Hearty Sausage Sandwich

Note to self:  don't type up recipes at night.  It makes you hungry at the worst time.  But I'm making the sacrifice for you. 

I really like this recipe.  While it's similar to the Beef Stroganoff Sandwich that I've made for years, it's enough different that I found it worthwhile to stash here.  It's a keeper from Taste of Home. 

1 lb bulk Italian sausage

1 medium onion, chopped

1/2 c chopped green pepper

1 garlic clove, minced

8 oz cream cheese, cubed

1/4 c chopped fresh mushrooms

1/4 c grated Parmesan

1/4 c water

1/4 t oregano

1 loaf Italian bread

1 1/2 c shredded mozzarella

In a large skillet, cook the sausage, onion, green pepper and garlic; drain.  Add cream cheese, mushrooms,  Parmesan, water and oregano.  Cook and stir until well-blended.  Cut bread in half horizontally; hollow out top and bottom, leaving a 3/4 inch shell.  Place bread bottom on a baking sheet.  Sprinkle with half of the mozzarella cheese, top with sausage and remaining cheese.  Bake for 25 - 30 minutes at 350. 

Turkey Muffuletta

Almost all of us like this.  My younger son doesn't count because he doesn't like pizza or peanut butter, so you can see he's just weird.  I love him anyway.  But this is a super-easy, tasty sandwich that also sits well in the fridge for the next day.  Now, isn't that nice?  I found it in the December/January 2008 Taste of Home magazine.

1 loaf Italian bread

1/3 c olive oil

3 T balsamic vinegar

1 t dried basil

1 garlic clove, minced

1/2 t salt

1/4 t crushed red pepper

3/4 pound sliced deli turkey

6 oz provolone cheese, sliced

1 (7 oz) jar roasted sweet red peppers, drained and sliced

1/2 c sliced pimento-stuffed olives (I used them even though I don't like them.  It's good!)

1 large tomato, sliced

3 T shredded Romano cheese

1 t oregano

1/4 t pepper

Cut bread in half lengthwise and hollow out top and bottom, leaving a shell.  In a small bowl, combine the oil, vinegar, basil, garlic, salt and red pepper.  Brush over cut sides of bread.  In the bottom bread shell, layer turkey, provolone, peppers, olives and tomato.  Sprinkle with Romano cheese, oregano and pepper.  Replace bread top.  Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate for 30 minutes.  Cut into slices and serve!

Ham & Cheese Roll-ups

This is a new favorite!  I found it in an old Taste of Home Magazine from my mother-in-law.  Everyone gobbled these up greedily, and then the next day, my son asked me if I could make them for lunch.  And I did --- that's how much we liked them!  They are so easy, it's almost embarrassing to share them as a recipe.  But they are good, and I'd hate to hold out on you. 

olive oil

4 flour tortillas

grated Parmesan cheese

deli-style ham

provolone cheese

hard salami

shredded mozzarella

Brush olive oil on one side of tortillas.  Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.  Layer with ham, cheese, salami and mozzarella.  Roll up and place seam side down on baking sheet.  Brush with oil and sprinkle with Parmesan.  Bake at 425 for 9 - 12 minutes or until gold brown.  Serve with marinara sauce if desired. 

Sausage and Spinach Calzones

My hubby's philosophy is if you put sausage in something, it's got to be good.  If that philosophy sounds right to you, you'll like these.  They received two thumbs up from all my guys, and The Princess gobbled hers up too. 

1/2 - 1 lb bulk sausage

1 tube refrigerated pizza crust

3/4 c shredded cheese

2 2/3 c fresh spinach

1/2 c ricotta cheese (I use cottage cheese)

1/4 t salt

1/4 t pepper

In a skillet, cook sausage until done.  Meanwhile, roll pizza crust out to a 15x11" rectangle.  Cut into four rectangles.  Sprinkle cheese over half of each, to within 1 inch of the edges.

Drain sausage.  Add spinach and cook until wilted.  Remove from the heat; stir in ricotta (or cottage) cheese, salt and pepper.  Spread over dough.  Fold dough over and press with a fork to seal. 

