Pizza Avocado Panini

PANINI: made with:

pepperoni

mozzarella

avocado

tomato

mushrooms

pepper

tomato sauce

ASSEMBLE. in a sandwich. put in panini press or fry like a grilled cheese..

Panini of the Day: Bacon, Mozzarella, & Basil Pesto

1. get yourself a thin bread or flatbread.

2. slather on basil pesto.

3. fry bacon, drain excess oil and fat.

4. add mozzarella, sliced thinly. also good? tomato and lots of ground black pepper.

5. sandwich, put in a panini press until done.

6. yum!

Crisp Veggie Delight Sandwich

Crisp vegetables and a tangy olive dressing make this low-fat, meatless and completely vegan sandwich super satisfying! Who needs Subway?

1. Get yourself a nice, toasted healthy bun.

2. top with fresh, crisp lettuce, sliced tomato.

3. make olive "relish" dressing: combine diced olives with chopped red onion and chopped pickles. toss with 1 clove minced garlic, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, salt, pepper, and a bit of balsamic. 

4. top sandwich with olive dressing.

5. serve!

Gorgonzola Garlic Bread

A twist on classic garlic bread. 

1. get baguette or any nice bread.

2. mix together 1/4 cup soft butter, a handful fresh parsley, and 3 or 4 cloves minced garlic.

3. spread on bread, top with crumbled Gorgonzola cheese. 

4. bake for 10 mins or so until cheese has melted. 

Goat Cheese, Sour Cherry Compote, & Arugula Panini

an incredible combination. 

1. get nice panini bread: baguette, foccacia, biscuts, or anything.

2. lightly coat outside of bread with olive oil and fresh rosemary.

3. spread goat cheese on one side, and sour cherry jam/compote [simmer with baslamic] on other side

4. add basil. lettuce such as arugula or spinach, even chicken or turkey on the inside.

5. grill, as you would a panini.

Baked Pesto Chicken & Pesto Chicken Sandwiches

EXTREMELY TENDER BAKED PESTO CHICKEN BREAST:

1. get a chicken breast, pound slightly with a meat pounder just to tenderize a little.

2. preheat oven to 400 F.

3. get some aluminum foil. 

4. rub chicken with basil or red pepper or sun-dried tomato pesto [any pesto] optionally add cheese.

5. wrap in foil, with some lemon slices and whole garlic cloves.

6. bake for 40-50 minutes.

7. unwrap, you should have a super tender and flavourful piece of chicken on your hands!

Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Chicken Sandwich: nice, toasted baguette or panini with arugula, tomatoes, sun-dried tomato pesto, chicken, and mozzarella. 

Also? 

Basil Pesto Chicken Sandwich with Parmesan & Pine Nuts

Roasted Red Pepper Pesto Chicken Sandwich with Grilled Zuchini and Goat Cheese

Falafel

FALAFEL. is awesome.

1. IN A FOOD PROCESSOR, add in 1 can drained chickpeas.

2. add in 1 small onion

3. 3 cloves minced garlic

4. 1/4 cup breadcrumbs

5. a handful fresh parlsey or mint. 

6. salt, pepper, and cumin.

* in a food processor. 

7. form into balls.

8. bake fot 40 minutes, turning once, or fry until brown on both sides. 

Serve with just plain tahini.

Make a shawarma with tahini and garlic and hummus.

Put on a salad, goes great with feta cheese!!!

Meatballs Parmesan

So we've all had chicken parmesan, veal parmesan... BUT MEATBALLS? Try putting THESE on spaghetti instead! Or serve as sexy appetizers at a party, or put in a sexy, sexy sandwich. YUM.

1. preheat oven to 400 F.

2. mix together 1 pound ground beef, chicken, turkey, pork, lamb, whatever.

2. add 1/4 cup breadcrumbs and 1 egg.

3. add chopped fresh basil and/or parsley, a clove or two of garlic, salt, pepper.

4. roll into balls. lay in a pan, lined with parchment paper, and douse with tomato sauce. top with lots of shredded parmesan!

5. bake for 40-50 minutes. take one and cut it to make sure it's done, ESPECIALLY if using poultry. 

cute.

