Showing posts with label sandwiches. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sandwiches. Show all posts

Apple Cheddar Turkey Burgers





I've had these amazing burgers twice now, and they are definitely going to be added to my regular lineup in the kitchen. I found this on my friend Sara's blog and knew it was only a matter of time before I'd be eating them. What I like about them is that they are unique, impressive, but at the same time only take minutes to prepare. I also love the combination of ingredients. Sara strongly recommends not leaving out the cranberry sauce, which I completely stand behind. In fact, it's the cranberry sauce that makes this burger so wonderful! Give it a try, you won't be disappointed. You can find it here!

French Dip Sandwiches




By now most of my friends know that when you have a converation with me, inevitably it's going to be about food. I don't mean for it to happen, it just does, and it makes me so happy! So while having a food conversation with my adorable friend Angela, she mentioned having a homemade French Dip recipe. My husband and I LOVE French dip, but I admit that I've only ever done it with packaged au jus and not from scratch. So when I got the recipe, I was thrilled to discover that I had EVERY single ingredient to put this together. Hallelujah, don't you love that!

This literally takes about five minutes, if that, to throw together in your crockpot, and then you get to smell it brewing all day. I was so excited to eat it that night. I used hamburger buns because it's what I had and, but normally I would probably make this on a hoagie or kaiser roll. I toasted the buns with some really sharp provolone, which was the perfect compliment to the savory meat. My kids also really loved it, which doesn't happen all the time. They thought it was so fun to dip their sandwiches in the "soup" and at once point my daughter wanted to just drink it! Angela suggests adding an onion soup mix to the mix, which I will definitely do next time I make this! I could really go on and on about this sandwich, so you're just going to have to try it for yourselves!


French Dip Sandwiches
Thanks Angela!

Ingredients

1 (4 pound) boneless beef roast (Mine is often smaller than this, 2-3 pounds works fine too. And I usually cut it into a few pieces so it will cook faster/better.)
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 beef bouillon cube
1 bay leaf
3 whole black peppercorns
1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon garlic powder (I used minced garlic)
2-3 cups beef stock or water
package of onion soup mix (optional)
French Bread or Rolls for sandwiches

Directions

Remove and discard all visible fat from the roast. Place trimmed roast in a slow cooker.

In a medium bowl, combine soy sauce, bouillon, bay leaf, peppercorns, rosemary, thyme, and garlic powder. Pour mixture over roast, and add enough water (i used beef stock) to almost cover roast. Cover, and cook on Low heat for 10 to 12 hours, or until meat is very tender (mine completely fell apart after sitting on high for seven house, mmmm).

Remove meat from broth, reserving broth. Shred meat with a fork, and distribute on bread for sandwiches. Used reserved broth for dipping.
(Sometimes I'll make up some beef broth & mix it with the remaining broth if I want more dipping sauce.)

Celebrating my 300th post with the Best Turkey Burgers Ever



300th post?! It's hard to believe that I've been at it that long. It's been a lot of fun scrolling through the old blog from the last two years and seeing how my tastes, and (ahem) photo skills have changed. I still have a long way to go, and a lot of things to try, so here's to hoping for another 300 posts. In the meantime, thanks so much to all of you for making it so enjoyable and encouraging me to keep going. As Biz says, I consider you all my friends!

Kim, my fellow burger admirer, this is for you! Turkey burgers aren't always what I crave, let's face it, I like my red meat! But, don't make these because they are a lighter substitute, make them because they are so juicy and delicious that you won't, for a second, wish that you were eating a beefy hamburger. I topped mine with sauteed mushrooms and blue cheese, I suggest you do the same!


Favorite Turkey Burger

From Great Food Fast, by Martha Stewart

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds light ground turkey
1/2 cup finely grated Gruyere
4 scallions, thinly sliced
1/4 cup dried breadcrumbs
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
1 garlic clove, minced
course salt and fresh ground pepper
4 hamburger buns

Directions

1. Heat grill (I used my Foreman grill) to high. In a medium bowl, use a fork to gently combine the turkey with the Gruyere, scallions, breadcrumbs, Dijon mustard and garlic; season generously with salt and pepper. Dividing the mixture evenly, gently form the mixture into four 1-inch thick patties.

2. Lightly oil the grill. Place the patties on the hottest part of the grill; sear until browned, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Move the patties to the cooler part of the grill; continue grilling until cooked through, 5 to 10 minutes per side.

3. Split the hamburger buns and toast if desired. Top with preferred toppings and place burger on buns. Get ready to say MMMmmmmmm with every bite!

Apple and Bacon Panini


Hey ya'll! I hope you had a wonderful Halloween! We had a great time trick-or-treating with friends and watching a fun parade. It's hard to believe that it's over already.

