Guest Post - Toasted Turkey Sandwich!

I love that while I am on vacation, I can still share great things with you.  Today I want to introduce you to my friend Dee. If you have not checked out her site Deelicious Sweets, you really need to.  Dee and I have the same sense of humor, so I love to read what she writes.  She also makes amazing food!  Just wait to see what she has made for us today!  I mean really, I want to go to her house for lunch, and have her pack my picnics!  So sit back, enjoy, and meet Dee!

I'll admit, I am not a fan of turkey.  Don't get me wrong, I can make a killer turkey at Thanksgiving but I would rather go outside the box and cook up some filet's or salmon anything that isn't turkey.  Alas, my family (mom and dad) is so strictly traditional that anything other than turkey just won't do.  So, when I decided to plan my whole weeks menu around the new issue of Everyday Food and flipped through it only to see that Thursday was this sandwich, I was pretty hesitant if not even a bit disappointed.  But, being the big girl that I am, I put on my big girl pants and trudged ahead and bought the turkey for said sandwich.  I'm an open minded girl, I can sit with the big dogs if need be.  Now, with all that build up, you're wondering if I liked aren't you?  No worries, I won't leave you in suspense much longer.  This recipe also came with a side of cucumber pickles.  I have never pickled anything in my entire life and I was shocked at the ease of this.  I may need to look into a pickling career.  That's odd, right?  Why would I even say that?  Maybe it's the screaming, wailing neighbor child.  I'm being distracted.  Oh, the sandwich!  EXCELLENT!  This will be made again my house.  This was the conversation in my house after this meal was consumed: Hubby - "Where did you get that recipe?"  Me - "Everyday Food magazine but I went my own way a little bit with it."  Hubby (pointing to himself with a big dorky smile - "Well, this guy liked it!" Still makes me LOL a little bit!  Okay, okay, enough chitter chatter, here's the recipe!

Toasted Turkey Sandwich with Quick Cucumber Pickles

Yields 4 servings but I managed to get 8 out of mine - yeah lunch!

For the Sandwich:
1 large round rye bread (about 8 inches in diameter) sliced in half horizontally, insides scooped out
1/3 cup tapenade (I used Culinaria a brand sold at my local Schnucks - Black Olive)
1/2 pound deli turkey, thinly sliced
1 small zucchini, thinly sliced
1 large tomato, thinly sliced
4 ounces provolone, thinly sliced

For the Cucumbers:
2 medium cucumbers, cut lengthwise into thin wedges
1/4 cup rice vinegar
2 Tbsp. sugar
coarse salt and ground pepper

For the Sandwich:
Preheat oven to 350.  Cover inside of both bread halves with an even layer of tapenade.  Arrange turkey on bottom half of bread.  Top with zucchini, tomato, and cheese.  Sandwich with top half of bread and wrap tightly in foil.  Place on a baking sheet and bake until bread is toasted and cheese is melted, 25 minutes.

A step by step guide to the Toasted Turkey Sandwich!

For the Cucumbers:
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, toss cucumbers with vinegar and sugar; season with salt and pepper.  Let sit at room temperature, 20 minutes.

Unwrap sandwich and cut into 4 wedges (or 8) with a serrated knife.  Serve with pickled cucumbers.

Source: Everyday Food

Wondering what to do with all of that leftover bread you scooped out?  I gave it to my kids to fish with.  You could also make breadcrumbs.

A big hug and thanks goes to Erin for allowing me to be a guest blogger!  XOXO

~ Enjoy!

Reader Request: Kids Lunch Ideas

I received an email from a reader last week asking to do a post on ideas for kids lunches.  My first thought was, really?  I am not the person to ask. I struggle with this every day!  But that being said, I figure there are a lot of Mom's out there with this dilemma right now.  Summer break, kids home, needing to come up with lunch ideas.  So why not create a post, and let you the readers help me!  I have 1 boy who is 6 years old and very picky.  So our lunches are very basic! I have a few good ideas, and I have done some research to help.  But who better than other Mom's to throw out their great ideas!

A few staples to get you through lunch
   -  Yogurt (squeeze, containers, etc.)
   -  Cheese (shredded, string, cubes, etc.)
   -  Tortillas
   -  Lunch Meat
   -  Fruit (Banana's, strawberries, apples, grapes etc.)
   -  Peanut Butter (assuming no nut allergies)
   -  Bread (sliced bread, hot dog buns, hamburger buns, tortilla's)

Pizza!  What kid doesn't love pizza.  Here are a few quick, easy, healthy ways to do pizza for lunch
   -   English Muffin Crust
   -   Tortilla Crust
   -   Pillsbury Biscuit Crust
 Just top with sauce, cheese and your favorite toppings.  Bake to melt the cheese and crisp the crust!

Lunchables! Make your Own!  My son loves the idea of lunchables everytime he is at the store, but he never eats them.  Why?  They are kind of gross!
   -  Sliced Cheese - Buy the big chunks of it, and cut slices
   -  Meat (You can get the deli to cut it thicker for you)
   -  Crackers
  Put it all on a plate, and let me create what they want with it!


Quesadilla's!  My son just likes cheese in his, but you can add whatever veggies or meat your kids like. I use my sandwich press to get it crispy, but a saute pan will work just as well.

Sandwiches!  This is obvious, but it can be boring!
   -  Use hot dog buns.  My son thinks it is just like Subway when we do that
   -  Nutella is a great sub for peanut butter (and they think they are getting a huge treat).
   -  Use Cream cheese and strawberries
   -  Pita's can be more fun that just bread!
   -  Make it into a wrap using a tortilla
   -  Toast a Waffle - great alternative to regular bread.

Hot Dogs! It is summer afterall!
   -  Wrap Pillsbury Cresent Rolls around a hot dog and bake
   -  If you have time check out this recipe for Pretzel Dogs- AWESOME!!! 
   -  Make your own Corn Dogs at home
   -  Slice up hot dogs and put it in Mac n' Cheese


Hamburgers!
   -  I make extra mini burgers, slightly under cook them, and then freeze them.  They are great to pull from the freezer, and reheat for a quick lunch

One thing to remember - it doesn't have to be a put together formal meal.  Peanut butter and apple slices, a slice of cheese, and yogurt is a great lunch.  You have all the key elements to keep your child full - protein, fiber, fruit, calcium, etc. 

Disney's Family Fun site has some really fun ideas for lunches and snacks

Please, let me know what you feed your kids for lunch!