Bagel Panini Sandwiches

Hello and welcome! 

Today's meal was inspired by Chicago Bagel Authority, a restaurant by my high school that makes fantastic sandwiches on fantastic bagels that I've been craving for quite some time. 

                                     

Thanks Lauren, Emmy, Emma, and Keywan for having dinner with me and trusting my Improv Cooking :) 

Thanks Alec for the term Improv Cooking :) 

Thanks Aunt Connie for teaching me to make paninis :) 

                                   

Thanks dad for teaching me to maximize caramelization :) 

                                   

The Recipe: (Per serving)

• 1 Bagel
• 2 tsp Olive Oil
• 2 tablespoons Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 1/4 cup spinach
• 2 tsp Canola Oil
• 1/4 cup mixed Cucumber, Mushrooms, Tomato Slices, Red Onion

The Process:

1. Heat frying pan and panini pan on the stove. 
2. Sautee cucumber, mushrooms, tomato, and red onion on frying pan. 
3. Cut bagel in half using a serrated knife. 
4. Use a glaze brush to coat both sides of both halves of the bagel lightly with olive oil. 
5. Place the bottom half of bagel on the panini pan. 
6. Sprinkle with cheese. 
7. Add spinach. 
8. Add sauteed vegetables. 
9. Add top half of bagel. 
10. Press until cooked (should take a minute or so depending on your stove). 
11. Enjoy! 

The Calories:

Bagel: 260 calories

Cheese: 30 calories

Spinach: 3 calories

Olive Oil: 90 calories

Canola Oil: 80 calories

Vegetables: 10 calories

___________________________

TOTAL: 473 calories

What went right:

          Everyone loved these sandwiches and each only took about 5 minutes to make! Apparently they're also very good without cheese, because Keywan doesn't like cheese and loved it anyway. 

What went wrong: 

          I didn't make this sooner in the year :( 

What I would do next time: 

          Nothing, this is perfect the way it is and will be made so much more often from now on :) 

Overall, a super amazing, fast, easy addictive sandwich. Love. 

 

Grilled Portobello Sandwich

Welcome veggie lovers! 

It probably won't surprise you to hear, that I'm not a fan of burgers. It's not that I have anything against them, they just don't taste right to me. The same goes for steak, pork chops, pork roast, ribs, and most seafood. Because of this, I eat a lot of bacon, salami, ham, and chicken, but if you're not into meat at all, a fantastic substitute is portobello mushrooms!

This recipe was a team effort by me and my dad, and uses three of my favorite ingredients of all time. 

The Recipe:Grilled Portobello Sandwich

(Amounts are per sandwich)

• 1 small bun
• 1/4 Avocado, sliced
• 3 slices of a Portobello mushroom (about 1/3 mushroom)
• 1/4 cup Red Bell Pepper, sliced
• Salt 
• Pepper
• 1 tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• (Marinade for mushrooms) Lemon juice, Garlic Salt, Pepper, Olive Oil

The Process:

• Set your broiler to high
• Place the red pepper slices in a small pan
• Add olive oil, salt, and pepper
• Toss to coat red pepper in marinade
• Broil close to the flame for about 10 minutes, or until the edges blacken 
• Put mushroom marinade in a sealable bag,
• Add mushroom slices
• Toss for a few minutes
• Grill on a Weber grill or stovetop grill pan for about 10 minutes, 5 on each side. (may differ based on type of grill)
• Lay mushroom slices on one side of bun
• Lay avocado slices on other side of bun
• Lay red pepper on side of bun with mushrooms
• Close sandwich
• Pair with low-fat snack or other side dish, such as steamed corn. 
• Enjoy!

The Calories:

Bun: 113 calories (depends on your bun)

Mushrooms: 10 calories

Peppers: 13 calories

Avocado: 58 calories

Olive Oil: 40 calories (keeping in mind that some of this will end up as residue on the pan)

Salt and Pepper: insignificant amount

Marinade: 20 calories (most of this will still be in the bag when you're done)

_____________________________________

TOTAL: 254 calories

Pretty fantastic considering one hamburger alone (not including the bun or condiments) is 280 calories at a minimum! 

What went right:

        Everything. This is now on my list of favorite sandwiches!! 

What went wrong: 

       Nothing, delicious, filling, addictive taste. Loved it. 

What I would do next time: 

       There's always a way to improve, even when something is wonderful...I might add some shredded cheese, make the same recipe in the form of a panini, or add some roasted zucchini :)

Will I do this in college?: 

       Yes, for sure! Since I won't have a grill in college, it might be faster to just throw the pepper and mushrooms in the same pan and roast both, for faster cooking and faster cleanup. But I will definitely be making this in college. 

