Getting creative in the kitchen...

MoochNNoodles

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I love trying new recipes out; but I'm getting bored with my routine. Its harder to spend time cooking with a toddler underfoot. But either tomorrow or maybe I'll wait till Saturday I'm going for a soup and sandwich dinner.

I found a slow-cooker recipe for a vegetable soup that looks good. But I'm going to try to be more creative with the sandwich! I found some multi-grain ciabatta rolls at the store and I picked up some thin sliced chicken breast and aged swiss cheese. Tomato and lettuce too. Now I just need to find some way to make that extra special. Maybe with some kind of herbed spread? Hmmm.... Pesto even? Not sure yet!

Anyone trying something new lately?
 

darkmavis

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I love trying new recipes too! Maybe for your sandwich, use sundried tomatoes instead of fresh? Or the pesto idea is good, pesto makes everything better..
How about toasting the sanwiches in the oven for a few minutes just to melt the cheese a bit and crisp up the bread?

In any case, enjoy!!
 

cococat

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I love grilling sandwiches and adding sprouts and guac, I make the guac spicy for an added kick. Also roasted tomatoes are yummy in a sandwich.
 
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MoochNNoodles

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Ooo! I like the idea of toasting them! Guacamole is good too; but I've become slightly allergic to avocados so I have to watch how much I can use. I bet if I go light on it it would be fine though. But I'd rather slather it on thick! Yum!

I was thinking I do have a few sun-dried tomatoes in oil left from a few weeks ago. Maybe if I blend them and mix it with some pesto it would be nice! Toasting would compliment that too! Just need some pesto. I'm thinking it will be more simple to find some pre-made than making my own right now. It's not supposed to be hard; just shopping I think will take a bit.

@Mike; I may just have to add that mayo to next week's list anyway! Sounds gooood! I bet it would be great on a veggie burger! Love those!
 

gailc

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Ciabatta is good for pannini/grilled sandwiches. Though you cut in half and grill the middle part/turn the buns around so top and bottom are in the facing the meat & vegetables.

I tried a slower cooker port chop recipe yesterday and a new hamburger stovetop one pan dinner tonite.
 

natalie_ca

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Yummm! Try Hummus and Guacamole! Both together are absolutely delicious on a sandwich.

You can also try adding olives, sliced green or red peppers, sauteed mushrooms, browned onions. So many things can go so nicely together on a sandwich.
 
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MoochNNoodles

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Mmmmm! Hummus is a great idea! I haven't had that in a long time! I bet Tressa would even eat it!
 

fwan

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I used to work at a cafe that served chicken with brie cheese and cranberry relish, and home made mayo. Its quick to make and will last in the fridge for a long time!!

At the moment i am loving my tuna sandwiches!
 

Winchester

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Chicken and cranberries....decadent!

Sun-dried tomatoes are absolutely wonderful. With pasta, with sliced zucchini and summer squash. I usually get the ones in the packet, not the ones in oil because of the calorie content. But I do have a recipe for a wonderful sun-dried tomato bread that uses both the tomatoes and some of the oil from the container. That bread makes a delicious sandwich.

Don't forget foccacia for sandwich breads, too. You can make or buy foccacia, split it in half, fill it with all kinds of good things, and then throw it into a hot oven for the fillings to warm and the cheeses to melt. Yum! It would be almost like a stuffed pizza. I've used foccacia before when we want a bit of a change from other breads.
 
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MoochNNoodles

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Oh good idea on the focaccia bread! I may try that in the near future too! My soup is going in the crock pot and I did pick up some pesto at the grocery store. I want to puree the sundried tomatoes I have left and mix them all together. I think when I cook the chicken I will carmalize some garlic in the pan before I add it and get the flavor of that going that way. I can't wait for dinner tonight!!
 

Winchester

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Your soup sounds delicious!

Last night, I made fettuccine with lots of sauteed onions and garlic, mushrooms, and red peppers. Then I added chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Some basil and oregano and a pinch or so of marjoram. A little bit of a thin white sauce, some red-fat Mexican cheese and one tablespoon of grated Romano. Boy, was that good! DH loved it told me it's a keeper. We had it with a couple slices of a tomato-herb foccacia from the freezer. Yum!
 
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MoochNNoodles

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Oh my gosh I'm seriously droooooling!!! That sounds sooo goooood! Gonna fry my keyboard if I don't quit! LOL!

My sandwiches turned out great too! I love that multi-grain ciabatta bread! My chicken cooked up nice and I did toast them with the swiss cheese on top. I spread the pureed sun-dried tomatoes on top of that and then dropped the pesto on by spoonful. I added just a touch of mayo to the top slice to be sure it wasn't too dry from the toasting. I probably didn't need to with the pesto; but I didn't want the inside of the bread too crunchy. We are having the leftovers for dinner tomorrow and I can't wait!!

I made a lentil and brown rice casserole for dinner tonight for the first time. It was good; but after last nights dinner I wasn't so impressed! LOL! Maybe next time I try that with sun-dried tomatoes too!
 
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