Why You’ll Love This Recipe!

When I decided to have a tea party bridal shower the first thing on the menu was cucumber sandwiches.    A cucumber sandwich is an important part of any tea party menu.

Afternoon tea was originally begun by the Seventh Duchess of Bedford in 1840. It was a way to fill the large gap between lunch and dinner, which was served around 8 p.m.  The sandwiches are just filling enough to prevent overindulgence in the scones, cream, and cakes that were served afterwards.

The cucumber sandwich tea sandwich is a mainstay for any tea party, brunch, bridal shower or baby showers.

Ingredients Needed

• Bread. You can use any type of bread you like. I like to use white bread, rye bread or whole wheat bread.
• Cucumber. I prefer long English cucumbers. They have fewer seeds, less water and are burpless and thinner skin if you prefer to not peel your cucumber. I still like to peel them and then slice them. Use a sharp knife or a mandolin to thinly slice the cucumbers.
• Parsley
• Green Onions. You could also use chives.
• Mayonnaise
• Cream Cheese
• Kosher Salt and Black Pepper

How to Make Cucumber Sandwiches

• Combine green onion and parsley in a food processor. Pulse 2-3 times until finely chopped.

• Beat cream cheese and mayonnaise together in a bowl until smooth.

• Add chopped mixture into cream cheese mixture. Stir to combine.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Spread the cream cheese spread on both sides of bread slice, a thin layer. Adding spread to both slices of bread creates a barrier which helps prevent the moisture from the cucumbers from making the bread soggy.
• Peel and thinly slice cucumber.
• Top half of the bread slices with sliced cucumber. I peel the cucumber.

• Top with the remaining bread slice.
• Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before cutting. (this will make it easier to remove the crust.)
• Cut off crust and cut into two rectangles or 4 squares or triangles.

• Makes about 16 or 32 tea sandwiches, depending on how you cut it. (4 to two slices of bread if cut into squares)

Other yummy recipes to try:

• Bridal Shower Tea Party
• Cake Mix Cookies {Ice Cream Sandwiches}
• French Dip Sandwich
• Slow Cooker Greek Pork Gyro
• BBQ Pork Sandwiches

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Cucumber Sandwiches

Cucumber Sandwiches are a must have for a tea party, brunch, bridal shower or baby shower. My favorite cucumber sandwich recipe has amazing flavor and is easy and simple to make.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine English

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 0 minutes minutes

chill time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour

Servings 32 tea sandwiches

Calories 65kcal

Author Leigh Anne Wilkes

Equipment

• Measuring Cups
• Measuring Spoons

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup flat leaf parsley chopped
• 1/2 cup green onion chopped
• 8 oz. cream cheese softened
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 16 slices sandwich bread
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 English style, long cucumber peeled and sliced thinly

Instructions

• In a bowl, beat cream cheese and mayonnaise together until smooth.
• In a food processor, pulse green onion and parsley 3-4 times until finely chopped.
• Mix green onion mixture into cream cheese mixture.
• Spread cream cheese mixture on bread, a thin layer on both slices of bread
• Place cucumber slices on top of cream cheese mixture on one side of bread and top with other slice of bread.
• Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes before cutting
• Cut off crust and cut into four squares or triangles or two rectangles
• Makes about 32 tea sandwiches (4 to a slice of bread)
• Keep sandwiches chilled until ready to serve

Notes

Sun Dried Tomato Cucumber Sandwich Variation:

Add the following ingredients to the above recipe:  1 cup sun dried tomatoes, chopped. (I use the kind in oil)  1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated.  4 cloves garlic, minced.  1 tsp dried oregano.  1 tsp dried basil, and any combination of fresh herbs.  Assemble cucumber sandwiches withing an hour of serving, keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 65kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 63mg | Potassium: 168mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 197IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 1mg

Continue reading Cucumber Sandwich. This post is from Your Homebased Mom. If you are not reading it from our feed, it has been STOLEN. Please contact Leigh Anne Wilkes to let us know. Enjoy the posts.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe!

Because it’s the best burger sauce ever! Our favorite hamburger place in the Portland area is Helvetia Tavern.  Their yummy burgers are served with their special sauce or as the Helvetia regulars call it – Goop.  It is so yummy and today’s recipe is my version of their special sauce!!  I always ask for some of the sauce on the side too so I can dip my french fries in it too.

What is Hamburger Sauce?

