Poker Party Sandwiches

A friend and I have a Hold' em game every Saturday afternoon through the winter. There are usually 8- 12 guys who show up. I thought this year it would be cool to have different sandwiches each week. I'm not talking about grilled cheese, or PBJ. But things that people don't always get to try. Bahn Mi, Carnitas Torta, fried Clam roll, Cubans.
Can you all help me with some ideas for different sandwiches and how to make them?
It takes the sting out of loosing your loot if you have good eats.
Thanks!!!

italian sausage with peppers and onions of a good roll!!!! Brats and sourkraut and swiss cheese with good mustard!!! Cant miss with either one!---Or italian style bread that is stuffed with sausage/broccoli rabe--or sausage and about any grreens before baking---see if you bet the dough frozen --roll it out---flat--add stuffing--roll--let it rise and bake it off!!!!---searve hot!

My first thought was if the sandwiches are to be served before or after the card playing. That would allow for a multitude of delicious, greasy, or dripping with sauce or other dressing sandwiches which would not be appropriate for consumption at the card table during the game.

tiki had some great idea's, and I like your thoughts about fried clam rolls or Cubans, although I think you need a press to do a proper Cuban.

How about some nice deli style, like hot pastrami or corned beef on rye with good Kosher dill or polish pickles on the side.

Maybe Italian subs; good rolls with the eaters choice of meats, cheese, dressing, and veggies (lettuce, tomato, onion, hot and sweet peppers). It would be fun to have everything on platters and let everyone make their own.

Sanwiches are served before the game. Only thing served at the table is booze. I have a Cuisinart sandwich press so that's all good.
Tiki- Those stuffed sanwiches sound great. I can never find Broccoli Rabe here in Seattle!! Is it seasonal??

Try an Asian or Italian market in Seattle. They're bound to have broccoli rabe, also called broccoli raab, rapini, or plain rabe.

What about good old fashioned meatloaf sandwhiches or hot turkey and mashed potatoes with gravy? Both very good when it is cold out. Tortas are good all year around...

Also, what about tortilla wraps? Almost like a sandwhich and you can fill them with just about anything.

Pitas or Gyros would be good also.

Sounds like fun!
How about a muffalatta (sp?) You can make it the day before and just cut and eat!
Enjoy!
KB

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Hoffman

Try an Asian or Italian market in Seattle. They're bound to have broccoli rabe, also called broccoli raab, rapini, or plain rabe.

yeah---what he said---or you can use spinach--or chopped broccoli--any greens really--i've used dandelion greens and LOVE them!chop your greens---saute in a pan with the sausage meat--olive oil--garlic and a little crushed ped pepper flakes!!--then fill the bread dough---make ahead and partially cook them---stick em in the freezer and pull them out early the day you play poker---i guarentee---they will love it!

How about some dainty, little cucumber tea sandwiches?

Just kidding. Check out this recipe.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Stromboli
Ingredients:
1 (11-oz.) can Pillsbury® Refrigerated Crusty French Loaf
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
4 oz. thinly sliced cooked deli ham
6 oz. thinly sliced cooked deli chicken
1 (6-oz.) jar Green Giant® Sliced Mushrooms, drained
1 large green bell pepper, thinly sliced
4 oz. (1 cup) shredded mozzarella cheese
6 oz. (1 1/2 cups) shredded Swiss cheese
1/4 cup purchased honey-Dijon salad dressing
Prep Time: 15 min (Ready in 45 min )
Preparation Directions:
1. Heat oven to 375°F. Spray cookie sheet with butter-flavored nonstick cooking spray. Unroll dough onto sprayed cookie sheet. Press to form 14x12-inch rectangle.
2. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle remaining Parmesan cheese lengthwise in 4-inch-wide strip down center of dough to within 1/4 inch of each end. Top with ham, chicken, mushrooms, bell pepper, cheeses and salad dressing.
3. Bring one long side of dough up and over filling, completely covering filling. Repeat with remaining long side, overlapping dough. Press edge to seal. Fold ends under. With sharp knife, cut 5 slits in top of dough to allow steam to escape. Sprinkle with reserved 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese.
4. Bake at 375°F. for 18 to 24 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 5 minutes. Cut into slices.

