Lunch Ideas: Cucumber Avocado Sandwich

I'm always looking for something fresh, light and good for lunches to take to work.  I have been eating these sandwiches this week & they are perfect!  I love the veggie cream cheese spread on them... so delish.  If you need a good lunch idea, here is a nice one to try!

2 slices hearty whole grain bread
 1 wedge Laughing Cow Garden Vegetable Cream Cheese Spread
2 - 3 tablespoons mashed avocado
12 thin slices cucumber
salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

Toast the bread. Spread each slice of bread with the Laughing Cow Garden Vegetable Cream Cheese Spread on one side. Top the cheese on both slices with mashed avocado. Then, layer the cucumber slices on top and sprinkle with salt and pepper (if desired). Eat open faced or place the two halves together.

Recipe from www.goodlifeeats.com

Banana Pepper Beef

I love crockpot cooking.  It's the best!  Especially in the fall and winter when it's cold out and you get home to a house that smells delicious and a hot meal is ready for you.  This recipe for banana pepper beef is so easy and makes a large amount so you can have leftovers for a couple of days.  I think I need to start making more beef recipes in the crock pot - yum!  I got the recipe HERE.  Here's what you do:

NEED

2 lbs. rump roast
1 jar banana peppers
Salt and pepper
Garlic powder (I just used real garlic minced)
Buns

Rub salt and pepper all over roast.  Sprinkle some garlic powder over it and put in slow cooker.  Empty entire contents of a jar of banana peppers on top of the roast.  Cook on low for 8 hours.  When ready to eat, shred beef.  Compile a sandwich with whatever you want on it.  Dip one side of your bun in the gravy in the crockpot.  I used slices of white cheddar.  The original recipe says to use provolone and mayo. 

These are so delish!  Does it get any easier? I don't think so.

Mediterranean Wraps

I've been wanting to make something at the beginning of each week that I can have for lunch at work that isn't the same old boring thing.  I made these Mediterranean Wraps Sunday and had my first one for lunch today with a spinach tortilla.  It was really good and healthy.  I think I'll try to do something like this each week to keep things exciting.  The only difference I made was I baked the chicken and cut it up into small pieces and mixed it in - I didn't do mine on the stovetop.  Worked out just fine but you might like the original way better for a little more flavor, perhaps.  Here is the original recipe.

Pioneer Woman Sloppy Joes

These sloppy joes are delicious!  They are easy and fast and have a lot of flavor.  The best part about them is the bun being toasted with butter because it holds the meat in better and the sandwiches don't get soggy like normal sloppy joes do.  I will never again eat a sloppy joe without my bun toasted with butter.  Thanks for another genius idea, PW!  I didn't put the option Tabasco sauce in mine, but I did use Worcester sauce for the first time EVER.  And let me tell you... I loved it.  It really added a great flavor to the meat.  I topped ours with a huge slice of cheddar.  I can't wait for leftovers tonight!

Caprese Chicken Sandwich

My favorite sandwich in the world!

Ciabatta Bread Slices
Olive Oil
Balsamic Vinegar
Fresh Basil Leaves
Thin Chicken Cutlets, Baked
Roma Tomatoes, Sliced
Fresh Mozzarella, Sliced

Pour olive oil and balsamic vinegar on one side of sliced Ciabatta bread.  Put in the oven and broil for 1-2 minutes, until the edges are crispy.  Put on fresh mozzarella, tomato slices, fresh basil leaves and baked chicken cutlet.

The best thing, ever.

Chicken Panini with Spinach, Provolone and Chipotle Mayo

I made this recipe from skinnytaste.com last night.  It was so easy to make and gave me a good reason to pull out my panini maker.

Chicken Panini with Spinach, Provolone and Chipotle Mayo

Ingredients for two sandwiches (adapted from this recipe):

• 2 tbsp mayonnaise
• 2 tsp chipotle in adobo sauce (or to taste)
• 4 pieces whole grain artisan wheat bread
• 2 thin grilled chicken cutlets
• 2 slices provolone
• Baby spinach
• Cooking spray

Directions:

Combine mayonnaise and chipotle pepper sauce in a small bowl. You can use any hot sauce, sriracha or chipotle tabasco would also work; season to your taste.

Spread the spicy mayonnaise inside the bread. Lay the provolone cheese, grilled chicken and baby spinach in the bread; close and lightly spray the top with cooking spray. 

Place on a panini press and close until the cheese melts and the bread is toasted.Cut in half and eat immediately.

This was pretty delicious and fast to make.  Next time I'd use a little more chipotle sauce to make the mayo more spicy and flavorful.  Highly recommended! (You'll definitely want thin chicken for this - big fat chicken pieces just don't work).