Thursday, April 9, 2009

The best vegetable sandwich

Becoming a vegetarian was one of my recent life changing decisions. After doing research about health, and watching this documentary about animal treatment, I knew vegetarianism was for me.

The last 6 months have been an exploration in flavors, meals, organic products and smoothies. Each time I find a breakthrough recipe I try to let people on my blog know about it. Eating healthy is expensive, but I figure I am paying for extra years on my life, and therefore in comparison; eating healthy is cheap.

Here is a picture of the sandwich I have been making for the past few days:





This vegetarian sandwich is among the best 5 sandwiches I have ever eaten, pre or post my meat eating days, it is also extremely healthy. Anyone can make this sandwich and be eating a fabulous healthy meal which tastes really good. Here's the recipe (this is the first official recipe on my blog, so please let me know if you enjoy it or if I should stick to other topics):

The Ultimate Vegetable Sandwich Recipe

Whole Wheat Bread (extra points if you make it yourself)
Spread (please refer below for the spread directions and ingredients)
Fresh sliced tomatoes
Black Olives
Artichokes
Red lettuce (kale and spinach optional additions)
Sprouts
Green peppers
Cucumbers

Here's how it looks on the toasted bread:



The spread, as you can see on the right side of the toast is a bit complicated. However, I make a big batch of it and keep it in a tupperware for multiple use. This amazing vegetarian spread is great for crackers, dipping organic corn chips, or on sandwiches. It is also extremely healthy.

Cream Cheese Spread Recipe:

(To make about 10 servings to use for multiple meals)

1 package lowfat cream cheese (i prefer the rectangles)
sunflower seeds
flax seeds
fresh chopped garlic
fresh chopped ginger
tiny drop of milk (to help fluidity of spread)
chopped parsley
squeeze of fresh lemon
tiny bit of sea salt
black pepper
finely chopped white or red onions
finely chopped green onions

Mix together in a tupperware container, use what you need and put the rest in the fridge. This spread is excellent even a week or two later. The flavors are really light and enjoyable, however you can add more of any of your favorite ingredients and turn the light flavor into an intense spread. I prefer it right in the middle.

Transforming your sandwich:

Now put your bread in a toaster, and add the spread on one side. Lay your veggies on the other side and place on pan to sit in a heated oven for just 2 minutes (see pictures above). Then put together your warm sandwich and you have yourself an amazingly healthy, tasty veggie sandwich that your taste buds and body will thank you for.


If you enjoyed this blog you will probably enjoy my posts on:

Tempeh: the best meat substitute and what to do with it

A Story about Beans....yes beans

Quit Drinking Soda and save your life

2 comments:

jx said...

do you know how to prepare fried tofu? it took years for me to find out that there's a precise process involved. but it's easy (thankfully) and so worth it. when you buy firm tofu, freeze it first. take it out a day before you want to use it. when it's thawed and you want to cook with it, squeeze it out really well. then when you fry it, it will be really firm and crispy. i don't like soggy or soft tofu.

i've tried seitan at a restaurant once but want to learn to cook with it.

i baked my own bread for the first time last week. yay! easier than i'd thought.

we saw "food, inc." at the wi film fest a couple of weeks ago. you would really enjoy it, i think. it delves into so many topics under the heading of food, how it's produced and subsidized, etc. it will be showing at the msp film fest on 4/24 and 4/26. but you won't be back by then, will you? haha. next week. anyway, here...
http://www.mspfilmfest.org/MMIX/content/food-inc

SUZAN BUCKNER said...

This sounds completely awesome! I have been addicted to vegetable sandwiches most of my life, and will try this one..You can fry some portabello mushrooms for a meaty flare to this. I bet that would be good!! Thanks for sharing!