The Sampler Platter Recipes

SAMPLER PLATTER SUB

Steps:

• For the mozzarella sticks and chicken fingers: Fill a Dutch oven halfway with oil and heat to 350 degrees F. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Add the flour, eggs and crushed party mix to 3 separate shallow dishes. Coat the cheese and chicken pieces first in flour, then egg, letting the excess drip off, and then coat in the snack mix. Fry until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Remove to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain and then season with salt and pepper.
• For the poppers: Halve the jalapenos lengthwise, removing the seeds and leaving the stems on. In a mixing bowl, stir together the cream cheese, horseradish, honey, mustard, Worcestershire, cayenne, garlic and some salt and pepper. Spoon this mixture into each of the split jalapenos and brush with oil. Bake until the tops are brown and the skins are slightly blistered, 10 to 12 minutes.
• For the sandwich build: Open the each roll and layer with fried mozzarella, chicken tenders and jalapeno poppers. Top with a piece of lettuce, a couple slices of tomato and Jeff's Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing.
• Mix the mayonnaise, buttermilk, dill, garlic, honey, mustard, salt and pepper in a bowl. Store in an airtight container.

CRUDITE PLATTER

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt generously. Fill a large bowl with ice water and salt generously. Drop the beans into the boiling water and cook, uncovered, until crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Scoop them out of the water and immediately plunge the beans into the ice water, to stop their cooking and set the color. Cool, remove them from the ice bath, and pat dry. Repeat with the broccoli and asparagus. (The asparagus may take a minute less, depending on their size.)
• Attractively arrange all the vegetables on a large serving platter and serve with the dip of your choice.
• Drain the yogurt in a coffee filter or cheese cloth-lined sieve, set over a bowl, until thickened to about 1 cup, about 2 hours.
• Heat the oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the curry and cook, stirring, until fragrant about 30 seconds more. Set aside to cool.
• In a bowl, combine the drained yogurt, curry mixture, mayonnaise, chutney, scallion, hot sauce, lime juice, and coriander. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Yield: about 2 cups
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• In a roasting pan, rub the 2 onions in their skins with the 2 tablespoons oil. Bake until squishy soft, turning them once, about 45 minutes. Set aside to cool completely. Peel the onions and set aside.
• Meanwhile, finely dice the remaining onion. Preheat a large, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Add the remaining 1 cup oil and heat until hot. Add the diced onion and cook, stirring occasionally until they just begin to lightly brown, about 5 minutes. Lower the heat to medium-low and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 18 minutes more. Strain the onions through a sieve over a bowl. Transfer the onions to a paper towel-lined plate and spread them into a single layer. Reserve 1/4 cup of the onion oil and let it cool completely. (Reserve the remaining oil for dressings or marinades.)
• Puree the roasted onions in a food processor. Add the mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, and salt, and pulse until smooth. While the motor is running, drizzle in the 1/4 cup of reserved onion oil until incorporated. Season with pepper and hot sauce, to taste. Transfer the onion dip to a serving bowl and stir in the scallion. Refrigerate until very thick, about 3 hours or overnight.
• When ready to serve top with the fried onions.
• Yield: about 4 cups

BROILED FISHERMAN'S PLATTER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Split the lobster lengthwise and extract the meat. Lay the lobster meat on top of the shell. Remove the pin bones from the yellowtail flounder and cut a "v" at the top of the fish.
• Place all of the seafood in a 9-inch pie plate. Add the butter, white wine, and paprika. Bake for 12 minutes. Arrange on a serving plate and serve with a lemon wedge and tartar sauce, if desired.