ABC Sandwich

1 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup minced scallions

2 tablespoons brandy

1/4 teaspoon coarsely-ground black pepper

18 slices toasted whole-wheat bread

Leaf lettuce

12 ounces crabmeat, picked over well

to remove any shells

Tomato slices

12 slices slab bacon, cut in half,

cooked crisp and drained

2 avocados, sliced

In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, scallion and brandy, mixing well. For each sandwich,spread three pieces of bread with a portion of the mayonnaise mixture. Cover the first slice of bread with lettuce leaves, 2 ounces of crabmeat, and one or two tomato slices. Add the second slice of bread, and top with the four half-slices of bacon, a layer of avocado slices, another tomato slice or two, and more lettuce. Cover with the third slice of bread, secure the sandwich with wooden picks, if you like, and slice it in half.

Serve the sandwiches immediately.

Acapulco Fishburgers

1 pound fish fillets

1 medium green bell pepper, chopped

3 medium onions, chopped

2 cups soft bread crumbs

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

3 tablespoons shortening

Bone fish; put through food chopper or chop finely with knife. Combine with green pepper, onions, bread crumbs, salt and pepper; mix well. Shape into 8 patties about 4 inches in diameter. Brown on both sides in shortening in skillet over moderate heat for 10 to 15 minutes.

Alaska Salmon Salad Sandwich

15 1/2 ounces canned Alaska salmon

1/3 cup plain nonfat yogurt

1/3 cup chopped green onions

1/3 cup chopped celery

1 tablespoon lemon juice

Black pepper, to taste

12 slices bread

Drain and flake salmon. Stir in remaining ingredients except pepper and bread. Season with pepper to taste. Spread salmon mixture on half of bread slices; top with remaining bread. Cut sandwiches into halves or quarters.

Makes 6 sandwiches.

Asian Turkey Burgers

1 pound ground turkey

1 1/3 cups canned French fried onions, divided

1 egg

1/2 cup finely chopped water chestnuts

1/4 cup dry breadcrumbs

3 tablespoons teriyaki sauce

1 tablespoon Frank’s RedHot sauce

2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger

4 sandwich buns

Shredded lettuce

Combine turkey, 1 cup French fried onions, egg, water chestnuts, breadcrumbs, teriyaki sauce, hot sauce and ginger. Shape into 4 patties. Broil about 6 inches from heat or grill over medium heat 10 minutes or until no longer pink in center, turning once. Serve on buns, topped with remaining 1/3 cup French fried onions and lettuce.

Avocado and Chicken Tortas

1 fully ripened Mexican avocado

2 (6-inch) sandwich rolls (such as Portuguese or submarine rolls), halved

Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

8 ounces grilled chicken breast, sliced

1 cup shredded iceberg or romaine lettuce

1 tomato, sliced

2/3 cup mashed black beans, divided

1/4 cup pickled jalapeño pepper slices

Cut lengthwise around middle of avocado; twist avocado to separate halves; strike pit with a knife blade to remove; scoop out pulp with a spoon. In a small bowl, mash avocado. To assemble tortas: Spread mashed avocado on cut sides of rolls, dividing evenly. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. On bottom halves, layer sliced chicken, lettuce, tomato, black beans and jalapeño pepper slices. Firmly press tops of rolls on tortas.

Yield: 2 sandwiches

Yield: 4 burgers

Avocado Bacon Sandwiches

1/4 pound bacon slices, chopped

1 ripe avocado

1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

Salt and pepper, to taste

3 tablespoons butter, softened

4 large slices whole wheat bread

Lemon twist and parsley sprig, to garnish

Fry bacon until crisp. Drain on paper towels. Peel avocado, taking care not to remove bright green flesh just inside the skin. Cut in half and remove seed. In a bowl, mash avocado, then stir in lemon juice, salt and pepper. Butter two slices of bread. Spread avocado mixture on buttered sides of 2 bread slices. Scatter bacon over avocado. Cover with remaining bread slices, buttered sides down, and press

together. Cut off bread crusts. Cut each sandwich into 4 triangles. Arrange on a serving plate, garnished with a lemon twist and parsley sprig.

Avocado Chicken Melt

4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves

1/2 cup cornmeal

1 teaspoon garlic salt

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1/2 firm ripe avocado, peeled and sliced thin, divided

1 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese

4 wheat bread slices, toasted

1/2 cup plain yogurt

1/4 cup chopped sweet red bell pepper

Rinse chicken with cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Place between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound to flatten to 1/4-inch thickness. In resealable plastic bag, combine cornmeal and garlic salt. Add chicken; close bag and toss to

coat well. In large nonstick frying pan, heat oil. Cook chicken in hot oil for 2 minutes per side or until lightly browned. Remove chicken from pan and place in shallow baking pan. Place half of avocado slices over chicken and sprinkle evenly with shredded cheese. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes or until chicken is done and cheese is melted. Place each chicken breast on a slice of toast. Top with remaining avocado slices. In small bowl, combine yogurt and pepper; serve with chicken.

Yields 4 servings.

Avocado Monte Cristo

A signature sandwich served west-coast style. Fresh avocados layered with turkey, Jalapeno

Jack cheese, cilantro and salsa.

Serves 12

3/4 cup garlic mayonnaise (aioli)

24 slices firm white sandwich bread

6 California avocados (3 pound)

48 (1 ounce) slices sliced roasted chicken or turkey (3 pound)

24 (1 ounce) slices sliced Jalapeno Jack cheese

16 eggs, beaten

1 teaspoon salt

Unsalted butter, as needed

3 cups fresh fruit salsa of choice

12 fresh cilantro sprigs

Spread 1/2 tablespoon garlic mayonnaise on one side of each slice of bread. Cover 12 slices of bread with avocado slices. Top each with 2 slices of chicken or turkey and 1 slice cheese. Cover each with remaining slice of bread, spread-side down, diagonally cut each in half. Reserve. Beat together egg, milk, and salt; reserve. Dip 2 halves of a sandwich in egg mixture, coating well. Brown in hot butter, about 2 minutes per side.

Serve with 1/4 cup fresh fruit salsa. Garnish with a cilantro sprig.

Avocado Quesadillas

2 ripe tomatoes, seeded and diced

1 firm-ripe Haas avocado, peeled and diced

1 tablespoon chopped red onion

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce

1/4 cup sour cream

3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

4 (6- to 7-inch) flour tortillas

1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil

1 1/3 cups coarsely grated Monterey jack cheese

Fresh cilantro sprigs (for garnish)

In a small bowl stir together tomatoes, avocado, onion, lemon juice and Tabasco sauce. Season with salt and pepper. In another small bowl stir together sour cream and cilantro and salt and pepper to taste. Preheat broiler. Put tortillas on a large baking sheet and brush tops with oil. Broil tortillas on a rack set 2 to 4 inches from heat until pale golden. Turn tortillas and broil until other sides are pale

golden. Sprinkle tortillas evenly with cheese and broil until cheese is melted and bubbling. Spread avocado mixture evenly over tortillas and top each with 1 of remaining tortillas, cheese side down, to make 2 quesadillas. Transfer quesadillas to a cutting board and cut each into 4 wedges. Top each wedge with a heaping teaspoon of sour cream mixture and garnish with cilantro sprigs.