Lunch by Chef J

Chef J almost always meets me at the door with a big grin and a recipe in his hands. How can I resist "Gwanma, I found this recipe, can you help me make it?" Picture twinkley intense blue eyes and freckles on a six-year-old...you see what I mean.
Anyway, this kid does his research daily, in his recipe box and books. On this particular day he had expanded to one of my favorite cooking magazines, "Taste of Home".

I had actually planned on making bread with our new grain grinder and new Bosch machine, so that project got started first (that will be another post - be prepared for the aroma of bread fresh from the oven...)then we switched back and forth to get Chef J's recipe on the table in time for lunch. A quick look through the frig told us we were going to have to punt a bit, we didn't have the exact ingredients. But that's what being a creative cook is all about - punting on the run and making a touchdown with something new and delicious. Chef J is all about creative. So here is his Cheesey Ham & Pineapple Bagels.

If you don't have plain bagels, use cinnamon/raisin bagels (that's what was in the frig). If you don't have cream cheese, mix some grated mozzarella with mayo (that's what was in the frig). If you don't have fresh pineapple slices, dig through the lazy-susan contents under the corner counter and if you're lucky there will still be a can of pineapple tidbits left from pizza projects. If you don't have sliced deli ham, use the chopped ham sandwich slices - and trim them to fit the bagels.





























And now he's looking for another winner recipe...that's my boy.

For dessert that evening he made a giant rectangle chocolate chip cookie, cut into
small squares, sandwiched with a dab of strawberry jam, topped with LOTS of whipped cream. Squirted from a can, of course. That's the best part!