Hoppel Poppel










	Recipe Source: Benji's Preparation Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 30 minutes Servings: 4 If you are looking for a really big breakfast in Wisconsin or Iowa, find a place that serves hoppel poppel. At Benji's deli in Milwaukee it is part of a large menu that includes such traditional Jewish fare as corned beef and fried kreplach. It is listed as a Benjy's special, and customers have their choice of regular hoppel poppel, which is browned potatoes, salami, and scrambled eggs, or super hoppel poppel, which added green peppers, mushrooms, and melted cheese to the formula. This recipe makes 4 very large servings or 6 modest ones.
Ingredients: 8 small, thin-skinned potatoes 1/4 cup corn oil 6 tablespoons butter 1 cup diced onion (optional) 2/3 cup sliced mushrooms 1 cup diced green pepper 1 cup diced all-beef salami 10 eggs 2 tablespoons milk 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley 1 cup grated cheddar cheese salt and black pepper to taste	Directions: Boil the potatoes until just barely tender, 15 minutes. Drain and cut them into 1/4-inch slices. In a large skillet over medium heat, fry the potatoes in the corn oil, tossing and stirring until they begin to brown. Add the butter to the skillet, then onions, pepper, and salami. Continue cooking and stirring until the potatoes begin to get crisp, the salami is crusty, and the vegetables are limp. Add the butter to the skillet, then onions, pepper, and salami. Continue cooking and stirring until the potatoes begin to get crisp, the salami is crusty, and the vegetables are limp. Lightly beat the eggs with milk and parsley in a medium bowl. Pour them into the skillet over all the other ingredients. Stir occasionally. As the eggs begin to set, sprinkle on the cheese. Cover and cook without stirring about six more minutes, until eggs are fully set but still moist. Accompany hoppel poppel by toast or toasted bagels.

Grilled Vietnamese Pork with Vermicelli Noodles and Nuoc Cham

- serves 4 -

Adapted from Une-Deux Senses.

Ingredients

For the marinade:

8 cloves of garlic, minced

5 tablespoons fish sauce

4 tablespoons sugar

1/2 tsp ground black pepper

2 pounds of pork shoulder

1 package of rice vermicelli

1 head of butter lettuce, torn into small pieces

1 bunch of mint

Olive oil

For the sauce (also known as nuoc cham):

1/4 cup sugar

Juice of 1 lemon

1/3 cup fish sauce

1/2 cup water

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 carrot, thinly sliced or julienned (depending on your preference)

1 to 2 teaspoons chili paste

Procedure

1. Place pork in the freezer until it firms slightly, 45 to 60 minutes. Remove the pork from the freezer, thinly slice and place in a large ziploc bag.

2. In a small bowl, mix the ingredients for the marinade. Pour marinade into the bag with the pork and seal, removing as much air as possible. Place in the refrigerator and allow to marinate for one hour to overnight.

3. In a small bowl, mix the ingredients for the sauce. Place in the refrigerator until ready to use.

4. Right before grilling, bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add the vermicelli noodles and cook until tender, about 2 to 4 minutes. Drain the noodles and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process, set aside.

5. Remove the pork from the fridge. Light one chimney full of charcoal. When all the charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and spread coals out evenly over the charcoal grate. Grill pork immediately over the hot fire until cooked through and charred well on both sides, about 5 to 10 minutes. Remove pork to a plate.

6. To assemble, place noodles in bowl or on a plate, then top with the grilled pork, lettuce and mint. Drizzle with the sauce and enjoy!

Top 10 all-around picks, in no specific order, to stash at your desk or in your office fridge

1. Raw, unsalted nuts (almonds, pistachios, cashews, walnuts, pecans)

2. Kashi TLC granola bars, Gnu Flavor & Fiber bars, Lara bars (or check out youbars.com and create your own)

3. Low-Fat Laughing Cow Cheese, Coach Farm Goat Cheese or organic part-skim string cheese

4. Fage 0% Greek Yogurt or Stoneyfield Farms Low-Fat Organic Yogurt

5. Wasa, Finn Crisp, Kavli or Dr. Kracker wholegrain crackers

6. Organic peanut, almond or cashew butter (any organic/natural brand will do, or get the freshly ground stuff at your local Whole Foods Market or health food store or through FreshDirect.com)

7. McCann’s Irish Steel Cut Oatmeal or Arrowhead Mills Organic Original Instant Oatmeal

8. Kashi GoLean or Heart to Heart Cereal; Uncle Sam’s Cereal; Bear Naked Granola (watch portions!)

9. Sweet Riot Chocolate Covered Cacao Nibs (for the occasional afternoon chocolate craving)

10. Good Health Half-Naked Popcorn or Glenny’s Soy Crisps (1.3oz – small bag)