THE DELICIOUS END PRODUCT. Pasta, anyone?

BUT WAIT. 

Makes the finest sandwich. Oh, yum. 

Greek Gyros

If you don't have a huge rotisserie or skewer, not to worry! You can make identical Gyro meat in your oven! Basically, a meatloaf. 

Ingredients!

1 small onion, finely chopped. 

1 pound ground lamb, beef, chicken, or pork. Usually a mix of lamb and beef is used.

2 cloves minced garlic

1 tablespoon dried thyme

1 tablespoon dried ground rosemary

2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 egg yolk

1/4 cup breadcrumbs

Directions

Mix onion with lamb or other meat, garlic, thyme, rosemary, breadcrumbs, egg, salt, and pepper. If you have a food processor, use it. 

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Place the mixture into a greased or parchment-papered loaf pan, making sure to press into the sides of the pan. 

Place the loaf pan in a water bath and bake for 60-75 minutes. 

Remove from the oven and drain off any fat. Cover with aluminum foil. 

Place the loaf pan on a cooling rack and press it with some kind of weight, let it sit for 15 minutes or so. 

Slice and serve on pita, with onion, tomato, tzatziki, and stuff! 

Steak Sandwiches

So many kinds. Not a junky cheesesteak, a NICE sandwich.
YOU NEED:
Steak. Thin & Lean.
Ciabbata or baguette.
Toppings.

ITALIAN STEAK SANDWICH: Sear steak with tomato sauce, basil, garlic, and herbs. top with onions, olive, and parmesan, on a ciabatta.

FRENCH STEAK SANDWICH: rare steak, seared, balsamic-glazed sauteed mushrooms and onions, goat cheese, dijon mustard, spinach

VICKY'S STEAK SANDWICH: [Or Irish Steak Sandwich] Steak, Horseradish mustard, sharp Irish cheddar cheese [the stronger the better] and some relish.

CAESAR STEAK SANDWICH: Steak, caesar dressing, lettuce, bacon is optional.

CRUNCHY STEAK SANDWICH: roasted peppers, onions, coleslaw, steak

BALSAMIC STEAK SANDWICH: sautee onions, mushrooms and spinach in balsamic vinegar, nice steak.

MIDDLE-EASTERN STEAK SANDWICH: season steak with cumin, garlic, and turmeric before frying, top with lettuce, hummus, and tabouli

BUFFALO STEAK SANDWICH: marinate steak in BBQ sauce before cooking.  top with blue cheese and arugula. 

MEXICAN STEAK SANDWICH: grill steak with taco or fajita seasoning, top with monterey jack, cheddar, salsa, and avocado or guac.

CAPRESE STEAK SANDWICH: steak, with fresh basil, mozzarella, and tomato

GREEK STEAK SANDWICH: top with oregano, tzatziki, feta cheese, and cucumber

Home-Made Sausage Patties

Even the most devout McDonalds-haters sometimes get the McDonald's breakfast craving. Sausage and Egg Mcmuffin? oh lord, yes.

BUT YOU CAN MAKE THEM, healthier, at home

PROS:
You can make them taste exactly the same.
You can make them taste BETTER.
You control what's in them.
Any bread or topping you want
Millions of sausages to choose from!

HOW TO MAKE SAUSAGE PATTIES:

Mix together 500 grams ground sausage [squeeze out the insides, discard the casing]

1/4 cup breakdrcumbs

1 egg

1. mix, form into patties.

2. grill, fry, or bake.  sausage sticks together way better than ground meat, so you're all set. 

VICKY'S IMITATION MCMUFFIN [only better]

1. Make sausage patties out of breakfast sausages. Plain and simple, grill.

2. Get yourself an English muffin, butter the outsides. 

3. fry up an egg, your choice: semi-scrambled, poached, sunny side up, whatever.

4. in muffin, add cooked egg, and a slice of sharp, aged cheddar. 

5. top with sausage patty.

6. fry in a pan, as you would a grilled cheese. 

