:

• Prepare (at least) 3 pieces of bacon per sandwich using your preferred method of bacon prep


• Coarsely chop nuts, place in skillet or on sheet pan and toast until fragrant


• Add cream cheese, honey, and cinnamon to the bowl of a mixer, mix vigorously to combine


• Once cream cheese mixture is fluffy and sufficiently combined, spread generously onto one slice of bread.


• Cover the other slice of bread with Nutella.


• Add nuts and bacon to sandwich and close


• Grill in a skillet until warm and melty


• Serve for breakfast with strong coffee or for dinner with a dark beer
  

I hope that inspires you to invent something new and share it with your friends!

Cheers!

Jon