Recipe: Hot Italian Beef Sandwiches

Hot Italian Beef Sandwiches
Source: Don Heffernan

1 large loaf Italian or French bread
1 1/2 cup beef stock
1 cup water
3 tbsp. tomato paste
1/2 tsp. crushed dry red pepper
1 tsp. salt
1 bay leaf
1/4 tsp. powdered garlic or 1 crushed clove garlic
about 20 slices thin sliced roast beef (cooked)

The meat:

Combine beef stock, water, tomato paste, crushed red pepper, salt, bay leaf, and garlic in skillet; simmer about 1 hour. Add beef to stock mixture; heat an additional 15 minutes.

To assemble:

Cut Italian bread in half length-wise. Then cut into 10 segments cross-wise. Dip each bread piece into stock. Arrange 2 beef slices on bottom half; complete each segment with top half of bread slice. Serve hot.

Options:

Top beef with thin sliced tomatoes, greens such as escarole, or cheese. Good with chips, hot soup, or potato salad.