Tomato Basil English Muffins

I have always hated the idea of eating the same, boring meal every day. For example, I don't know how people eat cereal for breakfast every day for their whole lives. I also don't understand how people eat sandwiches for lunch every day.

Before discovering this Tomato Basil English Muffin recipe, I always thought that people who ate the same thing every day were boring drones with boring, common personalities. Don't take offense. I have changed my mind. After eating this meal, I have realized that as long as you LOVE eating something, you can eat it every day and not get sick of it!

I have been eating this meal for lunch almost every day for an entire year. That is a record for me! I still can't believe that I can eat this so much and I don't get sick of it. It is the most delicious lunch I have ever had. So I shall share the recipe with you. In the summer, when tomatoes and basil are fresh and meals are light, Paul and I also eat this for dinner. In addition, I found this recipe in a Taste of Home appetizer booklet, so you can also make this as an appetizer for a party. Therefore, not only is it delicious, but it is also a very versatile recipe. :)

What I love: Tomatoes, cheese, and basil = a happy stomach every single day!

Ingredients:
*English muffins, sliced and toasted (2-3 slices per person makes a perfect sized lunch)
*miracle whip
*roma tomatoes, sliced (1 tomato = four slices of english muffin covered)
*fresh basil (preferable) sliced into strips, or dried basil
*garlic salt
*cayenne pepper (optional)
*shredded mozarella cheese

Directions:
1) Heat oven to 350 degrees. Toast English muffin slices.
2) Spread miracle whip on each English muffin slice. Sprinkle each slice with fresh basil (or dried), garlic salt, and cayenne pepper (optional).
3) Top each spiced English muffin slice with tomatoes (approx. 3-4 slices of tomato each)
4) Top with cheese and put in over for approx. 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.
5) Enjoy!


Comments:
*I put cayenne pepper on mine because I love the spicy addition to this meal. Paul, however, does not care for the spiciness, so I hardly put any cayenne pepper on his muffin slices when we eat this for lunch on the weekends. It is up to you, depending on your enjoyment of spice. It is good both ways.

*Nothing compares to this meal when it comes to using fresh basil. However, since basil is expensive in the winter, I make do with the dried stuff and it tastes fine that way as well. If basil is in season, use the fresh stuff for this meal! I guarantee you will get hooked to this like I did if you use fresh!

*I have a strong preference for sourdough english muffins for this recipe. If you can find them in your local grocery store, try them out!

California Veggie Sandwich

Whoa! Look at me! I'm adding a recipe that isn't a soup! I decided it was time to show that I don't eat soup ALL the time. :)


Once again, I found this recipe at allrecipes.com. This is a wonderful website, but my problem with it is that it is difficult to find recipes unless you know EXACTLY what you want. So I spend hours reading recipes on there, and occasionally I find a recipe on the site that is healthy and delicious.

This recipe is one of my discoveries. It is soooo good! I love eating this in the summer or when my husband and I are pretending it's summer for morale purposes. The recipe calls for using a grill, but we use our George Foreman and it works just as well. Makes four sandwiches.


What I like: the colors of the different types of veggies, the delightfully warm feta cheese, and using focaccia bread, which always looks so good at the store, but I never knew what to do with that type of bread before...

Pay attention to the instructions. I have given the instructions for three different ways to cook this sandwich, depending on your preference or equipment.

California Veggie Sandwich

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup mayonnaise or miracle whip
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• olive oil
• balsamic vinegar
• 1 red bell pepper (or green)
• 1 zucchini, sliced
• 1 red onion, sliced
• 1 yellow squash, sliced
• Mushrooms (optional)
• Focaccia bread, quartered and also split horizontally
• feta cheese (at LEAST 1/2 cup)

Directions

1. In a bowl, mix the mayonnaise, minced garlic, and lemon juice. Set aside in the refrigerator.
2. Preheat the grill for high heat, or the George Forman, or preheat oven to 350 degrees.
3. For Grill: Brush vegetables with olive oil and balsamic vinegar on each side. Brush grate with oil. Place bell peppers and zucchini closest to the middle of the grill, and set onion and squash pieces around them. Cook for about 3 minutes, turn, and cook for another 3 minutes. The peppers may take a bit longer. Remove from grill, and set aside.                                                *OR*   
4. For George Forman: Put veggies in large pan on stove, drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, cook/saute until tender, stirring frequently.                     *OR*
5. For Oven: Make sandwiches completely (see #6 for rest of instructions), wrap in foil, put in oven for 20 minutes.
6. Spread some of the mayonnaise mixture on the cut sides of the bread, and sprinkle each one with feta cheese. Place on the grill (or George Forman) cheese side up, and cover with lid for 2 to 3 minutes. This will warm the bread, and melt the cheese. Watch carefully so the bottoms don't burn. Remove from grill, and layer with the vegetables. Enjoy as either open faced or normal grilled sandwiches. 

Comments: 

*Feel free to add whatever spices you like to these sandwiches. I have a lot of fun doing this and I experiment with different spices all the time. I especially like using cayenne pepper, garlic salt, and fresh basil.

*I always use a whole 8 ounce container of feta cheese, because I adore cheese so much. It is really good this way, but you can probably add just a little bit and still like the sandwich.

*Have fun with your focaccia bread selection! There are always so many delicious options at my grocery store. I especially love using either the 'Three Pepper' or 'Three Cheese' types of this bread.

*In case you were confused by the instructions, the George Forman is used only to warm the bread and melt the feta cheese. The veggies are done on the stove. Sometimes I add the veggies to the bread and leave it on the Forman grill a few minutes longer. That is, if I can wait that long before eating this amazing sandwich! :)