2 For 1: Pear Sandwiches and Paully Moonbeam

As a child I viewed sandwiches as status symbols. In my middle class household we dined on sandwiches that consisted of meat, cheese, bread and a condiment. I considered these to be standard fare. Top a sandwich with two different cheeses, meats or condiments and you were deemed "hoity toity." Less meant you were poor and needed me to take pity on you. That's why Tea, who lived up the street from my family, woke up every Christmas with a pack of bubblegum in his mailbox. Because rumor had it that he ate ketchup sandwiches every afternoon.

These two sandwiches would've made the younger me look away in disgust. Not just because they are "hoity toity" but also because they have pears on them. There was no room for fruit on my sandwich as a status symbol board.

Grilled Cheese with Agave Sweetened Pears (inspired by the Independent)
(printable version)

-1/2 cup walnut pieces
-2 Asian Pears, peeled and sliced
-agave nectar
-4 ounces sliced gouda cheese
-8 slices of Rye bread

1. Place the walnuts and Asian Pears in a saucepan. Cover the pears lightly with agave nectar (I didn't measure an amount, I just squeezed agave nectar until each pear had some on). Heat the pears and walnuts, over medium heat, for about three minutes. Stir throughout to mix the pears, walnuts and agave nectar.

2. Place two slices of rye bread on a flat pan. Cover each slice with gouda. Place the pears and walnuts on top of the cheese (enough to cover the bread) and then top with a second slice of rye. Cook the sandwiches until the cheese is melted and bread is browned (about six minutes per side). Repeat until all the ingredients are gone.

*Note: I topped the sandwiches with arugula but J-Fur didn't really like the taste of the arugula. I've also seen pear grilled cheeses that include rosemary, honey or red onions so play around to find one that suits you.

Pecan Pate and Pears Sandwiches with Arugula (modified slightly Vegetarian Times, October)
(printable version)

for the pate:
-1 cup pecan meal (ground pecans)
-1 1/2 cups cooked Cannellini beans
-2 Tbs. lime juice
-2 garlic cloves, minced
-2 tsp. olive oil

for the sandwiches:
-8 slices whole grain bread
-4 roasted red peppers, halved
-2 Bartlett pears, peeled and sliced
-2 cups arugula

1. To make the pate: place all ingredients in a food processor and puree until smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste.

2. To make the sandwiches: spread eight slices of bread on the counter. Cover four with 3 tablespoons of pecan pate and half of a roasted red pepper. Top the other four slices with 1/2 cup of arugula and four slices of Bartlett pears. Match one slice of pear bread with one slice of pepper bread and enjoy.

As dreams of pear sandwiches rushed through my head, the sexy sounds of Paully Moonbeam flooded my ears. Normally I offer a short bio of the bands I present but Paully has a bio that is too perfect for me to mess with. So straight from his fingers:

Paully participated in musical outfits from the age of 5 onwards, most notably the Two Day Bead Band, which began at a folk rock party in Plymouth, Michigan and ended a few months later. In youth, Paully absorbed big band jazz from the radio and vinyl. At clubs he absorbed Miami Freestyle and house, along the lines of Company B and Will To Power.

Recognizing that a solo artist would never break up, he pursued composition with the guarantee of iron clad cohesion. Aiming to capture grooves that facilitate revelous revolution and revelations of dance, dining and driving, he created a catalog of tunes in several known genres and a few with definitions yet refined. It is his hope that a revelous revolution might yield movement accompanied by fruits of his labor and that a bridge would be constructed to spite monopoly power and to further engage international interactions that bring people from afar much closer. Commencing with The Flood, might Paully's music build a bridge and bubble over.

Paully is currently searching for someone who would like to create a dance for his newest song "The Flood" (which was recorded in Detroit). Just let him know when you are done if you choose to accept the challenge. Along with "The Flood" I've posted an older piece "Disco Baby."

Paully Moonbeam-The Flood

Here is a food flavored song Paully Moonbeam style. It is called "Hot Ramen" and it was "noodled" a while back.