Hamburger Sauce is a mayonnaise based, creamy sauce that is flavored with ketchup mustard and pickle relish. All the usual hamburger toppings in one! It’s often referred to as “special sauce” or “secret sauce” at hamburger places. It’s also delicious used as a dipping sauce for french fries.

the Ingredients

• Mayonnaise
• Pickle Relish
• Ketchup
• Mustard
• Garlic Powder
• White Vinegar
• Sugar

How to Make Homemade Burger Sauce

1. In a bowl add all the ingredients.
2. Mix to combine.
3. Refrigerate until ready to serve and allow flavors to meld together.

Try these other recipes too!

• Smash Burger
• Lemon Roasted Potatoes
• Hamburger Soup
• Slow Cooker Caramelized Onions
• Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf

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Burger Sauce

Forget about ketchup and mustard, all you need is this amazing Homemade Burger Sauce that only takes a few minutes to make. It is the perfect way to dress up any burger.

Course Condiment, Sauces

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 8 servings

Calories 55kcal

Author Leigh Anne Wilkes

Equipment

• Measuring Cups
• Measuring Spoons

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 2 Tbsp ketchup
• 1 Tbsp pickle relish sweet pickles
• 1/2 tsp white vinegar
• 1 1/2 tsp yellow mustard
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp sugar or more if sweeter sauce desired
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

• Combine all ingredients.
• Stir to mix and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Video

Notes

I am not a pickle fan but I love the flavor of this sauce. If you prefer, you can definitely leave the pickle relish out.

Stored in an air tight container in the refrigerator it will last up to two weeks.

Nutrition

Calories: 55kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 110mg | Potassium: 16mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 28IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 1mg

Continue reading Burger Sauce. This post is from Your Homebased Mom. If you are not reading it from our feed, it has been STOLEN. Please contact Leigh Anne Wilkes to let us know. Enjoy the posts.

Homemade Smash Burger Recipe

I’ve had this Smash Burger on repeat this summer. It is so quick to make that it’s the perfect last minute dinner idea. It’s been hot here in Portland so I love cooking it outside on the grill and not heating up my house.

Fortunately my husband love sit too since it’s been making a frequent appearance!

What is a Smash Burger?

It’s a thin burger cooked on a griddle. The burger gets lots of flavor from the browned bits that develop during the quick cooking process. Those browned bits form a delicious crust with a wonderful texture.

The smash burger was made popular by the Smashburger, hamburger chain. It gets it’s name from the technique of smashing the hamburger on the grill with a large spatula or bacon press.

Ingredients

• Ground Beef. I use an 80/20 meant to fat ratio. One pound makes four burgers.
• Seasoning. Use your favorite beef seasoning salt. I like Montreal Steak Seasoning.
• Hamburger Buns. Butter and toast your buns before cooking burgers so they are ready as soon as the burgers are.
• Hamburger Sauce. Find our favorite recipe here.
• Pickles. We like dill pickles.

How to Make a Smash Burger

Be prepared! A Smash Burger cooks fast so be sure you have all your other ingredients ready. I always butter and toast my buns first so they are ready when the burger is. Also have your cheese ready and sliced.

• Form hamburger into four loosely shaped balls. Fresh ground beef will have more flavor than frozen meat.
• Heat Griddle. You want your griddle hot, about 375 degrees F. I like to put my cast iron griddle on my outdoor grill but you can also do it on your stovetop but I find it sets my smoke alarm off frequently! If you don’t have a griddle you can also use a cast iron pan.
• Place the balls of meat onto a hot griddle.

• After placing hamburger on hot griddle place a piece of parchment paper over the top and then smash. You want a nice thin patty. The parchment paper keeps the meat from sticking to the spatula.

• Add seasoning salt generously.

• Cook for 2-3 minutes, the burger cooks fast. The edges of the burger will be lacy and may even have some holes in it, this is what creates the crispy edges that are a trademark of the Smash Burger.

• Flip the burger by using a metal spatula to “scrap” the burger up and flip. You want to get all that crusty goodness that is forming on the other side of the burger as it cooks.

The second side will cook even quicker, about one minute.

• Add cheese immediately after flipping.

Burger Variations

• Add on some grilled onions or sauteed mushrooms.
• Try a different cheese such as Swiss or Pepper Jack.
• Instead of Smash sauce try a BBQ sauce or mayo.
• Add lettuce and tomatoes if you like!