*other toppings to consider: swiss cheese instead, some roasted veggies or onions, some herbs in the meat such as rosemary or basil. tomato or lettuce, too. 

Herbed Pork Sausage Sandwich with Spinach and Goat-Cheese Omelette.

1. make sausage patty with a nice, herbed pork sausage [you can use turkey or chicken sausages too]

2. fry up an egg with some goat cheese, salt, and pepper, making a makeshift omelette. 

3. sandwich in a toasted bun, with fresh baby spinach.

Honey-Garlic Glazed Chicken Sausage Patty:

1. make patty out of chicken or turkey. While grilling, glaze with a mix of honey and garlic BBQ sauce.

2. top on a sandwich, goes very well with fresh greens, mozzarella cheese, and even some cranberry sauce. 

The Chorizo: 

1. Make patty out of ground chorizo and some beef, because Chorizo is very strong and heavy on its own. And spicy.

2. so good, you can serve on its own, but in a sandwich, top with avocadoes, guac, salsa, tomatoes, onions, mexican things.

German:

1. Make patty out of bratwurst and some horseradish.

2. make sandwich, topping with egg and mustard. 

Italian:

1. make patties out of italian sausage.

2. top sandwich with egg, provolone or mozzarella cheese, basil and tomato. 

Chicken Sausage with Roasted Veggies:

1. make patty out of chicken sausage. 

2. roast veggies.

3. goes with arugula and goat cheese, on bread.

Lamb Burgers

BEFORE WE START. THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE EATING.

yes, i know.... but lamb is sooooo good. there's nothing that tastes like it, it's my favourite meat, hands-down. I eat vegan food, I eat loads of vegetables, and barely any meat. But when I do, gotta have some lamb. 

Patties consist of: 500 grams ground lamb, 1/4 cup breadcrumbs, 1 egg, herbs and spices. Then, BBQ, bake, grill, fry, whatever.

GREEK LAMB BURGERS: make patties, adding oregano, garlic, and finely chopped onion. Grill, also grill buns gently with olive oil. Top burger with feta cheese, lettuce, cucumber, red onion, and tzatziki.

MIDDLE-EASTERN LAMB PITA BURGERS: Lamb patties, adding turmeric, cumin, garlic, and sumac. Grill, place in a warm pita with taboule and hummus. 

ROSEMARY & SHARP CHEDDAR LAMB BURGERS: nothing compliments lamb like rosemary. grill buns with fresh rosemary and olive oil, chop up rosemary into lamb patties. top with strong, sharp cheddar cheese. great with roasted veggies, and aioli. 

BIFTEKI BURGER: Lamb patties, with feta cheese mixed into the meat before cooking, and spinach. Top with red onions and tzatziki.

CURRIED LAMB BURGERS: fresh mint or cilantro in the patties, and some curry paste. 

BACON & GOAT CHEESE LAMB BURGERS: Lamb burgers with some garlic, salt and pepper, top buns with goat cheese, lettuce, and bacon.

PESTO LAMB BURGERS: Basil, lettuce, and a pesto toasted bun, with herbed goat cheese and roasted vegetables compliment this lamb burger.

BUFFALO LAMB BURGER: no actual buffalos involved. lamb patties infused with BBQ sauce, topped with blue cheese and sauteed onions. 

LAMB BURGERS WITH GOAT CHEESE AND CHERRY SALSA: make cherry salsa, which involves sour cherries, balsamic vinegar, basil. and cherry tomatoes chopped together. patties balsamic, topped with goat cheese. 

oh, lamb. i feel guilty, then i eat you, then i don't. 

Hummus & Roasted Veggie Panini

or sandwich.

all you need:

veggie marinade: 2 cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt, pepper, 1 tablespoon lemon juice,  crushed nuts are optional

cheese [omit if vegan] such as parmesan, cheddar, asiago, or pecorino

Pita, flatbread, any bread

Hummus, any kind. Roasted garlic works wonders for this.

1. toss veggies in marinade. grill, fry, bake, or BBQ.

2. split pita, put cheese, veggies, and hummus in pocket.

3. bake for a little in oven or broil until warm... just for like 5-10 mins. 

serve!