The Bld By Jeff Mauro Recipes

THE SS B.L.T.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Evenly space the bacon on a baking sheet lined with a wire rack and bake until crispy, 15 to 18 minutes. Drain the bacon on paper towels, reserving the bacon fat from the pan. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Once cooled, finely mince the bacon.
• For the caper spread: In a bowl, combine the cream cheese, capers, chives and honey mustard, and season with salt and pepper. With a rubber spatula, mix all the ingredients until combined. Adjust the seasoning if necessary.
• For the sandwich build: Cut the crusts from the bread. Brush slices on one side with the reserved bacon fat and transfer to the oven to warm through, about 5 minutes. Smear the fat side of four slices with some caper spread. Layer with 1 1/2 ounces of smoked salmon, some red onion, tomato, minced bacon and arugula. Top with another slice of bread and cut each sandwich into thirds, to make finger sandwiches.

APPLE MUG PIE

Steps:

• For the filling: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Combine the apples, sugars, flour, lemon juice, cinnamon, cornstarch, salt and nutmeg in a medium bowl and stir to combine. Melt the butter in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the apple mixture and cook, stirring frequently, until the apples start to soften, 5 to 8 minutes. Turn off the heat and set aside.
• For the streusel topping: Add the flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt and butter to a food processor and pulse a couple of times until it resembles coarse, wet sand. (Do not overmix.) Set aside. Coat the insides of 4 oven-safe coffee mugs with cooking spray, then place them in a 9-inch square baking pan. Fill the mugs about three-quarters of the way with the apple mixture, then top each with 1/4 cup streusel topping. Bake until the top is golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool until warm to the touch, about 20 minutes.