9 Veggie Sandwiches

It's 9/9/9, so I have to honor it with a '9' post.

Sandwiches aren't the first thing we vegetarians gravitate toward for a lunch outing...usually because our choices are limited. But, if you can spend a few minutes at home on Sunday doing some prep work, you can have delicious sandwiches ready for the whole week, and for the whole family. What does that do for you? Well, while a sandwich would cost $6.50 ea at the deli, you can make it at home and save $900 to $1400 PER PERSON per year! That's an international vacation! The best way to motivate yourself to make a sandwich/lunch is to find an empty shoebox, decorate it with pictures or magazine clippings of whatever it is you want to buy with your savings. This could include pictures of the beach, or a designer handbag, a new camera, a bike, etc. Everytime you pack your lunch, put $4 in the shoebox. Really do it. At the end of the year, or whatever time frame is required, the money is there, you've earned it, and you don't have any reason to feel guilty about it.

1. Egg Salad Sandwich on Potato Bread

I hate to say it, but Starbucks has the best egg salad sandwich I've ever had. Tim Hortons carries the 2nd best. But since we're not in Canada, and since we don't support chains, I'll provide a great recipe for the egg salad.

8 eggs
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard
1/4 cup chopped green onion
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 teaspoon paprika

Place egg in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil and immediately remove from heat. Cover and let eggs stand in hot water for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from hot water, cool, peel and chop.
Place the chopped eggs in a bowl, and stir in the mayonnaise, mustard and green onion. Season with salt, pepper and paprika. Stir and serve on your favorite bread or crackers.

2. Hummus Vegetable Sandwich on Rye

This is a beautiful sandwich. Wrap in wax paper and cut it in half to expose the colorful layers.

http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/hummus-vegetable-sandwich?autonomy_kw=hummus%20sandwich

3. Southwestern Veggie Burger

1 spicy black bean patty cooked (toasted/baked/nuked)

1/2 sliced avocado

1/8 cup pico de gallo or salsa

1 T chipotle mayo

1 Whole wheat bun

4. PB&J Waffle Sandwich

Out of Bread? That's okay...round frozen waffles (Like Eggo) make an excellent substitute. And who doesn't want a ROUND sandwich????

2 frozen waffles, toasted

3-4 T reduced fat peanut butter

1 T strawberry jam

5. Lunch-in-Florence Sandwich

This is a favorite and very satisfying in portion and flavor

2 slices whole wheat bread or italian bread

2 T basil or spinach pesto

1-2 slices pecorino cheese (swiss or white cheddar are possible substitutes)

3-4 slices of Veggie/Soy Turkey

icebeg lettuce leaves or romaine lettuce leaves

6. Cucumber, Cream Cheese, and Dill Weed Sandwich on Pumpernickel

Sometimes simple is just what you need and just what you crave.

7. Open Face Pizza Sandwich

This can be assembled "on site". You'll need a toaster oven or microwave to melt the cheese.

1 bagel (sun dried tomato, jalapeno, or any savory bagel flavor)

1/8 c mozzarella cheese

1/2 c pizza sauce (boboli sells 1-cup packets and tastes wonderful!!)

veggies of your choice, diced (olives, peppers, tomatoes, basil, mushrooms, spinach, etc)

Assemble as open faced and bake/toast both halves.

8. Sweet n Hot Bombay Wrap

4-5 oz Firm or Extra Firm tofu (cut in strips)

1 T Curry Power

1/4 tsp Cinnamon

1/8 tsp salt

1/8 tsp black pepper

1/4 tsp sugar

1 T mango chutney

1/2 cucumber (cut in strips)

iceberg lettuce, shredded

1 store bought pita pocket or naan bread

Night before prep:

1. Cut tofu and use paper towels to absorb remaining water.

2. Combine the next five ingredients into a "spice rub".

3. Rub tofu pieces very lightly with vegetable oil and apply spice rub. Refrigerate.

Prep:

Warm naan for easier wrapping (to prevent breaking)

Spread a light layer of mango chutney on naan or pita

Combine seasoned tofu strips, cucumber strips, shredded lettuce and place in the middle of the

naan.

Wrap tightly and cover with saran wrap or foil.

Serve warm or cold.

9. 'nanas at Nana's

Just like you remember having at grandmas...For a kid-friendly touch, lay two pieces of bread on top of each other and use a shaped cookie cutter to make fun shapes (circle, star, gingerbread man)

Slices of Whole Wheat toast

1/2 banana

4 T peanut butter or almond butter
1 T honey

(instead of honey, you can use jam, such as apricot, strawberry, etc)

Spread both sides of the "fun shape" pieces w/ peanut butter. Layer banana and honey. Send your kid to school with this suprise treat in their lunchbox!