This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Netflix for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
It’s no secret that I love to cook and bake, but as a busy mom, I have to multi-task while in the kitchen. Half the time, I’m either on the phone, helping my daughter with her homework, or sweeping the floor while the mixture atop the stove is simmering.
But if I’m really lucky, or just in need of a breather, I’ll tune everything out that needs to get done for a bit, and watch my favorite show on Netflix, while prepping dinner or forming balls out of chocolate chip cookie dough that will become an after-school snack for the kids.
Do you enjoy watching shows while you cook?
It’s a perfect opportunity for me to watch girly movies on Netflix like Emma or Jane Eyre, and sappy but classic modern chick flicks like Runaway Bride or Return to Me while the hubby’s not home to complain about it. 🙂
I’ll admit, though, most of the time my son wins out and ends up streaming super hero cartoons so I can cook without interruption.
Last Saturday I re-created a masterfully delicious recipe from Curtis Stone…a Honey-Glazed Ham Panini while the kids sat and happily watched the hilarious Phineas and Ferb on Netflix.
They were so enthralled by it that I was actually able to put this impressive lunch together in its entirety without hearing, “I need this, I need that!” or, “She’s bugging me!” It was heaven.
And speaking of heaven. These sliders are a little piece of heaven in food form…a restaurant-worthy creation filled with flavorful pear chutney, sprigs of fresh spinach, honey-glazed ham and Swiss cheese, then sandwiched with fantastic Focaccia bread.
You’ll definitely want to save this recipe for later. Chef Curtis Stone is a culinary genius.
{HONEY-GLAZED HAM PANINI}
Serves: 6
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Pear and Mustard Chutney:
1 cup apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup (packed) light brown sugar
1 small onion, finely chopped
1/4 cup coarse-grain mustard
Grated zest of 1 orange
4 Anjou pears, peeled, cored and coarsely chopped
Sliders:
1 large loaf focaccia (about 17 x 6 x 1 1/2 inches)
1 pound honey-glazed ham, cut into slices
8 ounces sliced Swiss cheese
3 ounces fresh baby spinach leaves (about 3 cups)
1 tablespoon butter, at room temperature
To make the chutney:
Combine the vinegar, brown sugar, onion, mustard, and orange zest in a heavy
saucepan, and bring to a boil over medium heat. Then reduce the heat and simmer for
about 20 minutes, or until the onions are tender and the liquid has thickened slightly.
Add the pears and continue simmering gently for about 30 minutes, or until the pears
soften and the liquid thickens some more. Let the chutney cool, and then keep it in the
refrigerator in an airtight container. **The chutney can be made up to 1 week before and kept covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
To make the panini:
Position an oven rack 8-inches from the heat source and preheat the broiler. Cut the
bread in half horizontally and arrange the halves, cut side up, on 2 baking sheets. Place
the ham and cheese over one of the bread halves. Toast both bread halves under the
broiler for 2 minutes, or until the cheese melts and the uncovered bread is golden brown.
Scatter the spinach over the ham and cheese. Spoon the chutney over the spinach.
Top with the second bread half. Brush the top of the slider with butter and broil for 1 minute,
or until the top is crisp. Cut the slider into 12 pieces, and serve.
We devoured some Honey-Glazed Ham sliders and then sat down to stream the current show that we’re addicted to on Netflix-Once Upon a Time. Have you been sucked into that series yet? If not, you should definitely give it a watch.
I love that it’s family-friendly, so I don’t have to worry about the kids seeing it too. And they enjoy it thoroughly because it’s centered around fairy tales and characters that they’ve come to know closely in books that we’ve read.
One of the hubby and my most favorite times of the day, though, is in the evening, after the kiddos are nestled all snug in bed, and we can watch “How I Met Your Mother” or “Revenge” in peace and quiet, from start to finish, without having to jump up to re-fill the sippy or change a diaper. Aaaaaaahhhhhhh…..that’s the life. We’re highly anticipating the arrival of the new seasons of “Lie to Me” and “White Collar”. Hopefully they’ll show up soon, so we can stream them over the upcoming holidays when we’ll have lots of time to kill.
I love that our Netflix membership allows us to enjoy our favorite shows day or night, at home while lounging on the couch or cooking in the kitchen, or from my phone while waiting in the grocery line or at the dr.’s office. Netflix makes a wonderful gift too! My parents had never been introduced to it, so last year, we gave them a year’s membership for Christmas. They’re officially hooked. 🙂
Did you know Netflix will offer suggestions for movies/tv shows to watch according to your preferences and tastes? So cool! Which show/movie on Netflix will you be watching while the turkey’s in the oven this Thanksgiving? I’d love to hear!
Be sure to keep up with Netflix:
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Maria
http://kraftycardsetc.com/
Since you ALSO love food so much, thot of forwarding you this site - www.tummyrats.com