5 servings

These will all make my list. Keep 'em coming! It's a long winter...

Here is a recipe that I have used many times and love it..................easy to eat as you do not need a fork and knife; just a small bowl of pasta sauce to dip it in.



Mini Sausage Calzones

Preparation time: 25 min.

Cooking time: 15 min.

Ideal condiment: pizza sauce

Ingredients
1 pound frozen bread dough, thawed

8 ounces sweet Italian sausage

1/4 cup chopped onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 teaspoon dried basil

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 cup Italian-style tomato sauce

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

1 egg

2 tablespoons milk

MAKES 8 CALZONES




Step 1
Divide dough into 8 portions. Heat a large skillet over medium heat; add sausage. Cook until brown and crumbly; drain fat. Preheat oven to 425' F. Grease a baking sheet.

Step 2
Stir onion, garlic, basil, oregano, and tomato sauce into skillet; simmer for 10 minutes. Roll each dough piece into a 5-inch circle. Spoon sausage mixture onto each circle; sprinkle with cheeses.

Step 3
Moisten edges of dough with water. Fold dough over to enclose filling; press to seal. Place on prepared baking sheet.

Step 4
Beat egg with milk. Brush over calzones. Bake for about 15 minutes or until golden brown. Serve immediately.

If it is more convenient than you can prepare calzones as recipe directs and wrap individually in foil; freeze for up to 2 weeks. Thaw; reheat in a 325' F oven for 10 minutes or until heated through.

Serving Variation
The filling possibilities are endless-add 1/4 cup chopped black olives, chopped pepper or sun dried tomatoes.

Not culinarily-inspiring (look, Ma, I'm making up words!) but fast and good.

Lazy Stromboli:

Large flour tortillas
sliced pepperoni
sliced cappicola or a good strong sliced ham
sliced or shredded mozzarella
melted or very soft butter
grated parmesean
marinara sauce for dipping

Preheat oven to about 375/400. For each tortilla; Brush each side with butter, sprinkle with parmesean (I just fill a plate w/parm. and lay the tortilla on it as I work) and layer with ham, pepperoni, mozzarella, and roll up "wrap style" by tucking the ends in. You want a wrap, not a burrito so keep the fillings fairly straight and level as you roll them. Place on greased baking sheet, sprinkle with a little additional shredded mozzarella and bake for about 15 minutes or until cheese on top is browned. Serve with marinara.

quote:

Originally posted by tiki

Italian sausage with peppers and onions of a good roll!!!! Brats and sauerkraut and Swiss cheese with good mustard!!! Cant miss with either one!---Or Italian style bread that is stuffed with sausage/broccoli rabe--or sausage and about any grreens before baking---see if you bet the dough frozen --roll it out---flat--add stuffing--roll--let it rise and bake it off!!!!---serve hot!

... Good idea ... just make sure the room is well ventilated.

Ventilation--hey its a poker game not the ballet!

How about a Hot Brown Sandwich? I think it was invented in the 20's in Louisville at the Brown Hotel.

You need to make a basic white sauce (bechamel) with the addition of a bay leaf or two, a splash of Tabasco (or the regional variety you prefer) and a pinch of nutmeg. Reduce the heat to very low and simmer for about 10 minutes, then remove the bay leaf, add some grated Parmesan cheese and thin with a bit of cream. The sauce should be almost as thick as a holandaise.

Place a slice of buttered, toasted bread (a homemade-type white bread is ideal) on a heat proof plate, top with a generous amount of sliced turkey, cover with some of the white sauce and then sprinkle the top with crumbled bacon and diced, roasted red peppers. Bake in a 425 degree oven until the sauce is bubbly and spotted with brown flecks on the top.

Since this only bakes for about 10 minutes, make sure that the turkey is not cold from the fridge or it will not heat through by the time the top is browned.

