Hi Ladies (and gentlemen?)! Hope your weekend is starting out well! Mine’s been okay. I finished the book I had to read, now paper writing can commence, but before all that I had a lovely morning.
I watched Ugly Betty (cried a bit… so sad this show is ending) while I had breakfast, cleaned the apartment, did some laundry and went to the gym (45min elliptical + 15 min treadmill + some weights). Then I came home and before going to the library decided I should probably have lunch. So this ensued…
Holey Moley! Sooo good!
Now, I love toasted/pressed sandwiches. However, I’m poor and unmarried (no registry… not for a long time, if ever) so instead I got a little creative.
I started with a flat out foldy thing (flat bread essentially but any bread would work), spread some delicious hummus on both sides, layered a little under 2 ounces of reduced fat cheese on both sides, then added spinach, sprouts and yellow peppers to create this:
Then I heated a pan and sprayed it with cooking spray and placed another pan on top and weighed it down with a jar of tahini, like such:
Then I had the most amazing meal ever! Check out the melty cheese!
But seriously what made this extra delicious was this hummus:
Tribe Mediterranean hummus. It tastes Moroccan!! Sooo good! (Note: if you have a Harris Teeter look in their deli section for Moroccan Hummus! Delish!)
I love this hummus with the yellow peppers as well.
Tip: If you don’t want to consume an entire pepper at one time, one way to keep it fresher longer (since they are expensive and you want them to last!) is to wrap the cored pepper in a paper towel then place it in a bag in the fridge.
It’ll keep fresh for up to a week!
Friends, I am a bottomless pit today! Sadly I came home from the library with no desire to cook (gasp, rarely happens). This is where I need a sexy man who waits eagerly for my arrival just so he can serve me a gourmet, healthy meal.
Wishful thinking. Instead I had PB&J
some edamame and cottage cheese.
I’m hoping my hunger monster will go away soon, in the meantime, I’m chugging water and starting this paper! Wish me luck!
Random Question: What’s your favorite sandwich ingredient?
Foodologie 
Great panini press technique – I’ve done it myself when I just want “grilled” rather than “panini’d”. There’s a big difference, let me tell you! 😛
And I couldn’t even answer the favorite sandwich ingred question. I’ve had way too many good ones lately to just narrow it down to one!! Although your good ol’ PB&J looks mighty fine. A tradition never fails!
Good luck on the paper 🙂 Cheesecake coming your way, of course.
Um, YUM! Seriously, those sandwiches look delicious! I have been eating all day! My husband actually said “good grief woman” when I sound not stop. I am about to have a huge bowl of oatmeal for dessert too! My favorite sandwich ingredient is hummus. It really makes everything better!
That pan trick is really creative! My favorite sandwich ingredient would have to be hummus 😀
haha doesn’t everyone need a sexy, healthy-cooking man? 😉
Yum! Both of those sandwiches look BOMB. And, I’ve got to say that my favorite sandwich ingredients are probably peanut butter and jelly 🙂 Or, peanut butter and banana, peanut butter and dates, even peanut butter and *butter.* ha!
Smart thinking with the “panini press.” I should start doing that just so I don’t have to clean the George Foreman grill! 😛
Probably my favorite sanwich is a good almond butter/apple butter if I am in the sweet mood. Or hummus if I’m in the savory mood.
Great Blog Karla! Found you through Katie’s. Love your new kitchen appliance haha 🙂 ! Great idea. And PBJ….but my bread is usually alot thicker!! 😉
Woahh I was thinking of getting a panini press but screw it I’m going to do the pan press. My favorite ingredient is mustard for a sandwich! I could easily eat a cucumber+mustard sammy anyday. Or peanut butter. Mmmmmm…alright good luck with your work! I have to finish a Classics paper 😦
Putting a paper towel in the bag with the lettuce keeps it longer too. :0
Fave sandwich is GRILLED CHEESE!!! With tomato and bacon. 🙂
Haha I stack pans or use a brick for paninis!
AHAH I LOVE YOUR TRICK! oh my gosh! GREAT idea!!! you are freaking awesome!
thanks so much for your comments girl.
your EATS LOOK AMAZING! im about to get totally caught up on yo bloggie!
Pretty slick MacGyver kitchen trick. 🙂 And very YUM looking!
what a great looking paninni! I love tomatoes on just about anything! 🙂
that’s a great idea to make grilled sandwich without panini maker! it’s sooo practical! 😀 I have panini maker but haven’t used for a while, thanks for reminding me 🙂
First, good luck on yoru paper. next, what a great flavorful, healthy and delicious pressed sandwich. Loved it. Thanks for sharing.
PEANUT BUTTER. All the way. It is the best. I actually just polished off a peanut butter and banana bagel for breakfast ;]
I really like what you did to make your sandwich. I’ve also been mourning the lack of a panini press, but I also have a pan and heavy tahini jar, so…perhaps I will try it too. our sandwich looks awesome. It actually looks like grilled fish to me.
way to go with the homemade panini press! i do the same thing, except i use a baking sheet and a cast iron skillet.
That panini looks divine!! My favorite sandwich ingredient? Bread! 😀 I’d eat bread sandwiches if I could LOL
Jenn
I do the same thing, I usually use a heavy plate! ;] Annnd one of my favorite sandwich ingredients is the cheese, for me.. it can make or break the sandwich, some of my favorite are goat cheese and swiss!
Such a clever idea!!!
My favorite sandwich ingredient is probably any type of sprouts!! I love em!!
I’m sitting here, starvting, still waiting for lunch. I would die for that panini right now! Delicious. I just uploaded an episode of my online cooking show, Swedish Home Cooking. Please check it out!
This post is food porn at it’s finest. I absolutely love all the colors….and Rocco 🙂
Wonderful…I will have to try this!