I made this panini after making that delicious Anadama bread and looking for any excuse to make sandwiches! I'd never tried the cheddar-apple-bacon combo before, but let me tell you, it's awesome! The bread was nutty, the apples were sweet, and the bacon, well, the bacon was awesome as always.

The only thing I would do differently next time is maybe adding a thin drizzle of maple syrup, or a layer of Dijon mustard, just to give a bit more richness. Otherwise, I loved this sandwich, I'll definitely be making it again!

Apple Bacon Panini
makes one

Ingredients

2 slices bread
3 slices center cut bacon
4-5 thin slices of apple
2-3 slices extra sharp cheddar

Directions

Assemble sandwich, with cheese in the center. Press on panini press, or grill in a skillet, until bread is browned and cheese is melted. Enjoy!

Grilled Sandwiches

I would just like to remind everyone that I am not a food photographer, I kind of suck at it actually. Hopefully in the far future I can pick up some mad camera skills, as well as a mad new camera.


I am a sandwich fanatic, I LOVE them, and the bigger and more outrageous they are, the better! One of the things on my wish list is a panini press, because I love gooey hot sandwiches, the kind full of melty cheese, spicy meats, and yummy veggies. Mmmm. But, since I don't have a panini press yet, I've had to be a little creative with my sandwiches. And they aren't bad at all!
1. My favorite bread for the grilled sandwich is french bread, that I usually hollow out. That way the bulk of your sandwich isn't lost in a world of bread, and your sandwich comes out crustier.
2. I spread mayo and mustard on each side, as well as a red wine vinegar, or italian dressing for an extra zing. Then I load full of toppings such as ham, salami, pepperoni, turkey, red onion, tomato, baby spinach, cheddar and provolone cheese.
3. Carefully put sandwich together and cut in half if necessary. Place sandwich on skillet, preferably a long electric skillet if you have one. Press sandwich together and use a second skillet or heavy pan to set on top of sandwich to keep firmly pressed.
4. Once one side is brown, warm and crispy, flip, and cook opposite side. Be sure that cheeses are melted and veggies have wilted.
5. Slice and serve immediately.
If you aren't as interested in having a crispy sandwich, you can wrap it in foil and bake it in the oven at 375 for about twenty minutes. Keep it wrapped in foil and it will stay warm for a while, for things like picnics!

Grilled Halibut Fish Sandwiches wiith Tartar Sauce



Why hello there Mr. Halibut Sandwich. Look at you sitting there all smug. You know everyone wants you, with your delicious ciabatta bread, and homemade tartar sauce. You know that no one can deny the deliciousness of your perfectly seasoned and grilled fillet, it's simply not fair. I see you even have your little friend Diet Coke with you. Oh, you two are just plain old trouble aren't you.

Grilled Halibut Fish Sandwiches with Tartar Sauce
By Rachael Ray

Ingredients

1 1/4 to 1 1/2 pounds fresh halibut, cut into 4 servings, 4 to 6 ounces each, 1-inch thick
Vegetable or olive oil, for drizzling
2 teaspoons crab boil seasoning (recommended: Old Bay)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 lemon, juiced

Tartar sauce:(if you can, make this the day before, the flavors are much stronger)
1 cup mayonnaise or reduced fat mayonnaise
2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
1 dill or half-sour pickle, finely chopped
2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons fresh chopped dill
10 blades fresh chives, chopped or 2 thin scallions thinly sliced
1/2 lemon, juiced
Few drops cayenne pepper sauce
4 crusty rolls, split
1 large ripe tomato, sliced
4 leaves green leaf or Boston lettuce


Directions

Preheat nonstick or well-seasoned cast iron grill pan over medium high heat. Drizzle halibut pieces with oil, then season with crab boil seasoning, salt and pepper. Grill on a hot pan 4 or 5 minutes on each side.

Place melted butter in a small dish and add juice of 1/2 lemon.

Combine all ingredients for the tartar sauce in a small bowl.

Lightly toast buns on grill pan after fish is removed.

To assemble, brush bun bottoms and fish with lemon butter. Top fish with tomato and lettuce and slather the bun tops with tartar sauce, then serve.

Chipotle Black Bean Burgers


I have to thank Reeni at Cinnamon Spice and Everything Nice for posting these delicious burgers. If you haven't gone to see her yet, I can assure you, you're going to be blown away every single time. She always has such mouth watering recipes and pictures.

I loved these flavorful burgers so much, that after making them for my family, I made a double batch, froze them, and I'm already halfway through them. They are smoky, rich and oh so delicious, not to mention healthy! My favorite way to eat them is by topping them with avocado in a wheat bun, mmmm, I'm craving one now as I post! They are creamy and soft on the inside with a delicious crispy crust after being grilled.

