The Perfect Summer Sandwich

This sandwich is my latest obsession.

I am not even joking. In the past week and a bit since I first made it, I've eaten it at least six times. It is an amazing sandwich. Now I know sandwiches are not really considered recipes, but I had to share this one as it is absolutely amazing. It is very simple, and does require a little more effort than a good old PB&J, but the taste definitely makes up for the extra few minutes you spend making it.

In saying that it takes time, it probably takes around 10 minutes total to whip this up. You probably have most of the ingredients already, if not all. I got the idea for this sandwich when I bought this amazing Raspberry Caramalised Balsamic Vinegar and Rocket and Pistachio Pesto two weeks ago. Now obviously any balsamic vinegar (although a caramelised one is better) and pesto work in this recipe, but for those who were interested in exactly what I used, these were the products I used. I got them from the Eumundi markets but I also found them at Montville in the Fudgy Boombah shop. These are both places in Queensland (both gorgeous places) so fellow QLDers probably know where I'm talking about if they are interested in getting the products.

What you need:

2 tsp Butter

¼ cup mushrooms, sliced

3 small slices haloumi

2 slices sourdough bread

1 tbsp pesto (I used Rocket and Pistachio Pesto)

½ tomato, slice thinly

½ tsp lemon juice

1 tsp basil

1 tsp balsamic vinegar (preferably caramelised vinegar – I used Raspberry Caramelised Balsamic Vinegar)

Pinch of salt

What to do:

Heat the butter in a frypan over medium heat. Fry the mushrooms and the haloumi in the butter (with salt if desired) until the mushrooms are browned and soft and the haloumi is browned and has a crunchy outside.

Spread the pesto over one slice of bread. Add the sliced tomatoes. Cover the tomatoes with the lemon juice and basil.

Top the tomatoes with the fried mushrooms and haloumi. Add the salt and balsamic vinegar.

Place the remaining slice of bread over the top to make a sandwich. Cut in half and serve warm. I serve mine with a mixed potato hash, which is an absolutely delicious side to this sandwich. 

B.L.A.C.T.S

How are you all this fine Friday? This is completely unrelated to anything but I think the whole Mila Kunis / Ashton Kutcher thing is kind of cute - mostly because I just love the whole Jackie and Kelso thing from the 70's show. I've been watching the earlier seasons lately and they're both totally hilarious. That is actually what I am watching right now, so that is why I felt the need to comment on it.

My week has been crazy. I am studying journalism as you're probably well aware, which means most of my assignments are to write stories about specific topics or to find stories. This means interviewing. As I am taking five subjects this semester (the standard is four), I have a crazy amount of things flying around my head - when assignments are due, who I am interviewing, who I have emailed about possibly interviewing, where and when are the interviews, for which story is it, have I thought of some questions yet, etc. I feel a little crazy at the moment. I also spent pretty much my entire in Wednesday in court - for a story, not because I had to be there. Let's just say I hope I never have to be in the actual courtroom. Courts are scary. I am officially deterred. 

Now, on a happier and less stressful note, here is today's lovely recipe. I feel bad saying this is a recipe because it totally isn't. It's a glorified sandwich. But a damn good one. Who doesn't love B.L.Ts? Well this is my take on them - a few more ingredients, but absolutely delicious. If you fill this with fresh ingredients it is the perfect light dinner or slightly heavier lunch.

Level of Difficulty: Easy

Average Cost: $

Occasion: Lunch or Dinner

Menu Options: Of course you alter the amount of the ingredients listed below, plus any of your favourite sandwich foods to this. However I do recommend trying this as is first, just because it is such a lovely mixture of ingredients and you really can’t go wrong. You can alter the sauce to whatever your favourite one is. I recommend buying pure wholemeal bread, weight watchers bacon as it is only 1 point, low fat and thinly sliced, and using low salt sauce. The nutritional stats for this are slightly off, as I couldn’t put in the exact bread and bacon and sauce I used. If I were you, I'd take these stats with a grain of salt - if I were to estimate this I'd say between 500 and 600 calories, but not over.

Serves One - one sandwich

What you need:

-          2 pieces of bacon - I use weight watchers bacon strips so they're really small pieces of bacon and there is no fat on them

-          2 tsp olive oil

-          3 slices wholemeal bread

-          2 tsp tomato sauce - low salt preferably. You can change the sauce if you want - BBQ, swet chilli, whatever you chose, but I think tomato works really well with this.

-          1/4 avocado 

-          1/2 large lettuce leaf

-          3 slices tomato

-          1 slice cheddar cheese

What to do:

In a frypan over medium-high heat, heat the oil. Add the bacon slices to the oil and cook for six minutes. When the bacon is slightly browned, turn over and cook for approximately three minutes on the other side. When both sides are brown and cooked through the bacon is done.

Meanwhile, get out the remaining ingredients. Cut up tomato, avocado (into small chunks), cheese and break off the lettuce you want.

When the bacon is nearly done cooking, after you have swapped sides, toast the bread.

Place one piece of bread on a plate. Add the sauce and then the cooked bacon. Add another slice of bread. Add, in order, avocado, lettuce, tomato and cheese. Top with remaining slice of bread. 

Serve while warm.