Baked Reuben Bites

Adapted from Just a Pinch Recipes

All of the things from a Reuben Sandwich in a little bite-sized form. Corned beef, sauerkraut, cheese .. along with some extra sauteed onions and garlic and a homemade thousand island dipping sauce.

Normally I would go on about the recipe here … but right now I’m dealing with some emotions I need to share. I’m divorced, but my ex and I still get along pretty well. On Wednesday, his mother Billie passed away. She was such a beautiful soul … the driving force of good in the family, as my son says. She let everyone in the family know how much they were loved. Everyone. No matter what. Her family was golden and meant the world to her. At the wedding, she welcomed me into the family with loving arms, thanked me for loving her son, made special accommodations for me. I was so grateful for her. When sibling squabbles came up at our Christmas visit, she smoothed them over. She was always the voice of peace, understanding and love in the family.

Last night my daughter and I spent the night tonight talking about the grandmother she barely know, about how she would have liked to have known her better, about the family members on that side that she doesn’t know. I still have a box in my closet that I was readying to send to her grandmother, with some toe socks (she always loved toe socks!) and photos of my baby’s high school graduation. Billie always loved photos and news of her family. I messaged Billie on facebook on her birthday, asking for the address to send the package. I think at that point it was already too late. She never responded. Her health was not good. I saw news from her husband on facebook that she wasn’t doing well and I thought well, I’ll send it to her when she’s better.

Except she didn’t get better. And now it’s too late. … It’s just another striking reminder to me to treasure every breath, every moment I am given. You just never know when your existence here on earth will be no more. Not another breath, not another bite, not another embrace of your loved ones. It can all be snatched away so quickly.

I’m in mourning right now (for her and other losses/changes in my life) and it makes me sad … and yet it also makes the world around me a little more vibrant, a little more precious. My work feels a little more meaningful, every moment with my kids just a little more special. Little things like the purring of my cat sitting next to me or the tingle of chai tea on my tongue mean just a little more today.

RIP Billie. We shall miss you. I’m so sorry we didn’t get to spend more time together.

Baked Reuben Bites

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 4 - 6 servings 1x

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 Tablespoon butter
• 1 cup finely chopped onion
• 2 – 3 cloves garlic, peeled & chopped
• 4 oz. Greek cream cheese (or Neufchatel)
• 1 cup shredded swiss cheese
• 1/4 cup rye bread crumbs or crushed rice chex
• 2 cups sauerkraut
• 12 oz. (about 2 cup) finely chopped corned beef
• More breadcrumbs or crushed rice chex

For dipping: Thousand island dressing (recipe coming soon …)

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Instructions

1. In a saute pan or frying pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion and garic and saute until the onion is soft and translucent. Stir in the cream cheese, swiss cheese and 1/4 cup crumbs. Stir until the cheeses melt and the crumbs are incorporated. Remove from heat.
2. Meanwhile, spread the sauerkraut over clean kitchen towel(s), then roll up the towels and wring out all of the moisture you can over the sink.
3. In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the cheesy mixture with the corned beef and sauerkraut. Chill until cool enough to handle.
4. Preheat the oven to 425 F. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray or grease/butter the pan.
5. Form the mixture into 1-inch balls, then roll each ball in the bread crumbs or crushed chex cereal. Set the balls on the prepared pan, leaving at least 1/2 inch of space between. Bake at 425 for about 15 – 20 min or until the bites are golden brown and crunchy. Let cool slightly, then enjoy with thousand island dressing or other dipping sauce of choice.

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Notes

RECIPE SOURCE: http://www.sumptuousspoonfuls.com/

© Copyright 2018, Sumptuous Spoonfuls. All images & content are copyright protected. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If you want to publish any of my images, please ask first. If you want to republish this recipe as your own, please re-write the recipe in your own words or link back to this post for the recipe.