When making these for myself, I like the chipotle pepper, it adds a good amount of heat. However, the next time I make these for my family, I'm probably going to leave the peppers out. They will still be just as good with all the other spices. If you like black beans even a little bit, you've got to try these, you won't be sorry!

Chipotle Black Bean Burgers
Created by Reeni and Cinnamon Spice and Everything Nice

Ingredients

1 can Black beans, drained and rinsed, a 1/4 cup of them set aside
1/2 cup green onion
3-4 chipotle peppers in adobo and 1-2 tablespoons of the sauce, smashed into a paste
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 egg beaten
1/3-1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/4 cup ketchup or barbecue sauce (I did half ketchup, half barbecue, loved it)
1/2 teaspoon Chile powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Use either a potato masher or food processor to smash black beans. I also threw the chipotle peppers in there, just make sure to chop them coarsely, not until it's a paste.

In a large bowl combine chopped beans and peppers with remaining ingredients, including whole beans. Mix well. Form into four patties, cover in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Cook on George Foreman grill, or a large skillet, for about five minutes, or until outsides are crisp and cheese is melted. They are most likely too fragile to grill, but neither Reeni or I have tried it like this.

Serve on hamburger bun with desired fixins, avocado, red onion, pickles, etc. MMMmmmm!

Tomato and Avocado Sandwich

These last few posts I've been feeling a little decieving to you the readers. My blog is mildly advertised as a healthy food blog, but lately I've been having so much fun baking sweet treats. However, now that it has hit me that I will be in a swimsuit soon, you should be getting a lot more healthy dishes from me...but no promises! :-)




There is absolutely nothing complicated or even original about this sandwich. The only thing special about it is that it's one of my favorites. I LOVE the combination of tomato and avocado, it's healthy, it's light and it's vegetarian friendly. Growing up as a kid I was very stuck on the idea that if it didn't have meat, it wasn't worth eating. But now I have a lot of fun trying new dishes that are meat free and loving them. I'm not a vegetarian, and I have nothing against eating meat, but sometimes it's fun to switch it up for a fresh and clean dish with fewer calories.

The ingredients to this sandwich are pretty much what you see. Bread, tomato, avocado, mayo. But there are a few musts when making it. You must use wheat bread, the wheatier the better. You must toast it, lightly. And you must salt and pepper both your tomato and avocado. And in my case, you must enjoy with some good background music and a Diet Coke!

Here's to a healthy summer!

Also, to my wonderful food friends out there, I'm sorry I haven't been so prompt in commenting. This week has been oddly busy for our family, but I'm very excited to see what you're all up to, so I'll be back very soon!

Gorgonzola Burgers


Isn't Gorgonzola grand? Honestly, it just might be my favorite cheese, of course, name any other cheese, and you're likely to get the exact same sentiments!

I loved these burgers, they were so juicy and full of flavor, just look at all of those chunks of Gorgonzola!


On my bun, rather then mayo, I spread a nice layer of avocado on each side. A little salt and pepper, a little more Gorgonzola for good measure, and VOILA! Of course, a nice slice of tomato and red onion would have been magical too, but someone (me) was too lazy to fetch them at the market. Fortunately this will not be the last time I make these burgers!


Gorgonzola Burgers

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef (I like to use lean, but any fat percentage would be fine)
2-3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1/2 cup crumbled Gorganzola cheese, and extra to sprinkle on top
4 garlic cloves, minced
salt and pepper
4 hamburger buns
avocado
red onion
tomato

Directions

Combine beef, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, cheese, garlic and salt and pepper until completely combined (just dig in with your hands, don't be shy). Shape into four equally sized patties. With these particular burgers I liked it grilled well done, so that the meat is cooked through and cheese is melty. Place in bun, add condiments, most importantly your extra Gorganzola! Enjoy!

Roast Beef Panini with Caramelized Onions and Butter Cheese


My first panini post, it's about time! My sweet, amazing mom got me a panini press for Christmas after knowing that I was drooling over one for sometime. In all honesty I haven't used it near as much as I should just because I'm still getting acquainted with some good recipes, but it does make a killer grilled cheese for my kids!

This sandwich is very quick and easy and PACKED with flavor. I loved the sweetness of the caramelized onion, with the full flavored cheese and rich roast beef. The cheese that I got was found at Kettle Kitchen Village in Intercourse, PA (that's right Donna, Intercourse, PA, I thought you'd enjoy that!).

Kettle Kitchen is full of food prepared by the Amish community, and oh my gosh do those people know how to cook. The funnest was the cheeses and meats. I picked up some butter cheese at the strong recommendation of my cousin-in-law. It's very delicious and it kind of a cross between provolone and a very sharp cheddar. It's a strongly flavored cheese that is incredibly creamy and melts like a dream. Since I know butter cheese isn't very available though, you could sub with just about any cheese you'd like, Swiss, provolone, fontina, their all fantastic. In fact, the first time I made this, I used Gorgonzola, which was just as tasty.

