Hawaiian Sandwich

Aloha!

(that is a lonely pineapple piece at the bottom of the bread on the left)

I just polished off one of these sandwiches and it is a keeper! The cream cheese (pineapple flavored) makes it perfect for a lunch box. It prevents soggy bread which between the pineapple and bbq sauce, is bound to happen otherwise.

I do add spinach to the sandwich because I add it to everything. Except maybe a pb&j.

Hawaiian Sandwich

what you need:

• Sandwich Thins
• grilled chicken breast, cut into strips
• bbq sauce
• provolone cheese
• pineapple cream cheese (you can make your own using this recipe)
• spinach (optional)

what you do:

Spread cream cheese on both slices of bread. Sandwich Thins work best but it's worth a try with your favorite bread choice. Place spinach, if using, on one side. Add provolone. Toss chicken in bbq sauce, use just enough to coat chicken, but not too much. About 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons. Top with other bread slice that has also been spread with pineapple cream cheese. Wrap it up.

 (I like to wrap these types of busier sandwiches with plastic wrap and then foil) and toss it in the lunch box.

Onion Sandwiches

Oh yes I did!

I grew up believing that I didn't like onions because my family didn't, but turns out I love them. But that is not why I had to try this tasty sandwich, because frankly I'd never heard of it until I read this beautiful book called Heaven to Betsy. May I share with you the part in the book about the Onion Sandwich?

  Sunday Night Lunch was an institution at the Ray house. They never called it supper; and they scorned folks who called it tea. The drink of the evening was coffee, which Mrs. Ray loved, and although Betsy and Margaret still took cocoa, their loyalty was to coffee for her sake.

The meal was prepared by Mr Ray. This was a custom of many years standing. No one else was allowed in the kitchen except in the role of admiring audience. He didn't object when Anna (the hired girl) or Mrs. Ray made a cake earlier in the day; he didn't mind the girls putting cloth on the dining room table. But in the kitchen on Sunday evenings he was supreme.First he put the coffee on..... He got a wooden bread board, and a sharp knife which he always proceeded to sharpen further. He sliced the bread in sensibly thick slices and he never cut off the crusts. Mr. Ray's opinion of sandwiches without crusts matched Mrs. Ray's opinion of tea on Sunday nights. The butter had been put to soften, and now around the breadboard he ranged everything he could find in the ice box. Sometimes there was a cold roast beef, sometimes chicken, sometimes cheese. If nothing else was available he made his sandwiches of onions. He used slices of mild Bermuda onions, sprinkled with vinegar and dusted with pepper and salt. About the use of pepper and salt Mr Ray had very positive ideas. He used his condiments with the care and precision of a gourmet. Not too much! Not too little! And spread so evenly that each bite had the heavenly seasoning of the one before.

"I'm not," he used to say with sedate pride, "the sort of sandwich maker who puts salt and pepper all in one place with a shovel. No, siree!" And then he would add, for emphasis, "No siree, BOB!"The onion sandwiches were most popular of all with the boys who flocked to the Ray house.

Mr. Ray didn't mind company for Sunday Night Lunch; in fact, he liked it. The larger the audience, the more skill and ingenuity he displayed in his sandwich combinations. Tall, black haired, big-nosed, benevolent, an apron tied around his widening middle, he perched on a stool in the pantry with assorted guests all around the house.The guests were of all ages...... Old and young gathered in the dining room around the table beneath the hanging lamp. The big platter of sandwiches was placed in the center. A cake sat on one side, a dish of pickles on the other. There was a simmering pot of steaming coffee, of course; but the sandwiches were king of the meal.

Without further ado- may I share with you this Heavens to Betsy/James Beard inspired Onion Sandwich-

(because the vinegar added in Mr Ray's sandwich wouldn't hold out too well in a lunch box, and neither would James Beard's parsley rimmed sandwiches)

Onion Sandwich

1 sandwich thin

thinly sliced onion (I always prefer Vidalia)

mayo

dried parsley

salt and pepper

Spread both bread slices with mayo. Sprinkle parsley on both sides. Add thinly sliced onion and add salt and pepper but not all in one place with a shovel, as Mr Ray warned!

Banh Mi

Banh Mi is a flavorful and texture full Vietnamese styled sandwich that is usually served on a baguette and with pâté, two things that I felt I had to change to make it healthier for the lunch box. So I skipped the pâté (and other substitutes) altogether and replaced the baguette with a sandwich thin. A whole wheat hot dog bun would work nicely too. I used this recipe from Food Network's site by Anthony Nguyen as inspiration and actually used his exact slaw recipe.

The daicon, which is in the slaw, is high in vitamin C and folacin. It is yet another cancer protecting food. The texture and ever so slight bite it adds to this sandwich is perfect.