Bake at 400 degrees for 10 - 15 minutes or until lightly browned.  Eat up! 

Fish Tacos

Okay. I'm almost embarrased to add this to my recipes, because it's not really a recipe. It's more of an assembling together of stuff you buy already prepared. But I like easy, and I'm realistic enough to know that surely there are others out there like me that need something this easy but still tastes really good.

1 package of breaded fish, cooked according to directions

romaine lettuce

sliced red onion

tortillas, warmed

tartar sauce

Assemble and gobble!

Backyard Burgers

"Really good. These are really good. I really like these."

A little bit later . . . "Do you think Baby Girl will eat all of hers?"

This was my husband's reaction to this recipe. I enjoyed them too, but he REALLY liked them. It's just a burger . . . but it's not. It's a great change from your regular burger -- grilled outside or cooked on the stove top indoors. Eat up!


1 - 1/2 lb ground beef
1 package onion soup mix
2 T barbecue sauce
2 T Worcestershire sauce

Mix well and cook to desired done-ness. Serve with your choice of toppings.

Bacon and Egg Salad Sandwiches

I found this recipe in the August 2008 issue of Better Homes and Gardens, and it's delish -- bacon makes everything better, right? It's extremely easy, and I just made a couple of minor changes to suit my family. Plus, it was a successful way to get my boys to eat lettuce.

6 eggs
8 (or more) slices of bacon
1/2 c mayonnaise
1 t yellow mustard
1/2 of a cucumber, chopped
lettuce leaves of your choice
8 slices bread (I use cheese bread from the bakery)

Place eggs in medium saucepan; cover with water. Bring to a boil over high heat; cover and turn off heat. Keep in water for 10 minutes. Once done, peel and coarsely chop four eggs. Meanwhile, in 12" skillet cook bacon until crisp; drain. Also lightly toast the bread at the same time. In small bowl combine mayo and mustard.

Top 4 off the bread slices with lettuce leaves, chopped egg and cucumber. Halve the remaining two eggs and place on half on each sandwich. Top with mayo mixture, bacon and remaining bread slices. Enjoy!

Sassy Salsa Burgers

A favorite of my hubby's and a super-easy change from your regular burgers.

1 lb ground chuck
2 T taco seasoning
6 T salsa, divided
4 slices Pepper Jack cheese
4 burger buns

Combine beef, 2 T salsa and seasoning. Shape into patties and cook or grill to desired "done-ness." Toast buns. Place one slice of cheese on each burger and let melt. Top each sandwich with 1 T salsa and serve.

Beef Stroganoff Sandwich

Thanks to my sis for this one!  My family eats. it. up!

2 lbs ground beef
1/2 c chopped onion
1 t salt
1/2 t garlic powder
1/2 t pepper
1 loaf French bread
2 c sour cream
2 tomatoes, diced
3 c shredded cheddar cheese
butter

Brown beef and onion. Drain excess grease. Add salt, garlic powder and pepper. Cut bread lengthwise, in half. Butter both halves and place on a baking sheet. Remove beef mixture from the heat. Stir in sour cream. Spoon onto the bread. Sprinkle with tomatoes and cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, or until cheese is melted. (Bake longer for crispier bread.) Makes 8 - 10 servings. Great served with salad!

French Dips

My great friend, Tamara, taught me this yummy dish.

1 beef roast
3 packages Lipton Onion Soup Mix
3 beef bullion cubes
3 C water
Rolls/Buns of your choice

Brown roast in oil. Place it and the other ingredients in a slow cooker and cook for 8 - 10 hours on low. I usually do this the day before serving it. Let your meat cool, shred it, then place it back in the juices and warm it up. Serve on toasted buns with some of the broth to dip the sandwiches.

Fancy Grilled Cheese

Sometimes I need a break from American and Colby standbys.

tomato slices
spinach leaves
white cheddar cheese
deli-style turkey
honey mustard
sourdough bread

Top bread with tomato, spinach, cheese & turkey. Spread another piece of bread with a little honey mustard. Sandwich together and brush with olive oil. Grill until cheese melts.