Classic Roast Beef & Cheese Sandwich #SqueezeMoreOut

A classic roast beef and cheese sandwich made with Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise is 

perfect for back to school lunchboxes! 

This post was sponsored by Hellmann's through their partnership with KitchenPLAY. All opinions, as always, are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible!

School is back in session for my kids, which means it's back to packing lunches for mom! I really do enjoy making lunches for the boys. My oldest, who's taking classes at the community college this semester, loves for me to pack him a lunch a few times a week. He says it's so much healthier, and a lot cheaper! And my youngest, who plays sports about half of the year, loves eating healthy too. He tells me he just can't eat that cafeteria food every day! So just like my parents did for me, I try to create fun and delicious lunches for my guys.

My mom did most of the lunch making when I was growing up, but my dad would occasionally take over the duties. His favorite thing to make me was a peanut butter and cheese sandwich. I know what you are thinking...that sounds gross! But it was actually quite good. I haven't had one in years, but I think I may need to have one again soon!

Grilled Chicken & Kale Walnut Pesto Panini

Juicy, grilled chicken and fresh kale walnut pesto meet inside a soft ciabatta bun 

to create the most mouthwatering panini!

Quite awhile ago I teased you all on social media with a delicious kale walnut pesto that I made. It was probably a good four weeks ago or so, and I had promised to share the recipe soon. So yeah, a month has passed and I'm FINALLY getting around to posting it! I'm not sure what happened and how all that time slipped by, so I hope you'll forgive me. Luckily the recipe is well worth the wait, so there's that.

This pesto is seriously the best stuff I've ever had. I love kale anyway, but when you transform it into a pesto, it just pops. Combined with Parmesan cheese, lemon, garlic and crunchy walnuts, I just really can't even describe it. I insist you try it yourself!

Cuban Arepa Sandwiches

I participated in an Ambassador Program on behalf of Influence Central for P.A.N. Cornmeal. 

I received product samples as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

Kick your sandwich game up a notch with these simple and delicious Cuban Arepa Sandwiches!

I've really been enjoying cooking with corn meal lately. Whether it's cornbread or muffins, or even waffles, I've been using it a lot and experimenting in the kitchen. Corn meal is rich in nutrients and really a very versatile ingredient, and I totally understand now why it's a staple in so many countries all over the world. 

With all of my exploring into corn meal, I decided to try my hand at making homemade arepas recently. An arepa is a flatbread made of pre-cooked corn meal, which is fried, then split and filled with sandwich ingredients. The arepas themselves are actually very easy to make. The dough comes together very quickly, and is then divided, shaped and fried in a skillet. You can have fresh arepas on your table in less than 20 minutes!

Whole Wheat Creamy Ranch Turkey Wrap

With a new school year right around the corner, it's time to start thinking about lunchbox ideas! 

This Whole Wheat Creamy Ranch Turkey Wrap is simple to make and is healthy, delicious, and satisfying! 

I don't know about you, but I'm having a really hard time believing that summer is almost over and school is right around the corner. My sons go back to school in less than two weeks...how is that possible? Isn't it still June? *insert BIG sigh here*

It seems like summer just started, and here we are printing school schedules, buying supplies, and getting wardrobes figured out. I am so not ready for this! Of course with all of this comes the task of packing lunches. My youngest son is still in high school and tries really hard to eat healthy most of the time. {Which means he doesn't want to eat cafeteria food every day!} I aim to pack his lunch at least three times a week, and I'm always trying to change things up for him so he doesn't get bored. 

Ham Pita Pockets with Homemade Veggie Cream Cheese

Brighten up your lunch routine with this delicious ham pita pocket sandwich made with homemade veggie cream cheese!

I'm quite the fan of cream cheese. I love to eat it slathered on bagels or spread on crackers, and I love to cook with it too. Really I'm a lover of all cheeses, but I really like the creaminess and versatility of cream cheese. I often buy the flavored versions as my kids love to put different ones on their bagels, so I recently decided to make my own. 

We all love the veggie cream cheese, so that's what I started with. I'll tell you right now, it's way easier to make than you think. I added light cream cheese and lots of chopped vegetables to my food processor, whipped it up until it was nice and smooth and BOOM. It was done. And oh so delicious, I might add. What's great is that you can tailor it to your liking. Don't like onions? Don't add them in. Want more peppers? Throw an extra handful in. You can do whatever you like, this recipe is just a guide!

BLTC {Bacon, Lettuce, Turkey, Cheese} Wraps

Bacon, lettuce, turkey and cheddar are tucked into a whole wheat wrap for a delicious 

and nutritious lunch that no one can resist!