Overall, nothing bad to say about this sandwich, and I'm very excited to have it again!

What would you put in a vegetarian sandwich?

Pretzel Bun Double Meat and Green Avocado Sandwich

Hey Sandwich Fans!

A sandwich is one of the most theoretically simple dishes in the world. However, this means everyone's a critic. We all have our favorite sandwiches...this healthy sandwich has definitely become a favorite of mine!

The Recipe: Pretzel Bun Double Meat and Green Avocado Sandwich

• Pretzel Bun
• 2 ounces of thinly sliced honey ham
• 1 cup chopped romaine lettuce
• 1/2 avocado, sliced

The Process:

• Using a knife with a serrated edge, slice the bun in half
• On each side of the bun, lay one ounce of ham
• On one side of the bun, lay the romaine lettuce
• On the other side of the bun, lay the avocado slices
• Close the bun
• Enjoy! 

The Calories: 

Pretzel Bun: 200 calories (depends on size)

Ham: 60 calories

Lettuce: 8 calories

Avocado: 161 calories

____________________________

TOTAL: 429 calories

For under 500 calories, this is an exceptionally filling sandwich complete with a delicious and rich bun, 6 slices of ham, lettuce, and the superfood-avocado. 

What went right: 

          The meat to bread ratio and dry to wet ratios are pretty awesome. The pretzel bun makes this easy; a good bun will be nice and moist at the center. The lettuce adds the perfect amount of crunch. All the ingredients work nicely together. 

What went wrong: 

         I wouldn't say "wrong", but my personal sandwich preference is chicken or bacon with avocado. The ham definitely worked, considering this was a quick 'on the way out, take whatever's in the fridge' creation. 

What I would do next time:

         I would have liked to include some tomato, potentially cucumber, and use chicken or turkey instead of the ham. 

Would I make this in college: 

        Definitely. It's fast, simple, and healthy. All the qualities of a college meal! 

Overall, I was very pleased with this sandwich. Once I realized I was nearing the end, my bites grew increasingly smaller, savoring every moment. 

Lean Salad Sandwich

 Hey food fans!

This is somewhat of a late night leftover sandwich, as we had chicken a few nights prior, only a few slices of ham left, and part of a loaf of french bread. Simple, no cooking needed, and delicious :)

The Recipe: Lean Salad Sandwich

• 2 oz low sodium Ham
• 1/4 grilled chicken breast
• 3 slices of tomato
• 5 slices of cucumber
• 4 leaves of Romaine lettuce, chopped
• 6 inches of french bread

The Process:

• Slice your french bread in half
• Lay down the ham across both sides
• Slice the chicken and lay it across one side
• Lay cucumber across the non-chicken side
• Slice the tomato and lay it across the chicken side
• Wash and chop the lettuce and toss it on the cucumber side
• Close your sandwich, and enjoy!

The Calories:

French Bread: 200 calories

Ham: 60 calories

Chicken: 100 calories

Tomato: 11 calories

Cucumber: 6 calories

Lettuce: 8 calories

________________________

TOTAL: 385 calories

That's awesome for a very filling sandwich, with rich bread and fresh, all natural ingredients. This recipe works well because it has a strong balance of crunch, meat, vegetable, juicy, and dry ingredients. It is most notably healthy because it does not have mayo, mustard, dressing, or any other kind of high-sodium, low nutrient value condiments. It is these additions and other chemical additives that make what could be a healthy sandwich into a problem. 

What went right:

          Everything...it's kinda hard to screw up...

What went wrong: 

          Nothing :)

What would I do next time: 

          To make this more salad-like, I might try hollowing out the bread; making croutons from the insides; loading it with lettuce first and then chopped tomato, cucumber, and chicken; using ham cubes or bacon pieces; and finally adding the croutons on "top", closing the sandwich, and eating it that way. It would become somewhat of an inverted sandwich, with all the meat at the center, surrounded by lettuce. This might also make the sandwich easier to close and eat. 

Will I do this in college:

        I think a late night leftover sandwich sounds like a very collegiate thing to do, don't you agree?

You may be asking,  'Who really needs a recipe to make a sandwich?' I don't, necessarily, when I'm tired and have nothing else that needs my immediate attention. But in college, at 2am, when I have papers to write and about zero brain cells left to focus on what I want to eat? I'd rather be able to scroll through my blog, see a nice and easy healthy sandwich, and make that than turn to whatever other snacking I can get my hands on in the same amount of time. 

