Pear, Pecan & Goat Cheese Sandwich

Day 30 - "Things are changing, my lifes gone pecans"

I wanted to make sure that I included a sandwich that consisted of some ingredients that I would have never put together and that I wouldn't have ever eaten growing up. So I created a creamy and crunchy sandwich. It only seems fitting that my sandwich includes a creamy cheese and a nut because as I look back at my 30 days of sandwiches they are frequently mentioned with nothing but delight.

Today's sandwich was on lightly toasted honey wheat bread with thinly sliced pear, goat cheese, and toasted pecans.  For an impromptu sandwich it came together so nicely. The creamy cheese with the sweet, crispy pear and nutty crunchy pecans,a wonderful dessert or snack sandwich. I will definitely be trying this one again!

Sausage Crossaintwich (Burger King)

Day 29 - "Lovin' you is more than just a dream come true"

As a kid I used to love the BK crossaintwich over every other breakfast food, including the Egg McMufiin (although I still had my share). I used to save up all of my change so that I could have one in the morning before heading to school. I can still remember my Mom handing over two handfuls of change to the person at the register. I haven't had one in probably ten years but bringing that smell into my car again brought all of those delicious memories back.

The flaky crossaint with the layers of egg, sausauge, and melted cheese served along side tator tot hashbrowns. Yum. I even had a certain way that I ate it so that I was always ensured a perfect last bite --the early foodie in me. I would eat it around the part of the crossaint where there was uncovered cheese so that the final bite would have a piece of each ingredient. Oh the joys of food! =)

Calzone (I love N.Y. Pizza)

Day 28 - "Real G's stuff pockets with cheese like calzones"

Pizza + Sandwich = Calzone.  I've probably had about ten calzones in my life but have thoroughly enjoyed them all.  I don't think I had my first one until I was a senior in high school! As a kid, my brother and I would order a stuffed crust pizza and divide the pizza between pizza and stuffed crust. I loved the crust! So naturally the calzone and I were meant to meet.

Today's calzone included ricotta, mozzarella cheese, spinach, and sausage in a soft dough covered with parsley and garlic. I like that with a calzone you have the tomato sauce separate so that you can add as much as you'd like. I'm pretty much sold on anything Italian-American...cheese =)

Cheddar Cheese & Branston Pickle

Day 27 - "Reasons to be cheerful"

Yet again another sandwich that I've never tried. I heard about this sandwich when asking friends about their favorites, this one came from a Welsh friend. Her other favorite was Brie and grapes. These are both sandwich pairings that I had never tried before and I learned that sandwiches like this probably originated in the UK from something called the 'Ploughman's lunch'.

I had never tried Branston pickle before and when I went to find it at the supermarket I had to go to the ethnic section. It's made of diced vegetables like carrots, onions, swede, cauliflower, and gerkin pickled in a sauce mixed with vinegar, tomato, apple, dates and several spices. It tastes a little sweet and spicy, but when combined with the cheddar cheese it tastes surprisingly well! I hesitated with this sandwich because of the strong smell of vinegar in the Branston pickle but I was pleasantly surprised by how the flavors tasted when combined with the cheese and bread.  Just another reason that no sandwich will go untasted.

Moist Maker

Day 26 - "Knock, knock. Who's there? Ross Gellar's lunch. Ross Gellar's lunch who" Ross Gellar's lunch, please don't take me, okay?"

Ever since watching Friends and learning about this sandwich I have always wanted to try it. So simple, moist and delicious. Today I decided to make it for the first time and it was spectacular!

The key is obviously in the extra slice of bread that has been soaked it gravy. I soaked it for about 20 minutes before I put the sandwich together. To assemble (from bottom to top) I layed a slice of Italian five grain bread, a few slices of turkey, the gravy soaked slice, and then some cranberry sauce followed by the top slice of bread. The combination of flavors is exquisite! The salty turkey and gravy with the cranberry just works so well together. It's a little messy because the moist slice does slide around a little so I think next time I'll try cutting it. But nevertheless it's a great sandwich.

Turkey Sub (Subway)

Day 25 - "Five dollar foot long"

There was no way I was going to go 30 days of eating sandwiches and not include one of my sandwich staples. I have definitely eaten several hundred subway sandwiches but this is the one that I tend to favor.

It all starts with Italian, herb and cheese bread...this is freshly baked soft bread (not your Publix sub bread) little mayo, drop of mustard, turkey, swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, salt and pepper. Sometimes I pair it with some baked chips or sunchips while other times I go for the gooey barely cooked cookies which are awesome.

Chili Cheese Dog

Day 24 - "Dog still hot like Oscar Meyer"

I contemplated buying a hot dog from somewhere but I don't have a go to hot dog place. I don't eat them that often and when I do it's usually at a barbeque. So I decided to go old school and make them at home the same way I had them growing up. When I used to have regular hot dogs my grandmother would usually buy the ones with the cheese in the center and when she bought the regular ones she would cut them in half and melt the cheese in. So needless to say I have become accustomed to some cheese with my hot dog. Not to say that I won't also eat it with some ketchup and mustard because I love that simplicity. Sometimes condiments make the food.

In Miami there is a great hot dog place called Arbetter and I believe that after having a fantastic chili cheese dog there I was inspired to start making them myself at home. I was around 11 or 12 years old so everything is pretty much just heat and add but when it all comes together it is perfection. One can of hormel chili, one jar of tostito cheese sauce, hot dogs, hot dog buns, and tator tots. Heat everything up on the stove or microwave and put it all together. Well worth the mess! I had cheese and chili all over the place tonight and it was delicious!