I got my caramelized onion recipe from my Aunt's blog Sugarbliss...Cookies etc. It's a very easy and delicious way to caramelize your onions, and you can use them in so many ways.

Ingredients (per sandwich)

1 ciabatta roll, or kaiser roll
5-6 slices roast beef
3-4 slices favorite cheese, or 1/8 cup Gorgonzola
1/4 cup caramelized onion

Directions

Assemble sandwich, I like to put the cheese as the middle layer to adhere it all together. Place on heated panini grill and grill until bread is browned and cheese is melted.

Roast Beef Finger Sandwiches with Herb Cream


Don't let the simple look of these little sandwiches fool you, they pack a powerful punch!

About two years ago, when my little food blog was but an infant and I wasn't sure if I was going to catch the food blogging bug or not, I posted this appetizer recipe. I had gotten the idea from a Cooking Light magazine, and they were so good that for the past two years I've never completely gotten them out of my head.

I did things a bit different this time and turned these into finger sandwiches instead of toasts, which is how they originally appear in the recipe. For toppings I used roast beef, Gorgonzola cheese, salami and a mixture arugula and spinach. But what really makes these babies pop is the sauce you use to coat both pieces of bread. It's a very simple mixture of sour cream, mayo, Worcestershire, garlic and herbs, but the taste is so unique and unforgettable, and absolutely perfect for a whole variety of different toppings. I'm already planning on making myself a nice little panini with the stuff tomorrow! These little sandwiches are perfect for parties, baby or bridal showers, or just those quiet moments when your kids are napping. Hope you enjoy!

Finger Sandwiches with Herb Cream
Adapted from Cooking Light

Ingredients

1 loaf soft white or sour dough bread
1 package deli thin sliced roast beef (or preferred meat), cut to fit size of sandwich
1 package salami, cut to fit sandwich
1/2 cup Gorgonzola
handful of spinach and arugula

Herb Cream:
2/3 cup fat-free sour cream
2 TB minced fresh chives
2 TB low-fat mayo
1 1/2 TB chopped fresh thyme (I used dried and it was fine)
1 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 garlic clove minced

Directions

Stack bread on top of each other, about four high. Slice in half, and then trim off all crust. To assemble sandwiches, spread herb cream on each slice of bread. Add all ingredients to one slice of bread, and top with the second. Press gently on sandwich and secure with toothpick if desired. The bread will dry out quickly, so keep covered as much as possible until serving.

Pulled Pork Sandwiches


If you look WAAAAAY down on my side bar, you'll find a list of foods that I'm particularly in love with. Of course, I could make that list go on for days, but these food in particular are ones that I could probably eat for days on end with a smile on my ever expanding face! Pulled pork sandwiches are definitely one of them, how I love them. I love them so much that my cousins prepared a beautiful lunch for me, featuring pulled pork sammies on my birthday! However, as much as I love them, I had gone years without ever making pulled pork myself, so this was my first attempt, and it's a winner!

I first had this particular recipe at my mom's house over Christmas, and it was so good that I knew that I was going to have to try it myself. It's a Paula Deen recipe (we love Paula Deen), and it requires a few steps, but trust me when I say that every minute is worth it. My mom prepared this in her pressure cooker, but I don't have one, so I just used my crock pot, and I think Paula Deen instructs you to roast in the oven, so really you could do whatever you prefer. What I really loved about these sandwiches though is that after you pile on your pork, which is dripping in flavor, you then slather on your BBQ sauce, and top with a big fat scoop of tangy coleslaw, is your mouth watering yet? AND, if you plan to make this for guests, etc, you can make this days in advance, shred it, freeze it and then you only have a few minutes of preparation the day of your party. I can't say enough good about this recipe, if you like pulled pork at all, you must try this!


Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Adapted from a recipe by Paula Deen

Ingredients

Dry rub:
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons black pepper
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons paprika
1/2 tablespoon cayenne
4 pound shoulder pork roast
2 cup apple juice
1 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire
1/2 tablespoon liquid smoke
1/2 tablespoon garlic powder

6 Kaiser rolls
BBQ sauce
Cole slaw (for the coleslaw, I completely cheated and bought the premade bags with a bottle of dressing. You could take it a step further and just buy some from your deli counter).

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Mix the dry rub ingredients in small bowl. Sprinkle dry rub all over the pork roast, pressing into the pork. Cover with plastic and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (I just did it overnight).