For more delicious recipes try these:

• Smashed Potatoes
• Burger Sauce
• Homemade Hamburger Buns
• Hamburger Soup

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Smash Burger Recipe

Create a restaurant style Smash Burger at home in minutes and for a lot less money. You are going to love the crispy brown crust that forms as the burger cooks so quickly.

Course Main Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

0 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 4 servings

Calories 539kcal

Author Leigh Anne Wilkes

Equipment

• Cast Iron Skillet (10in)

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground hamburger 80/20
• seasoning salt
• 4 slices American Cheese
• 4 buns buttered

Instructions

• Divide hamburger into four pieces and form into loosely formed balls.
• Heat griddle to 375 degrees F.
• Place ball of hamburger on hot griddle.
• Cover with a piece of parchment paper and press down with a large spatula or bacon press.
• Get the patty as thin as you can.
• Sprinkle with seasoning. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
• Flip with spatula making sure to scrap up the crusty skin that has formed on the underneath side.
• Cover with slice of cheese.
• Cook for 1-2 more minutes.
• Place on toasted bun with desired condiments.

Video

Notes

Burger Variations:

• Add on some grilled onions or sauteed mushrooms.
• Try a different cheese such as Swiss or Pepper Jack.
• Instead of Smash sauce try a BBQ sauce or mayo.
• Add lettuce and tomatoes if you like!

Nutrition

Calories: 539kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 102mg | Sodium: 719mg | Potassium: 334mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 198IU | Calcium: 246mg | Iron: 13mg

Continue reading Smash Burger. This post is from Your Homebased Mom. If you are not reading it from our feed, it has been STOLEN. Please contact Leigh Anne Wilkes to let us know. Enjoy the posts.

What is Tri Tip?

Tri Tip is a triangular shaped roast from the bottom sirloin cut of the cow. It is also known as a Triangle Roast, a Bottom Sirloin Tip, a Santa Maria or California Cut. It is a less expensive cut of meat with a lot of flavor and is tender. Cooking it in the slow cooker makes it even more tender.

How To Make Slow Cooker Tri Tip Roast

• Mix together the rub. The rub is a combination of salt, pepper, dried thyme, rosemary, and garilc.
• Rub the mixture over top of the roast.
• Place roast, rub side up in the slow cooker.

• Mix together beef broth, Worcestershire sauce and pour into the slow cooker, to the side of the roast. Don’t wash the rub off the roast.

• Put on the lid and cook on low for 6-7 hours or until the meat is tender and pulls apart easily with a fork.

• Remove roast from slow cooker and shred or slice meat.
• Strain the juices and reserve for dipping if making a sandwich or for a gravy.

How to Make Tri Tip Sandwiches

1. Prepare bun. Butter the inside of the bun and toast under the broiler or in a pan on the stove top.
2. Place sliced/shredded meat onto the bun.
3. Add a piece of Provolone cheese and place under the broiler to melt.
4. Dip into reserved au jus.

Be sure and check out these delicious recipes:

• Tri Tip Steak Salad
• Spicy Honey Chicken
• BBQ Pot Roast
• Spicy Pot Roast
• The Perfect Slow Cooker Pot Roast

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Slow Cooker Tri Tip Roast

This slow cooker tri tip roast is delicious, fall apart tender and is perfect on it's own or made into sandwiches.

Course Main Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 6 hours hours

0 minutes minutes

Total Time 6 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Servings 6 servings

Calories 608kcal

Author Leigh Anne Wilkes

Equipment

• Slow Cooker (6qt)
• Slow Cooker Liners
• Measuring Cups

Ingredients

• 3 lb. tri tip roast
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme leaves
• 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
• 2 tsp garlic minced
• 2 cups beef broth
• 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 6 slices provolone cheese
• 6 buns

Instructions

• Combine the salt, pepper, thyme, rosemary and garlic. Rub it over the top of the tri tip.
• Place the meat into a 6 qt. slow cooker.
• Add the broth and Worcestershire sauce to the slow cooker around the sides of the meat. Do not pour directly over the top of the tri tip and wash off the seasoning.
• Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or until the meat is tender, and pulls apart easily with a fork.
• Remove the meat from the slow cooker and shred or cut into pieces.
• Strain the remaining liquid and use it as an au jus if making sandwiches.

For Sandwiches.

• Butter and toast buns.
• Place meat on top of bottom bun, cover with a slice of cheese and place under broiler to melt cheese.
• Serve with au jus.

