Monday, June 30, 2008
Serve American cheese for an American holiday
American cheese may not be the most flavorful of cheeses, but it has a gooey texture that melts easily. Because of its characteristics, it’s great in dips and sauces as well as on burgers and sandwiches.
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Hoagie Dip
1/2 pound cooked ham, thinly sliced
1/2 pound Genoa salami, thinly sliced
1 pound processed American cheese, sliced
2 cups mayonnaise
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 onion, chopped
1/2 head iceberg lettuce, shredded
2 tomatoes, diced
12 hoagie rolls, torn into pieces for dipping
Tear the ham, salami, and American cheese into small pieces. Place in a large bowl. In a medium bowl, blend the mayonnaise and oregano. Mix the mayonnaise mixture into the ham mixture 1/2 cup at a time, until meats and cheese are well coated. Mix in the onion. Before serving, mix in the lettuce and tomatoes. Serve with the hoagie roll pieces for dipping. Makes 16 servings.
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Old-Fashioned Cheese Potatoes
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2-1/2 cups milk
1-1/2 cups shredded American cheese
6 medium potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a saucepan, melt butter. Add flour, salt, and pepper; cook and stir until a thick paste forms. Gradually add milk. Cook and stir until the mixture begins to thicken. Add cheese; cook and stir until melted. Place potatoes in a greased 9x2-inch baking dish. Pour sauce over potatoes. Bake, uncovered, until potatoes are tender, about 1 hour. Makes 8 servings.
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This burger also is good when topped with bacon.
All-American Burgers
1 pound lean ground beef
1/4 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon hamburger seasoning, such as McCormick Grill Mates
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
4 slices American cheese
4 hamburger rolls
Mix ground beef, ketchup, hamburger seasoning, and Worcestershire sauce in a bowl. Shape into four patties. Grill patties over medium heat until burgers reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees, about 4 to 6 minutes per side. Add cheese slices to each burger one minute before cooking is completed; toast buns on the grill, open side down, about 30 seconds. Serve burgers on toasted buns. Makes 4 servings.
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Pantry Pointers
Always check the expiration date on American cheese before purchasing. Wrapped American cheese slices keep well for several weeks in the refrigerator.
Good substitutes for American cheese are Cheddar and Swiss cheese. However, substituting one cheese for another will change the flavor of the dish.
The Practical Pantry ©2008 Tammy P. Olson
http://www.practicalpantry.com