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Southwestern Club Hero (meat)

Contributed by Eileen Goltz.

4 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 large garlic clove, pressed
1 small jalapeno chili, minced
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
6 to 8 slices corned beef
4 slices sourdough bread
8 thin slices smoked turkey (about 4 ounces)
4 large tomato slices
1/2 avocado, pitted, peeled, sliced
Romaine lettuce leaves

Instructions:

In a small bowl combine the mayonnaise, cilantro, garlic chili and cumin.  Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. Toast the bread. Spread mayonnaise mixture evenly over bread slices. Cover 2 bread slices with turkey, then tomato, avocado and corned beef. Season generously with salt and pepper. Top with lettuce and remaining bread slices. Cut diagonally into quarters. Skewer each with frilly toothpick if desired and serve. 

Special InstructionsFresh Herbs and Insect Infestation:
Fresh cilantro and other herbs (including dill, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage and thyme) are often used as spices or garnishing. Aphids, thrips and other insects may often be found on the leaves and stems of these herbs. Insects tend to nestle in the crevices between the leaves and branches of herbs. These insects can curl up and stick to the leaf once they come in contact with water.
Recommendation:
In order to determine if a particular bunch of herbs is infested prior to washing, bang it several times over a white cloth. This is most important when checking oregano, rosemary, sage and thyme. If only one or two insects are found, proceed with the steps below. If three or more insects are detected in a particular bunch of herbs, it should not be used.
Inspection:
1. Soak herbs in a solution of cold water and vegetable wash. The proper amount of vegetable wash has been added when some bubbles are observed in the water. (In the absence of vegetable wash, several drops of concentrated non-scented liquid detergent may be used. However, for health reasons, thoroughly rinse off the soapy solution.)
2. Agitate the herbs in the soapy water, in order to loosen the sticking excretion of the bugs.
3. Using a heavy stream of water, thoroughly wash off the soap and other foreign matter from the herbs.
4. Check both sides of each leaf under direct light.
5. If one or two insects are found, rewash the herbs.
6. If any insects are found after repeating the agitation process twice, the entire bunch must be discarded.

Lettuce and Insect Infestation:
The insects most commonly found in open leaf lettuce are small green aphids or thrips. The leaves of the vegetable often camouflage these insects. The open structure of these vegetables allows insects to penetrate the entire head. Often, insects may be found between the innermost layers of leaves of an infested head. Therefore, each leaf must be washed and checked individually. The use of a light box for checking lettuce is extremely helpful.

Romaine Lettuce (also Chinese Lettuce (Napa), Open Leaf ,Bib, Bok Choy, Boston, Butter Lettuce, Chicory, Green Leaf, Red Leaf and Watercress) grows in a similar fashion. Please note: Many of these varieties feature curly leaves with many folds in which the insects tend to hide. We therefore recommend that they be washed and checked with extreme caution. Occasionally, worms may be found in burrows within the body of the leaf. Look for a narrow(1/8_) translucent burrow speckled with black dots breaking up the deep green color of the leaf. These burrows will often trap the worm within the leaf. To rid the leaf of these worms, carefully slit the bumpy part within the burrow with a sharp knife and remove the worm.

Instructions:
1. Cut off the lettuce base and separate the leaves from one another.
2. Soak leaves in a solution of cold water and vegetable wash. The proper amount of vegetable wash has been added when some bubbles are observed in the water. (In the absence of vegetable wash, several drops of concentrated non-scented liquid detergent may be used. However, for health reasons, care must be taken to thoroughly rinse off the soapy solution.)
3. Agitate lettuce leaves in the soapy solution.
4. Spread each leaf, taking care to expose all its curls and crevices. Using a heavy stream of water or a power hose, remove all foreign matter and soap from both sides of each leaf. Alternatively, a vegetable brush may be used on both sides of the leaf.
5. Several leaves should be checked over a light box or under strong overhead lighting to verify that the washing procedure has been effective. Pay careful attention to the folds and crevices in the leaf where insects have been known to hold tight through several washings.
6. If it is practical, it is best to check each leaf.
7. If the manner of washing described above is impractical, each leaf must be carefully inspected.
8. In a commercial setting, a vegetable spinner is recommended. (The advantages of spin-drying are: (1) the Rabbi will not risk an electrical shock when placing the leaves on the light box; and (2) the leaves will stay fresh and moist for a longer period of time.)
9. Three handfuls of leaves from different areas of the bin should be checked over a light box or under direct light. Our experience has shown that if the leaves are washed properly, no insects will be found.


>Notes: Fresh Cilantro and Romaine lettuce tend to be infested with aphids, thrips and other insects. Please check "Special Instructions" below for instructions on how to check for insect infestation.