Combine liquid ingredients and the garlic powder in a medium bowl and pour into a large Dutch oven. Place pork in the oven and tightly cover with aluminum foil then lid. Roast for 4 hours or until fork tender and shreds easily. Brush the roast with cooking liquid every hour. I had this in my crock pot on high for about 8 hours, I just kept in in until it was falling apart. It will smell a little funky while your cooking it, but it tastes so good.


Remove from oven and let stand until cool enough to handle. Shred the pork with forks or tongs until in bite sized pieces. Serve on Kaiser rolls, top with favorite BBQ sauce and coleslaw, wear a bib!

AND

I'm having so much fun reading "You Know You're a Foodie When..." Keep them coming, even if you've already posted some, and I'll have them up soon!

Quinoa Salad with Mandarine Oranges and Capers


I feel like I've learned so much through the food blog world. I've learned about ingredients and techniques that I didn't even know existed until now. Quinoa is one of those things. When I first heard about it, I didn't even know how to say it, I thought it was pronounced Ki-no-ah. Yeah...no. Turns out you pronounce it keen-wah. Well, however you want to say it, you should definitely try it. It's made of small grains that you boil and turn into just about whatever you want. They are small, soft and remind me of a cross between tapioca and wheat grains. It's also crazy healthy for you, and fun to eat!

I made this salad simply by pulling ingredients out of the frigde that I thought would be good together. It turned out to be so good, and I was also able to use my Newman's Own Balsamic Dressing that I got a few months ago. This salad was so clean tasting and refreshing with a lot of great flavors. I especially loved the contrast of the salty capers with the sweet mandarine oranges. This would be great for a BBQ or any get-together.

Quinoa Salad with Mandarine Oranges and Capers

Ingredients

2 cups of prepared quinoa (use directions on the box)
1 medium can of Mandarine Oranges
2 tablespoons capers
1/4 cup parsley, chopped
3 tablespoons red onion, or shallot, chopped
1/4 cup Monterey Jack or Feta cheese, chopped into small pieces
2-3 teaspoons Newman's Own Balsamic Dressing, enough to moisten entire salad.

Directions

Toss all ingredients in a large bowl. Keep chilled.

I served this alongside a BLT, one of my favorites! To kick it up a knotch, try this spread out...


It's a sandwich spread that is full of peppercorns, dijon and lots of fantastic flavor. You could use it on sandwiches, burgers, breakfast sammies, you name it. I'm not being endorsed in any way to promote this stuff, I just really happen to like it!

Caprese Panini



Spring is here! And Spring means spring cleaning, which doesn't just happen in my closets, it happens in my fridge too. And as much as I love the rich comforts of soups, chilis and casseroles, I am ready for clean, light, colorful food, just like the season.



One of my very favorite warm weather dishes is the Caprese salad. Sweet tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and aromatic basil, it's to die for! I'll eat it in any form, including in a melty panini, which is exactly what I did. Recently Foodbuzz sent me a sample loaf of Natures Pride Whole Wheat Bread with Flax. The bread is wonderful, nutty and wholesome, which was exactly what was needed for a good sandwich. It's such a bright, and fresh sandwich with nothing but clean beautiful ingredients. I could eat this every day, especially when the weather is nice, the Diet Coke is cold, and there is a good book waiting for me!



Caprese Panini

Ingredients for one sandwich

2 slices Natures Pride Whole Wheat Bread with Flax (or preferred bread)
1-2 tomatoes sliced
4 large basil leaves
3-4 slices fresh mozzarella (be sure it's fresh, it's just better)
salt and pepper

Directions

Assemble sandwich with cheese in center to hold it all together, season to taste. Press in panini press, or on skillet with a weight to hold it down. Enjoy!

Dijon Croque Monsieur with Elderberry Jelly



Nothing beats having dirty, exhausted kids. That sounds like a strange statement, but when my kids are cranky, tired and filthy then it probably means that our day has been spent outside, digging in the dirt, climbing jungle gyms and soaking up as much of this beautiful weather as possible. I love it, and although it means having to double up on baths and showers, it's absolutely worth it. However, it also means that my time in the kitchen and at my computer will be significantly lessened, so my posts my be a bit more sporadic than normal. I'm going to do my best to keep up with you, but if you don't see me around for a while, it hopefully means it's because we're getting delightfully kissed by the sun! Ah, I love the spring!