Banana Apple Bacon Grilled Cheese on Cinnamon Raisin Bread

If you've chosen this post, you're more than likely intrigued as to how such a strange combination tasted so addicting, I made and ate TWO that night. And even though I've already had dinner, writing about it makes me want another one right now. It's that good.

The Recipe: Banana Apple Bacon Grilled Cheese on Cinnamon Raisin Bread

• 2 slices of Cinnamon  Raisin Bread
• 1/2 banana, sliced long ways, thinly and then each slice should be cut in half
• 1/2 apple, sliced thinly, no core
• 1 strip of bacon, cooked, broken into pieces
• 1 tbsp shredded, low fat Mozzarella
• 1/4 tsp butter

The Process: 

• Heat your panini pan and press on a large burner using high heat
• Set the press aside on the stovetop
• Spread butter on both sides of both slices of the bread
• When the pan is hot enough, place both slices of bread on the pan...remember to turn the heat down!!
• Sprinkle mozzarella on both sides of the bread
• When mozzarella is securely melted on each slice, lay the banana slices on one slice of bread
• Next, lay the apple slices on top of the banana slices
• Finally,  lay the bacon pieces on top of the apple slices
• Close your sandwich, and press until grill marks brown to desired color
• Enjoy with cinnamon sugar pita chips or other all natural snack

The Calories:

Bread: 170 calories

Banana: 45 calories

Apple: 40 calories

Bacon: 42 calories

Mozzarella: 20 calories

Butter: 25 calories

_____________________

TOTAL: 342 calories

As a sandwich goes, this is a pretty healthy option! Your typical panini has more than that in the bread alone. If you're looking at that and thinking, "Wait...but you ate two!", think for another second about what I really ate: a banana, an apple, two strips of bacon, and a relatively small amount of cheese and butter, on homemade cinnamon bread. And still ate only 684 calories for a main course for dinner.

What went right: 
           It's a strange but perfect combination! Healthy, natural, well-rounded...I love this sandwich.

What went wrong:
           The first time I almost burnt the bread because I didn't turn the heat down. Came out great though once I noticed.

Will I do this in college:
           Definitely. I might not eat two at once but I will for sure be making it.

Overall, I think this is a wonderful sandwich not only for dinner but for lunch, or even for appetizers if they were cut in diagonal fourths. It's quick, easy, and healthy...Just what every college student needs!

Salami Caprese Panini

Hey there healthy food fans!

Yet another of my late night find what you can in the fridge meals gone oh so right, I present for your consideration:


The Recipe: Salami Caprese Panini

• 2 Slices of Italian Bread
• 2 tbsp shredded, low fat mozzarella
• 1/2 tomato, cut in slices
• 1/8 tbsp butter
• 4 slices of salami, cut in half
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 3 leaves of basil, shredded

The Process: 

• Turn on one of the burners to high
• Let your panini pan heat up while prepping the food
• Spread the butter on both sides of both slices of bread
• Wash and slice the tomato
• Cut and separate the salami
• Shred the basil leaves
• When the pan is warm, spread the olive oil on the pan and put the bread down
• Sprinkle mozzarella on both slices 
• After a couple minutes, watching to see that the mozzarella is secure and most of the butter has soaked into the bread, sprinkle the basil onto one slice of the bread

• Lay the salami half slices onto the same slice of bread
• Lay the tomato on the same slice of bread
• Using a spatula, put the other slice of bread on top and press until the sandwich sears to taste and is secure. This should take a minute or two, but it depends on your stove. 
• When you are satisfied with your sear, remove the press and set it on the stove to cool. 
• Carefully use the spatula to remove your sandwich and slice in half

The Calories:

          The bread was 108 calories; the tomatoes were 8 calories; the mozzarella was 35 calories; the basil was 0 calories; the salami was 99 calories; and the butter was 8 calories. This makes the total sandwich 258 calories. Most of the olive oil remained on the pan even after cooking, but adding the 126 calories for olive oil, that makes it 384 calories, still. 

What went right: 

         Everything. Loved this sandwich so much and I would do it again in a heartbeat. 

What went wrong: 

        I can honestly say nothing went wrong with this recipe. Success!

What would I do next time:

        Salami is the perfect meat for this sandwich. For a healthier (or vegetarian) version, feel free to eliminate it and substitute with more tomato, roasted peppers, cucumber, or anything else your taste buds desire!

Will I do this in college: 

       I think this is a given. I'm lucky and ecstatic to be bringing a single serve panini pan to college. Look forward to more panini variations because I am in love. 

Overall, a healthy, filling sandwich that had me licking the plate ;D