Banh Mi

for the slaw

• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
• 1/2 cup juliened carrot
• 1/2 cup juliened daicon
• a pinch of salt

for the meat

• about 6 ounces pork (I used leftover pork roast, leftover shredded pork will work)
• chicken, a couple of sandwich meat slices (or leftover chicken will work)
• a sprinkle of Chinese 5 spice (if using shredded meat, this can be stirred in)

for the sandwich

• sandwich thins
• Mayonaise
• English cucumber, 1/4, juliened
• a couple of sprigs of cilantro

Directions:

Make the slaw: (this can be done the night before and stored in the refridgerator) In a small saucepan, combine the water, sugar, and vinegar and bring to a boil. Transfer the vinegar mixture to a bowl and cool. Add the carrot and daikon, mix well, and season with salt. Set aside to marinate for 30 minutes.

To assemble the sandwich, add mayonaise to sandwich thin, then add pork and then chicken. Top with slaw and then add cucumber and cilantro.

BBQ Chicken Sandwich

My all time favorite pizza in the whole wide world is the Barbeque Chicken Pizza. Oh boy, do I love it! Every ingredient go together so perfectly for me. That is what has inspired this sandwich. I think I am going to look for every possible way to put chicken, bbq sauce, cilantro, red onion and cheese together. (have you seen my recipe for BBQ Chicken Quesadilla's?)

Red onion has many health benefits. They can keep blood sugar in check, they are good for your bones, they are a natural anti-inflammatory and the B6 and chromium in onions helps to increase cardiovascular health. What a bargain!

Here is the lowdown on this flavorful sandwich-

BBQ Chicken Sandwich

serves 1

• 2 slices of bread (I used sandwich thins)
• 1 grilled chicken breast
• your favorite bbq sauce (I use Sweet Baby Ray's)
• a few slivers of red onion
• 1 Laughing Cow Creamy Swiss wedge
• 1/4 tsp. Gourmet Garden cilantro

Mix cheese wedge and cilantro in a small bowl and set aside. Slice or shred chicken and add to 1 slice of bread. Top with bbq sauce (to your liking) and add red onion. Spread the cheese mix over the other slice of bread and add to top the sandwich.

Mayo-less Tuna Sandwich

Devin Alexander is who deserves the credit for the tuna sandwich hold the mayo. Using hummus in place of mayonnaise keeps the tuna spreadable but adds fiber, (more) protein, vitamins and minerals- such as folic acid, zinc, and magnesium.

In the Biggest Loser Cookbook that I found Devin's recipe, she calls for red onions and put the tuna spread on an English Muffin, which is quite delicious but red onions (unless hidden) do not fly with my children. I added just a touch of Italian dressing to add a little zing, since omitting the red onion seemed to omit zing.

Mayo-less Tuna Sandwich

makes 4

• two cans of tuna, in water
• 1/8 heaping cup hummus
• 3 slices of cucumber
• 1 tsp. Italian Dressing
• 1 sandwich thin

Mix tuna, hummus and dressing in a bowl. Spread on sandwich thin then top with cucumber.

Tomato, Mozzarella and Basil Sandwich

This mornings lunch box inspiration was by my all time favorite salad, the Caprese Salad. Basil is my #1 all-time most favorite herb (cilantro being #2) It mingles beautifully with tomato and mozarella. It's no wonder the salad is so popular. 

Here is the lowdown-

Tomato, Mozzarella and Basil Sandwich

• sandwich thins
• mayonaise
• basil
• lemon
• tomato
• fresh mozzarella 

Add a heaping tablespoon mayonaise to a small bowl. Chiffonade about 3 or more large basil leaves and a squirt (just a little) of fresh lemon, mix. Spread onto sandwich thin. Add a slice of mozarella and 2-3 slices of tomato.

Mixto Sandwich

The Mixto Sandwich is known in America as The Cuban Sandwich. It is vintage (found in Cuban restaurants as early as the 1930's) and most delicious but is served flattened and toasted, which just doesn't work for a packed lunch. This recipe has the taste and feel of the traditional Cuban Sandwich but is tweaked for the Lunch Box. The sandwich thins works best since the traditional sandwich is flattened (thin) bread.

Here is the lowdown-

Mixto Sandwich

serves 1

• Sandwich thins (I use Arnold's multi-grain)
• ham, 4 slices or to taste
• shredded pork (I use leftovers), about 1/4 of a cup
• Swiss cheese (I say Baby Swiss all the way..... baby!) 1-2 slices, to taste
• mustard, to taste
• dill pickle slices (a must), 1-2

Spread mustard on the inside of both sandwich thin pieces. Layer on cheese, shredded pork, then add pickle, and top with ham. **Place the pickle between the two meats to keep the pickle juice from getting the bread soggy.