... At Least the Sandwiches Were Good!

Sadly the Steelers lost, but I think I won the Primanti Sandwich challenge! Here is a photo recap.

Roast beef and capicola combo topped with provolone on the griddle.

Meat and cheese on homemade Italian bread.

Add salt & pepper slaw...

then tomatoes...

... and finally fresh cut fries!

Stephanie's Cucina version of a Pittsburgh classic!

Go Steelers!

As the game approaches, I thought I'd post a quick update. I made the roast beef yesterday, and the bread just came out of the oven a couple hours ago. For the roast beef, I rubbed an eye of round roast down with salt, pepper and garlic, then put it in a 500º oven for 20 minutes and then dropped the temperature to 325º for another 40 minutes.

Before: Bread Dough & Seasoned Roast

The roast came out a perfect medium. After letting it rest for about 20 minutes, I sliced it up and it is ready for sandwich time!

I also made some stuffed pepperoni cheese bread with the extra dough.

And after... Sandwiches Coming Soon!

Superbowl Challenge

I have decided that maybe what I need to keep up with my blog is to set some food challenges for myself. So in the spirit of cheering on the Steelers in this Sunday's Superbowl, I am going to try my hand a making a Pittsburgh original — Primanti Bros. Sandwiches!

For those of you unfamiliar with Primanti's, they are a Pittsburgh institution. Check out their website: www.primantibros.com. Be sure to watch the videos in the news section. These sandwiches are a meal in themselves! Choice of meat topped with provolone cheese, oil & vinegar slaw, tomatoes and fresh cut french fries on soft Italian bread. My favorite is the roast beef, so tomorrow I will be baking my bread and roasting the beef for Sunday's event. I'll also be making hand-cut fresh fries on Sunday. We will have both roast beef and the popular capicola varieties. Now if only I could get my hands on some Yeungling Lager for the party!!

Stay tuned for an update on the roast beef and the bread tomorrow and the sandwich challenge after the big game! Cheers!

Food & Clay — Elements of Life

My first clay bowls — before trimming, firing and glazing.

Wow, I can hardly believe that today is February 1, 2011! I don't know where the time has gone!! The last few years have been some of the most challenging of my life, but I am finally starting to find balance in the moving forward process. I just need to channel that balance into my writing and my business. It is obvious from the gaps in my blogging that I have been less than balanced and focused, but at this moment, I lift my coffee mug to better days ahead... and lots of great food adventures to write about and recipes to share!

I have also started taking pottery classes at a local studio. I am really enjoying the time spent working with clay. It is very relaxing and helpful in clearing the mind of anything else that is going on. At that moment, you must focus on the art of creating a pot from a lump of clay and nothing else really matters. I have already made a few bowls and can't wait to learn more and get better at it and make some fun pieces that I can showcase in my kitchen. Hopefully by the time I get my new video blogs lined up for the spring, I will have some of my pottery to display while I am presenting my food!

Intense Double Rainbow that appeared outside my apartment during
the Christmas rain storms here in San Diego