Vegetable Hummus Sandwich

This week has been crazy. I was sick for most of the week, Monday-Wednesday. I worked on Thursday, and now it is already my weekend. My schedule is all messed up, I haven't gotten enough done this week, but I guess that is life. I am just glad I am feeling better for the weekend.

Next Friday we will be in California for the Blogher Food Conference. I am beyond excited. I can't wait to meet up with fellow food bloggers and learn more about food blogging. San Francisco is also one of my favorite cities, Josh proposed at a park overlooking the Golden Gate bridge, so the city is special for us:) If you are going to the conference leave a comment and let me know so I can look for you:)

Have you tried Arnold or Orowheat Thins? (They are Orowheat in Utah). I finally found them and love them! They make the best healthy sandwiches. One thin has 100 calories, 5 grams of fiber, and is made with whole grains and no fructose corn syrup.

Yesterday I made a tasty veggie sandwich. I spread my thin with hummus and added lettuce, lemon cucumber slices, fresh garden tomatoes, red and green pepper strips, and fresh basil. It was delicious!

I also like fresh peanut or almond butter, banana slices, and agave nectar sandwiches. You really can top these thins with anything. They are a great base for a healthy meal or snack.

Have a Happy Friday!

Vegetable Hummus Sandwich

(Printable Recipe)

1 Arnold or Orowheat Sandwich Thin

Hummus

Lettuce

Lemon Cucumber Slices

Tomato slices

Red and green pepper strips

Fresh basil

Toast the sandwich thin-optional but I like to. Spread hummus on the thin and add veggies. You can use whatever veggies you like. Feel free to add meat or cheese if you wish.

Vegetable Panini on the Grill

We love making panini! We have a panini maker that we LOVE, but since it is summer we decided to try them on the grill. I put grilled zucchini, yellow squash, onions, roasted red pepper, artichokes, spinach, tomatoes, fresh basil and a balsamic glaze on mine. Josh loaded his with veggies, turkey, and cheese. I love customized sandwiches:)

The panini started out HUGE but we smashed them down to compact sandwiches full of flavor and goodness! I loved using the grill for our panini. Yes, they were delicious and nutritious, but the best part was eating outside in the summer sun!

Panini on the Grill

(Printable Recipe)

Whole Wheat Ciabatta Bread-we buy ours at a local bakery. You can use whatever crusty, hearty bread you like. We brushed our bread with balsamic vinegar and grilled it briefly before putting on our panini fillings.

Grilled Veggies-we used grilled zucchini, yellow squash, and onions. I brushed them with balsamic and grilled them on both sides for a couple of minutes.

I also added roasted red peppers, artichokes, fresh spinach leaves, sliced tomatoes, and fresh basil. Josh added turkey and cheese.

Place panini directly on grill. Use a heavy pan to press down the panini. Cook for a couple minutes. Flip sandwich and press again. Cook for another couple of minutes. It's that easy!

Portobello Mushroom Sandwich and a Winner!

Thanks for all of your comments! We hope everyone uses the 10% off code (TwoPeas) to purchase some GOOD vanilla. Sorry we can only give away one bottle! The winner is: Culinarywannabe who said: "toffee melting and oozing" - Oh man Oh man!!!!

Please send me your name and address and we will get the vanilla shipped to you shortly!
Thanks again to Blue Cattle Truck Trading Co.Mexican Vanilla.

Now for a really good burger! I don't eat meat, but I do enjoy portobello burgers! They are thick, juicy, and delicious. We brushed our mushrooms with balsamic vinegar and grilled them to perfection. We used whole wheat buns and topped our burgers with roasted red peppers, onions, spinach, mozzarella cheese, spicy mustard, and tomato slices.

I could eat these burgers every day. Get wild and crazy and add whatever toppings you like. Sometimes I like to add pesto or use different cheeses. With the portobello as the base, you can't go wrong!

Portobello Mushroom Burgers

2 large portobello mushrooms, stems and gills removed
Balsamic vinegar
2 whole wheat buns
Roasted red peppers
Grilled onions
Spinach leaves
Mozzarella cheese
Spicy mustard
Tomato slices

1. Heat the grill or grill pan if doing it inside. Brush the mushrooms with balsamic vinegar.
2. Cook both sides until tender and juicy.
3. Toast the whole wheat buns.
4. Place the mushroom on the bun, top with cheese, red peppers, onions, spinach, mustard, and tomato slices.

Turkey Panini

Looking for a quick and easy meal idea? Try a panini! They are perfect for lunch or dinner. We love making them because they are fast, healthy, and we can "build our own."

Josh always puts turkey on his, but I stick to all veggies. We just use what we have on hand, but some of my favorites are: zucchini, eggplant, yellow squash, mushrooms, roasted peppers, onions, tomatoes, and artichokes. I LOVE loading on the veggies. The sandwich smashes down so it is good to start with a mile high panini!

We use whole wheat ciabatta rolls from a local bakery. I always brush the bread with balsamic vinegar and sometimes I add pesto or a spicy mustard. We also add cheese, Josh likes a lot, I like a little mozzarella.

If you don't have a panini maker, no worries. You can use a pan and smash the panini down with another pan. I highly recommend buying a panini maker though, we LOVE ours. We have the Villaware model.

Serve your paninis with a salad, fruit, or side of veggies and you are set!! Get creative and use whatever sandwich fillings your heart desires! The recipe below is pretty vague, I am sure you can figure out how to put together a panini:) Use your favorites and enjoy!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Panini Sandwiches

Whole wheat ciabatta bread (or bread of your choice, thick/hearty bread works best)

Meat (Josh uses turkey, use whatever you like)

Veggies (Add on lots!)

Balsamic Vinegar

Pesto, Spicy mustard, or any other condiment you wish

Cheese of your choice

Salt and Pepper

1. Heat up the panini maker or pan.

2. Cut the bread and brush each side with balsamic vinegar.

3. If using veggies, brush them with vinegar and grill them on the panini maker or pan. I like to do this to bring out the flavor in the veggies before they go on the sandwich.

4. Add meat, veggies, and cheese, condiments, salt, and pepper or whatever toppings you are working with to your bread.

5. Place the panini on the maker and smash...or smash with another pan.

6. Cook for about five minutes.

7. Cut and enjoy!

Grilled Vegetable Paninis

Making paninis is one of our favorite "Go To" dinners. They are fast, easy, and healthy...as long as you watch your topping choices:) We use whole wheat ciabatta bread and stuff them full of grilled vegetables. Josh usually throws on a few slices of turkey and some cheese, but I just like plain veggies. I do slather on some balsamic vinegar and sometimes pesto.

This time we used grilled purple and white eggplant. Have you had a white eggplant? They are fabulous! Kalyn, of Kalyn's Kitchen, gave us some fresh produce from her amazing garden and white eggplants were in the bag of goodies. I recommend you try them. They are delicious. Thanks Kalyn!

Sorry, I got side tracked, we also used grilled zucchini, yellow squash, onions, roasted orange peppers, artichokes, tomatoes, and fresh basil. I think I got my 5 a Day and then some:)



The sandwiches start out HUGE, but thanks to our Krupps Panini maker they are soon smashed down to a compact sandwich with loads of flavor!







I also made a big batch of chunky vegetable pasta sauce to put in our freezer! This will come in handy when we are craving good veggies this winter!