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I've been a little MIA, thanks to a combination of a busy schedule and laziness, but I'm back with a bang. The Amsterdam Sandwich is a replica of an incredible creation I ate a couple of months back in Amsterdam (I probably could have been a bit more clever with the name). My gal pal Gina and I shared the original for lunch at a Dutch outdoor cafe and we fell in love- with the sandwich that is. It was so good that we didn't shut up about it for weeks. We decided it was time for a reenactment. This replica was just as delicious, although we did miss the beautiful Amsterdam scenery that surrounded us. The men in our lives (who were left behind while we traveled abroad) also agreed that this sandwich was a blue ribbon winner and I know you will too!

Once again, it was time to experiment with a 'no meat' meal and the results were some of the best I've had in a long while.  I am not the first to come up with a "Chickpea Burger" recipe, but this type of concoction is not very common. I've seen restaurants make veggie burgers from black beans, beets, and other vegetarian friendly combinations, but never have I seen the underrated garbanzo bean star in a patty.   If you try this burger, I'm sure you'll agree that it is menu worthy (whether it be in your kitchen or restaurants nationwide).  It is meaty and filling and the flavors were bursting, yet not one was overpowering.  I was a bit surprised by how much I loved this chick pea burger considering I am not a huge falafel fan.  Nonetheless, my meat loving husband, my best vegetarian friend, and I unanimously decided that this meal should be repeated sooner than later.  The Avocado Ranch Sauce was a great topping for the burger (and also a great dipping sauce for the baked zucchini fries)!

Bold colors, bright tastes, and bursts of flavor make up this meal, which is enjoyed in our house about once a month. This meal embraces what Mediterranean cuisine is all about- fresh, healthy ingredients and grilling as the primary cooking method. The Greek Chicken Breast and Pita is delicious and makes for a beautiful presentation as well as a fun dish to eat since everyone gets to create their own!

Burger/Hot dog season is here, and while I love me some beef, I wanted to venture into something a little different this Summer.  By no means does this replicate a meat patty, but the Black Bean Burger is full of flavor and gentler on the waist line. Inspired by Duffy's version, interpreted from a few other recipes, and approved by Amanda, my vegetarian expert. Enjoy :)

I love a good egg salad sandwich, but rarely ever eat one because the nutritional facts scare me a bit (high in fat, calories, & cholesterol) and the smell of making hard boiled eggs stinks (literally). I wasn't able to find an "odorless" solution to creating this dish (other than a three wick candle burning in the kitchen), but I did come up with a lighter version that slashed the high fat and calorie count down drastically- there's not even a drop of mayo! This Egg Salad isn't going to taste exactly like your favorite deli's recipe, but considering that it omits just about all of the fat and a ton of the calories and cholesterol, I think you'll find it to be pretty good substitute.

“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” (Charles Colton) so what better way to show one of my best friends, Kim, how fond I am of her than to make one of her recipes. Better yet, I invited her over to enjoy it with us! Her and I share a passion for cooking along with a whole other slew of things (reality TV, bargain shopping, game shows) so it is always sure to be a good time when we're together. The Shrimp Po'Boy and its sidekicks were the perfect meal to enjoy while we caught up. This version of the sandwich is light (not fried), but filling at the same time and make a great lunch or dinner option. You can also prepare the shrimp and sauce to make an easy, dipping appetizer or snack!

I didn’t feel like serving a starch with our Ratatouille dinner, however my brain malfunctions if I don’t have something from each of the food groups.  Ok, maybe not, but I like me some carbs. I looked at the third of an eggplant I had left and a light bulb went off… I got out a jar of marinated sweet peppers (which I’ve been dying to try) and called the husband to stop and get a fresh baguette and mozzarella cheese.

While I waited for him to get home, I got the eggplant going so by the time he arrived we were only 10 minutes away from tasting this super yummy Roasted Pepper, Eggplant, and Mozzarella Baguette. The hardest part of making this sandwich turned appetizer, was opening that damn jar. Good thing I’ve got a strong man in my life!

This could be one of the best sandwiches I've created in a long time, not just because it was made with love, but because it uses the robust flavors of roasted veggies, the creaminess of fresh mozzarella, and my totally awesome FAT FREE Pesto Sauce to great a power house of flavors in each bite. The ciabatta bread selection plays a factor too!

I made this a sandwich for the crowd by using a whole loaf of bread and slicing the finished product into sixths (and even a few of those pieces got cut in half), but you can certainly prepare it on individual rolls as well.