I've been talking about my lunch dilemma a lot lately and how I struggle to find something to eat at lunchtime. I like having different things, not the same ole', same ole'. Well, that goes for my kids, too. They get tired of eating the same boring sandwiches every day and love variety. My lunch conundrum came at a perfect time since Milk Means More asked me to come up with a couple of recipes for a lunchbox makeover!

I pondered this challenge for quite awhile...I needed to make something delicious and healthy, but not ordinary. And, of course, it needed to have dairy in it as well. Dairy foods are full of calcium, protein, potassium, vitamin D and other nutrients. It's recommended that we have three servings of dairy daily, so adding cheese to your sandwiches is an easy way to get one of those servings. Add a glass of milk to your lunch and you've got an easy two!

Roasted Vegetable & Goat Cheese Sandwich

Warm roasted vegetables and creamy goat cheese are the perfect combination for this light and delicious sandwich!

I'm seriously considering starting a weekly feature on the blog for lunch recipes. Especially lunches for one. Since I've worked from home for so long, I'm used to eating lunch alone. Some days it's just a turkey sandwich, some days it's a bowl of cereal (yes, it's true), but other days I'm craving a nice, hearty lunch. Something delicious and healthy, but not too difficult or time consuming to make. 

Last month I shared one of my favorites, this Rigatoni with Kale and Tomatoes in Brown Butter. I literally could eat that dish every single day. It's that good. But because I like variety, I thought I'd create a few more easy lunches to have on hand.

Creamy Turkey Salad Pita Sandwiches

This quick and healthy creamy turkey salad uses your leftovers and makes a fabulous lunch!

Do you still have Thanksgiving leftovers in the frig? Specifically turkey? I do, and I'm always looking for new ways to use it up! I'm a big fan of doing the traditional thing and making open faced hot turkey and mashed potato sandwiches, but it's nice to come up with new recipes every so often.

I decided this year to make a delicious and creamy turkey salad, filled with fresh fruits, and put my salad into a pita. This would be great on top of lettuce to make lettuce cups, as well as on toasted bread. I love pita bread and it made an awesome vessel for my creamy turkey salad.

California BLT Croissant

Packed with flavor, this California BLT Croissant is the perfect lunch any day of the week!

I'm really excited to share some big news with you...I am a new Contributor/Recipe Developer/Writer over at EpicureanDC! I'm so happy to be part of the team and can't wait so share lots of delicious recipes with everyone.

Today it's all about my favorite sandwich, the BLT, which I've put my spin on. Simple yet flavorful, you are going to love this kicked up version. Head on over to EpicureanDC now to get the recipe for this delicious California BLT Croissant!

Bon Appetit!

Ham, Egg & Cheese Muffin Sandwich

Fast, nutritious, and delicious, your whole family will flip over these easy breakfast sandwiches!

Everyone loves a quick and easy breakfast, right? I know I do! Especially a hot breakfast that's homemade and somewhat healthy. Well my friends, these breakfast sandwiches are just that!

If you've got 5 minutes then you have plenty of time to make your kids or yourself a hearty and delicious muffin sandwich. The egg cooks in the microwave in one minute flat, and you can get the rest of the ingredients ready to go while that's happening. So what are you waiting for? Start making some breakfast sandwiches and fuel up for the day!

Ham, Egg & Cheese Muffin Sandwich
Recipe written by The Chef Next Door
Makes one sandwich
Print this recipe

Ingredients:
1 egg
1 English muffin
1 slice of deli ham
1 slice of Colby Jack cheese
Butter, salt, and pepper

Spray a small ramekin lightly with non-stick cooking spray. Gently crack the egg into the dish and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover the dish with a paper towel and microwave for 1 minute.

While the egg is cooking, toast the English muffin. Once it's done spread with a bit of butter. Turn on the toaster oven or preheat the broiler.

When the egg is ready, set it on the bottom half of the English muffin. Top the egg with the slice of ham, then the cheese. Pop that half in the toaster oven or under the broiler for just a minute until the cheese is melted. Add the top of the English muffin to complete the sandwich.

Bon Appetit!

Huge thanks to the United Dairy Industry of Michigan for sponsoring this post! I was compensated for developing a recipe using Michigan dairy products, however, all opinions are my own. UDIM is the umbrella organization for the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council of Michigan. Their goal is to promote Michigan’s locally produced dairy products and reconnect consumers with the people behind their food.

For more great dairy recipes, follow UDIM, branded as Milk Means More, on Pinterest. To learn more about nutrition, animal care/well-being and on-farm practices related to dairy products and the dairy industry, you may want to follow Milk Means More on Facebook. You can also follow them on Twitter and YouTube! 