Video

Notes

• When cooking beef in the slow cooker I always try and cook it on low for the best results. If you just don’t have time and need to cook it on high, cook for 4-5 hours or until the meat is tender and pulls apart easily.
• T0 make in the Instant Pot: Prepare the tri tip as the recipe states then place in Instant Pot. Add in the liquid. Cook on manual high pressure for 25 minutes. Do a quick release.

Nutrition

Calories: 608kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 58g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 161mg | Sodium: 1320mg | Potassium: 850mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 181IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 219mg | Iron: 15mg

Continue reading Slow Cooker Tri Tip. This post is from Your Homebased Mom. If you are not reading it from our feed, it has been STOLEN. Please contact Leigh Anne Wilkes to let us know. Enjoy the posts.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe!

It’s easy!

Today’s french dip sandwich is made in the slow cooker and is the perfect week night family meal. Put everything in the crockpot in the morning and dinner is ready when you are! All you have to do is shred the meat, melt some cheese on top and you have a delicious meal.

What is a French Dip Sandwich?

A french dip sandwich is also known as a beef dip. It is a hot sandwich that consists of thinly sliced or shredded beef served on a French roll or baguette. It is often served with melted cheese on to along with a container of beef broth for dipping the sandwich into.

Ingredients Needed

• Chuck roast, remove excess fat
• Montreal Steak Seasoning or use your favorite steak seasoning.
• Olive oil
• Soy sauce
• Whole black peppercorns. You can also add in 1/2 tsp of fresh ground pepper
• Beef broth or beef consomme
• Rosemary, dried
• Thyme, dried
• Minced onion
• Minced garlic
• French rolls. Or some type of hoagie rolls or hoagie buns.
• Provolone Cheese. We prefer provolone but you could use cheddar, Mozzarella or Swiss cheese. 

How to make French Dip Sandwiches

• Sprinkle roast with Montreal Steak Seasoning on both sides.

• Heat olive oil in a heavy pan and brown roast on both sides.
• Place meat in crock pot.

• Mix together soy sauce, beef broth, water, peppercorns, rosemary, thyme, garlic, onion
• Pour mixture around roast.

• Cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 5-6 cook time. Cook until tender and easy to shred.
• Shred meat with a fork and then place on sandwich buns.
• Strain the remaining liquid through a fine mesh strainer and use the liquid for dipping your beef dip sandwiches.

• Place a slice of cheese on each sandwich.

• Place the tray under the broiler until you have melty cheese. Be sure and watch it closely.

All that is left to do is start dipping in the au jus!

Did you know I wrote a slow cooker cookbook?  Check out the Holiday Slow Cooker Cookbook for 100 delicious recipes.

Other yummy sandwich ideas:

• Easy French Bread Recipe
• BBQ Pork Sandwiches
• Chicken Caprese Sandwich
• Cheesesteak Sandwich

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French Dip Sandwich

This delicious french dip sandwich is so easy to make using your slow cooker.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 6 hours hours

Total Time 6 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Servings 8 Serving

Calories 222kcal

Author Leigh Anne Wilkes

Equipment

• Slow Cooker (6qt)
• Slow Cooker Liners
• Measuring Cups

Ingredients

• 4 lb. chuck roast remove excess fat
• Montreal Steak Seasoning
• 2 tsps olive oil
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup water
• 4 whole black peppercorns
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1/2 tsp dried crushed rosemary
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1 TBSP minced onion
• 2 tsp minced garlic
• 6-8 french rolls
• 6-8 slices of cheese provolone is my preferance

Instructions

• Remove excess fat from roast.
• Sprinkle with Montreal Steak Seasoning
• Brown in heavy pan with 2 tsp olive oil. Brown on both sides
• Place in crock pot
• Mix together soy sauce, beef broth, water, peppercorns, rosemary, thyme, garlic, onion
• Pour mixture over roast.
• Cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 5-6. Cook until tender and easy to shred.
• Shred with a fork and the place on sandwich buns.
• Strain remaining juice and use for dipping

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 222kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 892mg | Potassium: 75mg | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 185IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 170mg | Iron: 8.4mg

Originally posted January 22, 2014

Continue reading French Dip Sandwich. This post is from Your Homebased Mom. If you are not reading it from our feed, it has been STOLEN. Please contact Leigh Anne Wilkes to let us know. Enjoy the posts.