French Baguette Grilled Cheese with Bacon and Avocado

It was just another Saturday until I decided to bake a loaf of bread, then turn the baguette into a delicious grilled cheese sandwich with a twist!  Who doesn't like cheese and bacon?!  The perfect combo to any sandwich!

Here is where I found the recipe I used to make this delicious bread: Homemade French Baguettes

For the sandwich I baked the bacon in the oven for 15 minutes at 375 degrees.

I added fresh slices of aged cheddar cheese to the bread and baked it until it was melted.  To the sandwich I added fresh slices of avocado and 2 slices of bacon.  So simple, yet so good!  Enjoy :)

Pesto Avocado Toasts

This is great as an open faced sandwich for lunch or for an appetizer!  Full of flavor, fresh, and delicious!

Fresh loaf of baguette

fresh pesto

 

 avocado; thinly sliced 

 

prosciutto; thinly sliced

fresh mozzarella

Bake in oven or toaster oven for 10-15 minutes @ 350degrees until toasted and cheese is melted and bubbly!

Enjoy :)

Pesto Turkey Burger

This turkey burger is so tasty, moist and juicy you almost forget you're eating a healthy burger option!

1lb of ground turkey (94% lean)
fresh provolone cheese
lettuce (topping)
tomato (topping)
2 burger rolls


Pesto:
spinach and arugula mix (2 cups)
1/2 cup roasted garlic cloves (two heads of garlic; roasted)
1/4 cup pine nuts
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil; may need more depending on consistency
salt and pepper


Mix all ingredients in food processor, until smooth.
Preheat grill.

Mix about 2-3 tablespoons of pesto into ground turkey.  Add freshly ground salt and pepper, if desired. Form into 4 patties.  Grill until fully cooked through (NO PINK!)  Melt provolone cheese on top.  

Assemble turkey burger.  Enjoy with lettuce and tomato, no sauce needed!  

Prosciutto Panini

The perfect lunch for two....

prosciutto; sliced very thin
roasted tomatoes (Wegmans olive bar...yum!)
freshly sliced mozzarella
extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper
rosemary panini rolls

Drizzle olive oil on both halves of the bread.  

Layer with prosciutto, 

roasted tomatoes, 

and mozzarella.  Top with salt and pepper.

In a panini press, toast sandwich.  Enjoy with some fresh fruit :)

Southwestern Turkey Burger

 

• 1 lb ground turkey breast (1 package)
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 large shallot, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
• 2 teaspoons, 2/3 palm full, ground cumin
• 1 to 2 teaspoons cayenne hot sauce, several drops (I used Franks)
• 2 teaspoons grill seasoning blend 
• olive oil, for drizzling
• sliced pepper jack cheese
• fresh wheat rolls
• lettuce

Preheat grill or grill pan.  Mix first 9 ingredients together.  Form patties, but don't mix the meat too much or will get tough.  Heat through, make sure it is not pink in the center.  Melt pepper jack cheese on top.

Top with lettuce.

Enjoy :)

Baked Chicken, Artichoke and Sun Dried Tomato Wrap

Another easy meal you can whip up any day of the week!

2 chicken breasts; 1 can artichoke hearts in brine; 1/3 cup of sun dried tomatoes; 2 TB olive oil; 1 tsp. Italian seasoning; 2 TB dry white wine; 2 TB chicken broth; salt and pepper; spinach pesto wrap; shredded parmesan cheese (top with before serving)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a baking dish, drizzle olive oil.  Place chicken in dish, drizzle the remainder of the olive oil on the chicken.  Sprinkle Italian seasoning over the chicken along with a dash of fresh cracked pepper and salt.  In the dish add white wine, chicken broth, artichoke hearts (drained), and sun dried tomatoes.  Bake for 25 minutes.

Heat up wraps and grate parmesan cheese while chicken is baking.  When ready, slice chicken into thin bite size strips.  Place in wrap with artichokes and sun dried tomatoes, top with parmesan cheese.  Enjoy :)

Mini Prosciutto Panini's

Wegmans has a great selection of sandwich toppings on their olive bar.  I personally LOVE the oven dried tomatoes.  Delish!  Other favorites are the eggplant and roasted peppers.  All you need is:

Fresh Prosciutto

Mozzarella or Provolone Cheese

Oven Dried Tomatoes

Pre-sliced Baguette

Olive Oil

Create your sandwich and place in the panini press until toasted.  ENJOY :)

Roasted Eggplant Panini

2 panini rolls

1/2 large eggplant or 1 small eggplant; sliced thin

1/2 cup roasted tomatoes (I picked them up from the Wegmans Olive Bar, shh!)

fresh mozzarella sliced thin

olive oil, salt and pepper

baby arugula

On a baking dish, lay eggplant flat and add 3-4 small garlic cloves.  Drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper.  Bake at 400 degrees for about 20-25 minutes. Until soft and cooked through.

Heat panini press. Spray cooking spray on press right before you place sandwiches on.

Slice panini rolls in half, drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper.  Layers: arugula, mozzarella, roasted tomatoes, eggplant, roasted garlic slices

Place sandwich in a panini press until mozzarella is starting to melt.  About 5-8 minutes.


ENJOY this simple, tasty sandwich:)

Sloppy Buffalo Joes

A few years ago, Jason and I were looking for a healthier option for Sloppy Joes that also was packed with flavor.  Of course, the first thing I did was go to food network and I found this great recipe.  It is easy and flavorful!  This sloppy Joe will surely please your family any night of the week!


2 TB olive oil
1 lb ground chicken
1/2 cup of carrot copped
1 small onion chopped
1 celery stalk chopped
1 clove of garlic chopped
salt and pepper
1 TB red wine vinegar
1 TB brown sugar
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup hot sauce (franks red hot)
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1/2 cup chicken stock
blue cheese crumbles
4 large rolls

Heat large skillet with extra-virgin olive oil over medium-high heat.  Add meat and break it up with spoon, cook 5 minutes.  Add carrots, celery, onion and garlic, season with salt and pepper.  Cook for another 7-8 minutes.  I a owl combine the vinegar, sugar, Worcestershire hot sauce, tomato sauce and stock.  Pour into the pan and stir to combine.  Sinner for a few minutes. Pile sloppy Buffalo filling onto buns and top with blue cheese crumbles.  Enjoy:)

Buffalo Sloppy Joes with Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Roasted Brussel Sprouts:

Split brussel sprouts in half.  In a bowl mix brussel sprouts with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper.  Roast in oven for 20 minutes at 400 degrees.  

Assorted Panini

Panini's are such a great way to spice up a plain old sandwich.  What is it about that magical panini press that makes sandwiches taste so much better?  Each sandwich comes out perfect...yummo!


Ham
Salami
Turkey
Roasted Red Peppers
Provolone Cheese
Wegmans Basting Oil
Thinly Sliced Italian Bread


Layer the meats on one slice of bread, roasted red peppers, and provolone cheese.  Brush both sides of the bread that will lay on the panini press with Wegmans basting oil.  The panini press will take care of the rest! ENJOY :)

P.S. I think I am going to try to make my own basting oil?  Has anyone ever tried it?