On hot and humid days, cooking in the kitchen is the last thing you want to do. Sandwiches are a convenient option for summer lunches, but deli meat and cheese can be quite costly. When I got frustrated at the lack of nutrition and high price of deli meat, I asked myself, ‘what kind of sandwiches did my grandma serve?’ I knew that she rarely if ever bought deli meat and cheese. I imagined myself, feet dangling under her table, glass of cold mint tea in front of me and a sandwich with a thick slice of her homemade bread on the plate before me. On that thick slice of bread was a slice of cold beef from
last night’s dinner, or a fried egg, or if the day was a bit more special, we may have had chicken or ham salad or in tomato season, egg salad with a thick slice of a garden tomato.
Following are the recipes I use to keep the sandwich options varied in our home all
summer long!
Method
- Spread one side of your favorite bread with garlic butter (melted butter with 1-2 garlic cloves pressed in) and put it face down in a hot cast iron until it is warm and slightly toasty.
- Layer on all your other ingredients, adding plenty of mayo between each layer, grab your napkin and enjoy!
- Alternatively, if you have a panini maker layer everything and place into your panini maker and toast until done.

Method
- Stir together all ingredients, add optional ingredients based on taste preferences
- If using chicken breast, you may need to add a little more mayo to bring the consistency to where you want it because chicken breast is drier.
- Serve on croissants, sandwich bread, hamburger buns or naan with lettuce a thin slice of tomato and onion.
- Store in refrigerator for up to a week.


Method
- Mix until all combined, taste and tweak to your liking.
- Serve on your favorite bread with fresh garden veggies like lettuce, tomato and thin sliced onion.
- Store in refrigerator for 5-7 days.