I probably wouldn't have made these cheesy gooey sandwiches if it wasn't for a little trip I took to Kitchen Kettle in Lancaster, PA with one of my friends. I am in love with this place as it's full of fantastic foods made by the Amish, and they allow you to sample just about everything that they made. I went specifically for a jar of their pickled beets (most of you are probably grimacing at that, but don't knock 'em till you try 'em, they're awesome!), but along the way we discovered this elderberry jelly, which was delicious. It's hard to describe the taste except to say that it has that dark "three berry" sweetness in it and it's wonderful. My friend had mentioned that they had a jelly like this to accompany some Monte Cristo sandwiches and that it was to die for. Not being able to get the idea out of my head, I found this recipe in my Cooking Light mag (where else), and got to work. I can't tell you what the difference is between a Croque Monsieur, and a Monte Cristo (can you?) but I will tell you that the jelly is honestly what topped this sandwich off beautifully. Since the sandwich is very savory with it's buttery Gruyere cheese, salty ham and tangy Dijon, the elderberry jelly cuts right through it with it's sweetness. I warmed it just a bit before serving it to thin it out a bit and it was perfect! If you don't have elderberry jelly, you could probably try this with any sweet jelly you have on hand. Apricot or raspberry would be excellent!



Dijon Croque Monsieur with Elderberry Jelly
Cooking Light Jan/Feb 2010

Ingredients
1 tablespoon whole grain Dijon Mustard
1 tablespoon fat-free mayo
8 slices Italian Bread (I just used whole wheat)
6 ounces thinly sliced ham
1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup egg substitute
1/4 cup fat free milk
cooking spray
1/2 cup warmed elderberry jelly for dipping

Directions

1. Combine mustard and mayo in a small bowl. Spread 3/4 teaspoon of mustard mixture over each of 4 bread slices; evenly distribute ham and cheese on each slice of bread. Sprinkle evenly with pepper. Spread remaining mustard mixture on each remaining bread slice and assemble sandwiches.

2. Combine egg substitute and milk in a shallow dish. Dip both sides of each sandwich into the egg mixture.

3. Heat a large nonstick griddle or skillet over medium heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add sandwiches to pan; cook 3 minutes on each side, or until lightly browned and cheese melts. Use jelly for dipping.

Serves 4


Per Serving (not including jelly): 350 cal, 11.7g fat, 25.1g prot, 34.6g carb, 1.7g fiber

Points per Serving: 8

Enjoy the Spring!!

Roasted Veggie and Hummus Sandwich



If anyone inspires me as a cook, it's definitely my mom. Growing up, I really can't remember a night that we didn't get to sit down to a hot, delicious meal. She was even able to turn leftovers into a lovely dinner. After all her years of cooking, she has perfected many of her dishes to be some of the best food I've ever tasted. To this day I still haven't have salmon or ribs that rival hers. Having moved away from her makes me long for her food as well as admire her even more for the person and cook that she is!

We were able to go home over Christmas, which was basically a two week GORGE fest of some of the best food imaginable. But there were points in the week that our bodies were screaming for mercy and begging for something light and healthy. To meet those needs my mom made these delicious roasted veggie sandwiches with her homemade hummus that were to DIE for. Her hummus had just the right amount of bite and sharpness, paired with the sweetness of the roasted veggies and the softness of the bread, oh, a veggie lover's dream come true. I ended up requesting the same sandwich three days in a row and I've been craving them ever since!

There is no wrong way to make these, and I did make mine a little differently then my mom's. She used kaiser rolls and added thick slices of provolone, and while I would LOVE to do that, I'm trying to keep things as light as possible. So I used these awesome Sandwich Thins that you can find at Costco. They are like thin hamburger buns, they are delicious, with just the right density and are only one point each! If you are trying to cut carbs or calories out of your diet, I highly suggest these, I use them for breakfast sandwiches, fill them full of lunch meat, and have even used them for burgers, they're great.


For these sandwiches you can either buy or make your own hummus. There is a huge variety of wonderful hummus at the grocery store right now, but I'm still a fan of my own. Hummus is really easy to make and there are a million different ways to make mine. Traditionally the base of hummus is chickpeas (garbanzo beans), but you could also use things like edamame, white beans, artichoke hearts, or roasted red peppers. My mom adds things like red onion and tahini to hers, which gives it such a rich tangy flavor. Mine is really simple, and very garlicky, here is the recipe.

Hummus

1 can garbanzo beans
3-4 cloves garlic, peeled and roughly chopped
1-2 teaspoons cumin
1-2 teaspoons garlic salt
1-2 teaspoons lemon juice
3-4 tablespoons olive oil

Combine beans, garlic, cumin, garlic salt, and lemon juice in a food processor. Blend until grainy. While blending, add olive oil in a steady stream until desired consistency. I love to serve these with pita chips.

I just recently tried this using water instead of olive oil to cut out some fat, didn't work! It took out all of the elasticity and I really missed the pungent flavor of the olive oil, it's worth the extra calories, trust me.

For your veggies, just chop up your favorite veggies in bite sized pieces, all roughly the same size so that they cook evenly. My favorites are asparagus, mushrooms (portabello or cremini), red pepper, zucchini, summer squash and onions. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with Kosher salt and pepper and toss on a cookie sheet. I roast them at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes until they are soft and browned.

