Simple Sammies and Other Goodies

If you have never had Tillamook Vintage White Medium Cheddar, the Tillamook cheese in the dark blue package, you are seriously missing out. This cheese is velvety with a nice cheddar kick. Our favorite way to enjoy this cheese is what we call Simple Sammies. I apologize my humble picture does not do justice to the deliciousness of this sandwich.

Simple Sammies

1. Slice some Tillamook Vintage White Medium Cheddar cheese. Let come up to room temperature. 
2. Slice some nice rolls. I suggest the hoagie rolls from the Fred Meyer bakery.
3. Drizzle a little extra virgin olive oil on both cut sides of the bread, top with cheese, and season with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper. Enjoy!

We had some fresh basil from the farmer's market so we added a few fresh basil to our sandwiches. Oh my goodness, this was so heavenly we had these sandwiches for dinner two nights in a row.

I thought I would share the snack/breakfast I have been enjoying every day for the last two weeks. I cannot even think of a name. Z. refers them as my weird banana tortilla things, but that does not quite roll of the tongue. How about Peanut Butter and Banana Tortilla Sandwich?

Peanut Butter and Banana Tortilla Sandwich

1-2 whole grain tortillas
peanut butter
1/2-1 banana, sliced *

1. Preheat skillet over medium-low to medium heat.
2. Spread 1 tablespoon or 2 tablespoons if a large tortilla over 1/2 of the tortilla.
3. Arrange sliced bananas over peanut butter.
4. Fold uncovered side of tortilla over banana and peanut butter and press gently.
5. Place tortilla in skillet and let warm gently, 2-3 minutes per side.
6. Cut in half for easier eating. Be careful. The peanut butter will be melted and warm. Enjoy!

* I have small tortillas that require 1/2 banana to cover. If you have extra banana, place in a tupperware and refrigerate and enjoy at a later time.

Sincronizada Pacific Northwest-Style

My understanding of authentic Latin food is very limited but I have learned that one of the features that sets a sincronizada apart from a quesadilla is that a sincronizada uses two tortillas to sandwich tasty fillings. A quesadilla, on the other hand, features a tortilla folded in half. So, I decided to call my snack sincronizada.

I drew inspiration from the cheese sincronizadas that have seemed to become a staple the last couple of weeks thanks in part to a recent sale on shredded cheese to create a variation of one of life's simple joys: pear or apple slices topped with a piece of sharp cheddar. The creation of my Sincronizada Pacific Northwest-Style began just like many dinners, I sprinkled some cheddar cheese on a corn tortilla while a small skillet sprayed with non-stick cooking spray heated up over medium. Then, the process took a pleasant turn. I placed pear slices, about one-fourth of a pear, in a single layer over the cheese, sprinkled a tiny bit more cheese over the pears, and seasoned with freshly ground pepper and kosher salt. The salt and pepper really made the pear sincronizada special. Lastly, I topped the pears with a second tortilla, placing the delicious package in the warm pan. I toasted each side until the tortilla was slightly golden, a few minutes each side, very carefully flipping the sincronizada over. Enjoy!