Eggplant Parmesan Panini with Ragú® Old World Style® Traditional Sauce #NewTradish

All of your favorite flavors in Eggplant Parmesan, pressed between to pieces of thick sliced bread and made into a delicious Panini!

Ragú® recently challenged bloggers to put our own unique spin on one of their classic recipes, making it a new Tra-Dish! I was excited to be tasked with making over the No-Fry Eggplant Parmesan, as it is one of my favorite dishes!

Did you know that each and every jar of Ragú® Old World Style® Traditional Sauce has at least 11 tomatoes? This makes it richer and thicker than the previous previous formula! 

Be sure to check out the Ragú® Sweepstakes for a chance to win great Authentic Italian themed prizes, including a grand prize trip to Italy for a family of four! Enter today at www.RaguSweeps.com!

Also be sure to visit Ragú® on Facebook for more easy and delicious authentic Italian recipe ideas!

Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Sandwiches {Meat Month}

I'm a huge fan of my slow cooker. I'm sure you already know that from all the slow cooker recipes I post! I just can't help myself. It saves SO much time in the kitchen, especially on busy weeknights.

I use my slow cooker all year round. It's great in the summer when you don't want to turn your oven on and heat up the entire kitchen. But I do tend to use it more in the fall and winter. I love making things like stew, chili and roast during the colder months.

Spicy Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches {Meat Month}

I had a couple of pork tenderloins in my freezer and wanted to do something different with them. I've told you all before that my boys love eating things on buns, so I made a delicious spice rub for one of the tenderloins and decided to turn it into sandwiches. 

This is a very easy meal to make and is perfect for Fall. If you have a little extra time during the week this would be great for a weeknight meal but if not, it's lovely on the weekend for lunch or dinner while watching football. 

Spicy Guacamole BLT's {Meat Month} #Wholly Review

So I've already mentioned that for September my Blogger Recipe Challenge group is tasked with meat. Every single recipe we share will involve some sort of meat, whether it's beef, chicken, pork, you name it. What I didn't mention is that we were sponsored by Wholly Guacamole this month! 

Each member of the group received a cooler full of delicious Wholly Guacamole products to try out. YUM! The goodies I received included 100% Avocado, Classic Guacamole, Spicy Guacamole, Home Style Guacamole, Classic Hot Salsa, Avocado Verde Salsa and Guacamole & Spicy Pico Salsa. My kids and I were in heaven! We still have a few of the salsas to open and try, but so far everything we've eaten has been fabulous! Wholly uses quality ingredients and the products taste so fresh and delicious.

The first thing I thought to make when I saw all of my goodies was a BLT with guacamole. I know it sounds simple, but I love BLT's and slathering them with guac just makes them even better. I chose to use the Spicy Guacamole on my sandwich to give it a nice kick.

Avocado & Black Bean Sandwich

I can't believe it's already June. Where did the first part of the year go? My youngest is finished with school, graduating from 8th grade last week, (AGH!!!) and my oldest is taking high school exams this week and will be done on Friday. Crazy huh? This Fall I will have a freshman and a senior in high school. Lawd help me!

With my boys home all summer, and me working from home, I'm on the quest to find different lunch options. And I want healthy options. Not hot dogs, hamburgers and sloppy joes. Don't get me wrong, those are all good things...but I simply can't live off of those all summer long.

I have a few fabulous Williams-Sonoma cookbooks that are focused on healthy and farmers market recipes. The first recipe I spied, a few weeks ago actually, was this avocado and black bean sandwich. Right up my alley. I had to try it right then and there for myself, you know, to "test" it out for the boys.

I absolutely LOVE this sandwich. It's light and healthy but also filling. And it's super easy to make and can be thrown together in no time. I know my oldest will love it too because he is a huge avocado freak, just like me. My youngest, not so much. But we can always improvise with other veggies.

Avocado & Black Bean Sandwich

Recipe adapted from Williams-Sonoma Healthy in a Hurry Cookbook

Makes 2 Sandwiches
Print this recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup shredded broccoli slaw

1 tomato, seeded and chopped

1 Tbsp fresh lime juice

1 tsp hot sauce

2 fresh ciabatta rolls (or any favorite roll of your choice)

1 cup organic refried black beans

1/2 cup queso fresco cheese

1 ripe avocado, pitted and sliced

Put the broccoli slaw and tomato in a small bowl and drizzle with the lime juice and hot sauce. Toss together to mix well and set aside.

Slice the ciabatta rolls in half and toast them in the toaster oven, just until warm and lightly browned.

Spread half of the beans on the bottom half of both rolls. Top with the crumbled cheese and avocado slices. Divide the slaw in half equally between the sandwiches and pile it on top of the avocado. Put on the top bun and serve.

Bon Appetit!