Spread hummus on your roll or bread, pile on as many veggies as possible, add whatever cheese you like (provolone or Swiss are probably my most preferred) and enjoy! If you have a lot of veggies leftover, you can throw them back on your cookie sheet and roast them again another time, just not as long.

Hope you love these as much as I do!

Sliders with Onion Relish




Hey there! Since spring is almost here, and the weather is getting warmer, I thought I would post an "outdoor friendly" kind of meal, because what is better to eat outside on a picnic table, then a juicy, hot hamburger, or in this case, a slider! We really love to eat sliders at our house, I don't know what it is about these mini burgers, but they just seem to hit the spot that much better then a regular sized hamburger, I think it's because there is so much more flavor concentrated in that thin grilled piece of meat. I think it's also because our kids feel like we have gone out of our way to make food that fits into their chubby little kid sized hands! There is really no recipe when it comes to making sliders (probably another reason I love them), but here is a guideline to how we make ours!

1 lb of ground beef
1 palmful onion powder
1 palmful onion flakes
1 palmful garlic powder
1/2 palmful seasoned salt
several grinds black pepper
2-3 shakes Worcestershire sauce
1 package potato rolls (the softer and smaller, the better!)

Combine all ingredients until well blended. Heat your grill, grill pan, or skillet (I just use my electric skillet, but anything would work). Form your patties to be very thin, but just slightly larger around then your potato roll (they will shrink when you cook them). Cook how you like them (with them being so thin though, I usually just cook them either medium well, or just well done). Place on potato roll with onion relish.

I believe the onion relish was an idea I got watching Michael Chiarello about a year ago (love that guy!). It's the easiest thing you'll ever do in your life.

1 onion thinly sliced
1 part ketchup
1 part mustard (this all depends on how saucy you want it and how you want it to taste)

Saute onions until soft. Combine ketchup and mustard in a bowl, add onions, serve hot. This would also be dynamite on your grilled hotdogs!

Ah, summer food! Bring on the sun, the heat, the pool and the Diet Coke!

Creamless Creamy Tomato Soup



I love sharing things that I used to enjoy with my kids. I want them to watch the classic Disney cartoons like Cinderella, read classic children's stories like Charlotte's Web and go on outings that include hay rides and going down slides.


It's not that I object to the cutting edge technology of Pixar and video games that don't even require a controller, I just love the wave of nostalgia that I experience when my kids fall in love with the same things that I used to love at that age. Maybe it's my own weird way of vicariously getting to be a kid again!

And since I want my kids to also experience the same foods I used to eat, grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup have definitely made an frequent appearance on our dinner table. But eventually you have to draw a line when it comes to authenticity, and the canned version of tomato soup will no longer do.


So, I was thrilled to find this light, but rich and gorgeously smooth version of tomato soup, that made the perfect mate for our grilled cheesers. Instead of adding cream, bread is your thickener and the flavor of tomatoes is much stronger and tangier then what you get in the canned stuff. It's dippin' delicious!

Creamless Creamy Tomato Soup
By America's Test Kitchen Healthy Family Cookbook

Ingredients

1/4 cup olive oil
1 onion
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 bay leaf
2 (28 oz) cans whole peeled tomatoes
1 tablespoon light or dark brown sugar
3 slices high-quality white sandwich bread, crusts removed, torn into 1-inch pieces
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons brandy (I omitted this, but if you use it, be sure to let me know how it is!)
salt and pepper
1/4 cup minced chives

Directions

1. Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion, garlic, red pepper flakes, and bay leaf and cook until the onion is softened, about 5 minutes.

2. Stir in the tomatoes with their juice. Using a potato masher, mash the tomatoes until no pieces are larger than 2 inches. Stir in the sugar and bread, bring to a simmer, and cook until the bread begins to dissolve, about 5 minutes.

3. Discard the bay leaf. Puree the soup with the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a blender, in batches, until smooth. Return the soup to a clean pot, stir in the broth and Brandy, and cook gently over medium-low heat until the soup is hot. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle individual bowls with the chives before serving.

Serves 6: 1 1/2 cups per serving

Per Serving: 180 cal, 10g fat, 19g carb, 3g prot, 3g fiber, 610mg sod

Hot Artichoke Dip



You know, I'm just going to say it, trying to eat healthy just plain sucks sometimes. It's not that I don't like healthy food, it's that I really like the stuff that's not so healthy. And I'm not much of a sweets girl, I'm talking big bacon cheeseburgers, greasy cheesy pizza, and salty snack food, oh how I love it! But, I made a goal this year by golly, and even though it's February and I'm supposed to have forgotten about it, I really want to accomplish my goal of getting healthy. Come hell or a high mountain of potato chips!

