Apple Brie Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Baby Arugula Lemon Pesto with German Schnitzel

Here we have a pork chop, also known as Schnitzel in German cuisine, pounded to 1/4-inch thick, breaded, and then pan fried in any Ultra Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil until golden brown and delightfully crisp.

Anywhere oil is used, Ultra Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil can and should be used.... even in classic and updated German recipes.

Ingredients:

For the Schnitzel:

*You can substitute boneless, skinless chicken breasts here too!

For the Baby Arugula Pesto with Lemon

Directions:

For the Baby Arugula Pesto with Lemon

Combine all the ingredients in the bowl of a food processor, or in a blender, and process until smooth.

For the Schnitzel

Heat 2 inches of Ultra Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil in a heavy frying pan, (a seasoned cast iron pan is ideal) until the oil reaches 350.

Whisk the milk with the eggs and a pinch of salt and add to a shallow pie plate or dish.  

Add the bread crumbs to a similar shallow dish.

Whisk the salt and pepper into the flour and add to another shallow dish.  

Dredge the pork chops first in the seasoned flour, then into the eggs (being sure to coat the pork chops completely at every step), and then finally into the bread crumbs.

Gently add the pork chops to the heated olive oil, being careful not to overcrowd the pan, and fry for approximately 3 minutes per side, until golden brown.  

Remove each pork chop to a wire rack while frying the remaining pork chops.

Serve immediately with Baby Arugula Pesto. Add lemon wedges, if desired.

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Baklouti Shrimp & Andouille Over Olive Oil Grits

Ingredients:

For the Shrimp & Sausage

For the Grits

For the Sauce 

Directions:

(Skip this first step if using chicken stock)

Peel the shrimp and reserve the shells. Heat 3 cups of water with shrimp shells in a stock pot and bring to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes, and then set aside to steep for 5 minutes. Strain the stock and reserve. 

Mix together the garlic powder, salt, smoked paprika, thyme, and black pepper. Toss the shrimp in the spice mixture to coat.  

Heat the Baklouti Green Chili Fused Olive Oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the Andouille sausage pieces and saute until just barely golden brown. Add shallots and cook for another minute. Finally, add the garlic and shrimp. Saute until the shrimp is just barely cooked though, another minute or two. Be careful not to overcook. Remove the shrimp and sausage mixture and reserve.

In a medium saucepan, bring 2 1/2 cups of shrimp or chicken stock and heavy cream to a boil. Whisk in the grits and cook over moderately high heat, stirring constantly, until thickened and the grains are tender, about 5 minutes.

Add the cheese and Baklouti Green Chili Fused Olive Oil. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, and whisk just until the cheese is melted. Cover and remove from the heat.

In the same pan that the shrimp and sausage was cooked in, add a tablespoon of Baklouti Green Chili Fused Olive Oil, over medium-high heat add the flour to the olive oil and whisk until the roux becomes a medium-tan color, scraping up all the caramelized bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the tomato paste and stir into the roux, cooking for another minute. Add the shrimp stock and cream to the pan, and whisk until the mixture is thickened, another minute or two. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Add the reserved shrimp and sausage mixture to the sauce and stir, heating until warmed through.

Serve the shrimp and sauce over the hot grits with more Baklouti Green Chili Fused Olive Oil drizzled over the top, if desired. 

Serves 6.

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Balsamic Glazed Ham

Ingredients:

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 325.  

Line a large roasting pan with foil. With a sharp knife, score the fat all over the ham in a diamond pattern. Place the ham, cut side down, in the roasting pan and cover tightly with foil. Bake for 1 hour.

Meanwhile, reduce the Gravenstein Apple White Balsamic Vinegar to 1/2 cup, by gently simmering it in a medium sauce pan set over low heat. This process should be done slowly, taking approximately 20-30 minutes to complete. When the Gravenstein Apple White Balsamic Vinegar has become thick and syrupy and is reduced by half, remove from heat and whisk in the Dijon mustard.

After baking for an hour, remove the ham from the oven and increase the oven temperature to 350. Using a pastry brush, liberally apply the balsamic glaze all over the ham, paying special attention to working it into the scored portions. Cover just the shank end with a small piece of foil to prevent it from burning.

Return the uncovered ham to the oven and roast for approximately 35 minutes, or until the glaze has caramelized and the ham is golden brown. Use any extra glaze as a dipping sauce.

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