How about doing a stuffed bread?
Buy a large,round loaf of white, rye, whatever you like.
cut the top of the loaf, scoop out the bread inside, freeze for making stuffing.
Brush the hollowed out loaf with italian dressing and begin layers of meats, cheeses, what ever you prefer, remember to add some peppers, olives, sliced onion, tomato, pickle, etc, etc, until the bread hollow is full.
Wrap in foil, chill overnight.
You can make this with italian meats, turkey breast, anything you pick and since it's so variable, you can make it more than once.

quote:

Originally posted by mammascookin

What about good old fashioned meatloaf sandwhiches or hot turkey and mashed potatoes with gravy? Both very good when it is cold out. Tortas are good all year around...

Also, what about tortilla wraps? Almost like a sandwhich and you can fill them with just about anything.

Pitas or Gyros would be good also.

Poker party at Mamma's house!!!!

Here's a sandwich I came up with years ago at the firehouse. The guys always loved them.

Split and spread onion hamburger buns with garlic butter, sprinkle some parmesan or romano then grill or broil. Split lengthwise and grill or pan fry some 6" or so red hot polish type sausages. Dump a generous serving spoon worth of heated marinara sauce over the sausage pieces on each bun half, then plop on some shredded mozzarella and shredded hard cheese and a little handful of sliced spring onion. Close it up and serve.

quote:

Originally posted by tiki

Ventilation--hey its a poker game not the ballet!

I agree. What's poker without some manly "scents" filling the room?

A Food Network show had some really good sandwiches for a poker party, fittingly titled "Panini Poker Party."

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_mo/episode/0,1976,FOOD_14518_32603,00.html

I made my version of hot sausage sandwiches the other day...

1 lb Italian sausage (your choice, hot, mild...I use Grazianos mild so kids can eat it too)
1 small can of pizza sauce or homemade if you have it
Mozzarella cheese, shredded about 3 cups
Peppers if you want them
Sauted onions if you want them
Hoagie buns

Brown Italian sausage
Split buns
Spread pizza sauce on the bun, be generous or your sandwich will be dry...
Add sausage, cheese, and top with peppers, onions, or whatever else you choose to top with...
Wrap in aluminum foil (you may want to spray lightly with some cooking spray so the mozz doesn't stick to it) and place in the oven at about 350 degrees for approximately 15 - 20 minutes or until the cheese starts to bubble and the bun is slightly crispy to the touch.
Enjoy!!!

*Edited to add... this will make about 6 hoagie sized sandwiches.

OK - I call this "Becky's Roll" because I got the basic idea of this from a woman names...Becky.

It's sort of a strombolli. The figures aren't exact, so you are MORE than welcome to do it your own way.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

I take pizza dough and shape into a rectangle about 12" X 16" on a floured surface.

Face it so that the 12" inch sides are top to bottom and the 16" are on the sides.

be sure the underneath is well floured

Add a thin layer of pesto to entire "pizza" rectangle. all the way to the edges.

now adding ingredients. Add these in rows from left to right so that later, when this is cooked and we're slicing the pieces, every piece will have some of each ingredient.
two rows of chopped morrocan cured black olives (original recipe used Kalamata, but I think the morrocan cured adds more flavor)

two rows of sundried tomatoes

two rows of halved slices of provolone cheese. (do not use mozzarella, when you cut the slices, it will be gooey and hard to separate the slices)

One row of hard salami

two rows of pepperoni, or one row of the cold cut sized.

a row or two of prosciutto

Make a log by rolling the dough bottom to top (from the 12" side to the 12" side) so that you have a 12" long log (about 4" or 5" wide)

let log sit, and warm up your pizza stone or cookie sheet. Not all the way up to 425, but nice and warm. This will help the bottom get as crisp as the rest.

Cook for about 15 - 20 minutes (Like a pizza). It'll be brown all around.

Take out of oven and let log cool some on bakers rack.

with the 12" log left to right in front of you. Make 1/2" slices using harp bread knife or I use an electric knife. You do not want to crush this at all when you're cutting it.

Yields 24 1/2" slices. (you can make thinner slices if you wish)

For a party, I usually make 2 rolls.

Not really a sandwich, but what about something like spinach bread? You can make it ahead and just warm, and cut in slices, and it really does't have a lot of spinach, mostly 2-3 kinds of melted cheeses.