That's why I'm always grateful for recipes like this. They make the whole healthy process suck just a bit less. I love artichoke dip, it's cheesy and has that fantastic sharp artichoke flavor. But, unlike a lot of dips, this one is not full of fat and calories. In fact, the bulk of this dip is white beans, which gives the dip the creamy illusion that you are indulging and being naughty. It's wonderful for parties, and tastes just as good cold or room temp as it does hot.

Hot Artichoke Dip
Cooking Light

Ingredients

1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
1/3 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 (14-ounce) cans artichoke hearts, rinsed and drained, divided
1 (15.5-ounce)can Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup (4 ounces) grated fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, divided (I really like Pecorino Romano, I almost always sub it for Parm)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, divided
3 garlic cloves, minced
Cooking spray

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°.

2. Combine first 4 ingredients in a food processor; add 1 can of artichokes and beans. Process until smooth. Add remaining can of artichokes, 3/4 cup of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, 1 tablespoon parsley, and garlic. Pulse 20 times or until artichokes are coarsely chopped.

3. Spoon mixture into an 8-inch square baking dish coated with cooking spray; sprinkle top with remaining 1/4 cup of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and remaining 1 tablespoon parsley. Bake at 400° for 25 minutes or until bubbly.


4. I think this is best served with tortilla chips, sliced baguette, carrots, celery or cauliflower.

Serves 12: Serving size is 1/3 cups

Per Serving: 98cal, 4g fat, 2g fiber, 5g prot, 488mg sod

Points per Serving: 2!!


With the leftover dip, I made an awesome roasted zucchini and mushroom panini (what else!) Roast whatever veggies you have (asparagus would have also been excellent), spread dip on one slice of bread, top with veggies and any cheese if desired and press. Delicious lunch!

So here's my question...what helps you when you're having a particularly hard day staying on that straight and narrow path to healthy eating?

CEiMB and HBi5

Normally I'm supposed to post Craving Ellie in My Belly on Thursdays, but yesterday my brain was only functioning at 50%. The night before I thought I'd act like a college student and stay out half the night with some girlfriends, great times, but I'm left braindead the next day! So, it wasn't until noon today that it hit me "I never posted CEiMB!" My apologies to the folks in the group, but hopefully my "two-in-one" post will make up for it.


This week for CEiMB we made Emerald Stir Fry with Beef, hosted by Alyssa's Two Bites. Now, I enjoy a good stir fry, but I do have to be careful not to make them too often because my husband tends to think that they all taste the same, and he's just not that crazy about them.

I made quite a few changes with this stir fry. I used green beans and a frozen veggie mix in place of the sugar snap peas and asparagus. I also added a little sugar to the sauce to sweeten it a bit. It was good, everyone was pleased, but I do think I have to side with Glenn and agree that it did taste about the same as every other stir fry I make. A delicious dish, just not that exciting. Maybe we'll do shrimp or scallops next time? That might mix it up a bit. You can find the recipe here.

And now for HBi5. The starter this week was a bit different, calling for more things like honey and eggs and I liked it! I made the loaf of bread, which got eaten very fast. It was sweet, soft and great with sandwiches, especially my all time favorite one.



And I made the hamburger buns. The tops were brushed with a bit of butter and sprinkled with a bit of garlic salt, my favorite condiment! To fill them we made our favorite burgers ever. The recipe comes from one of my Weight Watcher cookbooks and they are fantastic. Ground beef mixed with a whole variety of veggies and seasonings, then we just grill them on our Foreman. They have a ton of flavor and would satisfy anyone, whether they're dieting or not!



Mushroom BurgersWeight Watchers New Complete Cookbook

Ingredients

2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 red or yellow bell pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1/2 onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons minced carrot
2 tablespoons minced celery
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups finely chopped mushrooms
3/4 pound lean ground beef
1 tablespoon steak sauce
salt and pepper

Directions

1. In a medium nonstick skillet, heat the oil. Saute the bell pepper, onion, carrot, celery and garlic until the onion is translucent, 8-10 minutes. Add the mushrooms; saute until the mushrooms brown and the liquid evaporates, about 8 minutes. Cool to room temperature.

2. Spray the broiler racl with nonstick cooking spray; preheat the broiler. In a medium bowl, combine the mushroom mixture, beef, steak sauce, salt and pepper. Form into 4 hamburgers. Broil the burgers 3-4 inches from heat, 5-7 minutes each side, or grill in Foreman Grill.

Serves 4

Per Serving: 153 cal, 8g fat, 3g sat fat, 44mg sod, 1g fiber

Points per Serving: 4

Unfortunately I waited too long to do my apple strudel bread, and the starter wasn't good anymore, drat! I will definitely try it another time though! I'm excited to see how the rest of you clubbers did and have a fantastic weekend ya'll!

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