Wild West Sandwich Wrap

I am always on the look out for sandwich recipes and there are sandwich recipes everywhere. I recently was grocery shopping at Kroger and saw this recipe that came along with a coupon. You can click on this link to see the original but I'll be sharing the changes that I made here.

The main change I wanted to make to the recipe was to add black beans because  1) black beans make sense with this sandwich especially because of the spice and 2) black beans are so healthy. Black beans are high in antioxidants and fiber and B6 and magnesium. Magnesium helps to maintain healthy blood pressure and healthy iron.

Wild West Sandwich Wrap

serves about 4

• 1/2 cup thawed frozen corn
• 1/2 cup black beans
• 1/4 cup red onion diced finely
• 3 T Chipotle flavored mayo**
• 4 Spinach Flat Out wraps
• spinach
• grilled chicken breast, about 1 each
• 1 sandwich cheese slice per wrap, your fave

Combine corn, beans, onion and mayo in bowl. Top wrap with spinach, cheese, chicken and corn mixture. Roll up and wrap in plastic wrap and add to lunch box.

** Queso Fresco & Chipotle Laughing Cow triangle can be used instead of Chipotle mayo

*** Worried this is too spicey for your young lunch box carrier? Use regular mayo (or Laughing Cow Cheese) instead!

Tip: April Fool's!!

I recently heard a sweet story of an amazing and creative mom and this fun idea she did for her kids school lunch when they were younger and I knew I had to try it on my own children.

Sadly, I could find one plastic spider only. I made something different for my high schooler (she's recovering from a stomach illness so it was crackers and other bland foods for her) so I made these two sandwiches, wrapped them, and switched them around a few times so I wouldn't know who was getting the spider and threw one each on their lunch boxes. I just couldn't decide. I can't wait to hear which child was the lucky one.

That's my April Fool's tip.

Am a little too late in giving this idea? Nah! You could put a plastic spider in their after school snack or freeze some in ice cubes for dinner.

Recipe for the sandwich coming soon!

Tips: Let the Kids Make Lunch Too

I make lunch for my children every morning mainly because I love to do it. I love to be in the kitchen and the challenge of keeping their lunch boxes interesting is something I get a kick out of. But I know that even though I can make their lunch every. single. morning. doesn't mean I should. They need to learn kitchen skills too and independence is a very good thing. Besides, surely there are brownie points earned when they know they can, they know that I know they can, but I do it for them anyways. They may not end up with a Cuban Sandwich , a Tomato Mozzarella and Basil Sandwich or a BLT Salad Sandwich on the day they make their own but a PB&J and a Bagel Thin can be just as good.

Letting the kids make their own lunch sometimes is good for all.  

Sides: Sweet & Spicy Peppers

These sweet peppers are so colorful that I didn't dare pass them by.

They are high in vitamin C, beta-carotene, folic acid and Vitamin A. When consumed, they can reduce the risk of lung cancer, help those who bruise easily, support the structure of capillaries, lower the risk for macular degeneration and more.

Sweet and Spicy Peppers

• sweet mini peppers
• 1 triangle, per pepper, of Queso Fresco & Chipotle Laughing Cow cheese

Stuff the sweet pepper with the spicy cheese. You can slice the pepper in half, as pictured, or just slice the top off the pepper and stuff it whole.

Other (non-spicy) cheeses work great as well.

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.

A School Lunch Poem

No Thanks

I’d rather eat roaches

And grasshopper punch

Than try to digest

Even one more school lunch.

Joyce Armor