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Best of Summer Sandwiches

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Turkey sandwiches packed with the best of summer ingredients including avocado, tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley, and jalapeño mayo. 

Best of Summer Sandwiches

 

I always love a good sandwich this time of year! They are packed with fresh ingredients. Quick, easy, tasty…seriously what’s not to love?!

My winter sandwiches tend to look a little sad on the other hand so right now I am taking advantage of the quality ingredients that I can get my hands on.

It’s nothing fancy, just adding some substance and good flavor to an everyday sandwich to make it much more interesting to eat.

 

Best of Summer Sandwiches

 

We have had a lot of fun this summer and along with that a lot of quick meals after an exhausting day out in the sun. I am not one to make my husband eat sandwiches all summer long but I do throw them in every now and then when I can!

Last weekend we spent the day in Lincoln so the boys (and yes my husband too!) could ride their dirt bikes at Abbott for a few hours. By the time we started to head for home I had successfully set up what seemed like 100 of Reese’s teeny tiny toys on a cooler about 10 different times. You gotta do whatcha gotta do. I was hot, sweaty, tired and trying to make sure she stayed happy. Stay with me it gets better…

Best of Summer Sandwiches

So about an hour into the trip home at least, I happened to scratch my head and weird there was like a leaf in my hair. Totally expected after the last how many hours at the track. Only it wasn’t a leaf it was a huge beetle which I basically picked up and sat down on the console only to then realize it was a beetle. I then proceeded to continuously have the shivers and swat at my hair just in case I had any more up there, ya know totally playing it cool.

Well, I grabbed an empty snack bag and grabbed the beetle and threw it out the window while on the interstate for it to quickly get blown back in the truck on my leg. That’s when I went in to full fledge freaking out. I hate beetles. I hate bugs. Telling this story right now just gives me the shivers all over again and I literally have goosebumps all over my legs right now.

Eventually I got the damn thing out the window and looked over at my husband expecting him to look very concerned and sorry for me but when I glanced at him I remember vividly the quietest uncontrollable laughing I have ever seen from him followed by a look of “you gonna be okay?” And then more laughing.

 

Best of Summer Sandwiches

 

So after that whole episode of shenanigans you bet I made my favorite sandwiches for supper that night! Me- 1  Husband- Still 1 because he couldn’t help but love them too!

There are times for Healthyish Rigatoni with Sausage and Fennel and there are times for these awesome Best of Summer Sandwiches!!

 

Best of Summer Sandwiches

 

Best of Summer Sandwiches

Best of Summer Sandwiches

Megan
Turkey sandwiches packed with the best of summer ingredients including avocado, tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley, and jalapeño mayo.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Lunch, Sandwiches

Ingredients
  

  • White or Whole Wheat Bread
  • 1 to mato sliced
  • 1/2 cucumber thinly sliced
  • 1 avocados peeled, pitted, and sliced
  • 1/3 cup light miracle whip
  • 1/2 tablespoon chopped jalapeño
  • 1 teaspoon lime juice
  • Turkey slices
  • Fresh parsley chopped

Instructions
 

  • In a small bowl, combine jalapeño, miracle whip, and lime juice. Stir well. Set aside.
  • Set bread slices out. On one slice, spread jalapeño mayo topped with avocado slices and on the other half arrange cucumber slices followed by tomato slices, turkey, and a sprinkle of chopped parsley. Grab the bread slice with the avocado on it and place it over the other half. Cut sandwich in half with a bread knife and serve. Repeat for remaining sandwiches and I hope you love them!

Notes

I really enjoy these best when the cucumber is sliced paper thin. The tomatoes can be a bit thicker though! Just don't skip on the jalapeño mayo because it is unbelievably good!!

 

Best of Summer Sandwiches

 

More Great Sandwich Ideas

 

Best 15 Minute Fried Egg Sandwich

Best 15 Minute Fried Egg Sandwich with Spicy Red Salsa

 

Italian Chicken Paninis

Italian Chicken Paninis

 

Pretzel Black Bean Burgers

Pretzel Black Bean Burgers

Healthyish Rigatoni with Sausage and Fennel

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Healthyish Rigatoni with Sausage and Fennel

 

When you’re in the mood for some pasta, be in the mood for some PASTA!!!

This past week we packed so many activities in that by the end we all needed a hearty meal that looked just like this! This healthyish rigatoni with sausage and fennel is one of our favorites. It actually showed up on the blog awhile ago (here) but it needed a little updating because it’s one of the most popular recipes on my site. And while it may shout cold weather comfort food we definitely confirmed this bowl of pasta can be eaten any time of the year.

 

Healthyish rigatoni with sausage and fennel

 

Events leading up to the creation of this Healthyish Rigatoni with Sausage and Fennel in August:

  • Trip to the cabin for some relaxation before our vacation
  • Trip to KC to visit Worlds of Fun, KC Zoo, and Union Station for the Dinosaur Expo all in 2 1/2 days
  • Two trips to Hastings to enjoy some much needed family time
  • Trip to Lincoln for a dirt bike riding day. Our family needs a lot of these. 😉

 

Healthyish Rigatoni with Sausage and Fennel

 

You can only imagine some of the fun we have had in the last week! It was a constant on-the-go happy/crazy time.

The highlights included Snoopy Land at Worlds of Fun, the Nordic Chaser ride, the train ride at the KC Zoo, and the Dinosaur Expo at Union Station was such a hit with the kids.

I can’t believe we packed it all in in only 2 1/2 days but with a 4, 5, and 6 year old you only have so many days before they wear out! It was a series of constant pep talks, lots of piggyback rides, and quick meals other than the one sit-down dinner at Jack Stack’s of course.

 

Healthyish Rigatoni with Sausage and Fennel

 

So when I say this Healthyish Rigatoni with Sausage and Fennel was needed this week, it definitely was needed! We all realized it was the thing we didn’t know was missing from our crazy fun week until we took that first bite.

From the first version, I changed some things to make it healthier including reducing salt in half, reducing proportion of heavy cream and thereby increasing half and half. Every little bit helps!

 

Healthyish Rigatoni with Sausage and Fennel

Healthyish Rigatoni with Sausage and Fennel

 

Healthyish Rigatoni with Sausage and Fennel

Healthyish Rigatoni with Sausage and Fennel

Megan
Healthyish rigatoni with sausage and fennel is wonderfully tasty and packed with all the flavor you can imagine. It's made healthier than the first version.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Dinner, Pasta
Servings 6 -8

Ingredients
  

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil divided
  • 1 fennel bulb chopped
  • 1 small yellow onion chopped
  • 1 pound ground sausage
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • ½ teaspoon whole fennel seeds crushed
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup half-and-half
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 pound rigatoni
  • ½ cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese

Instructions
 

Prep ingredients

  • Chop fennel bulb: 1. Cut off stalks 2. Slice off the bottom to make it even 3. Slice bulb in half 4. Cut the halves in half 5. Thinly slice quarters crosswise
  • Chop onion and mince garlic at this time as well.

Sausage and Fennel + Pasta

  • Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat in a dutch oven. Meanwhile bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add pasta and cook according to package instructions. Drain, set aside, and add that last drizzle of olive oil to prevent pasta from sticking together. Add the chopped fennel and onion to the dutch oven and sauté for about 7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the sausage and cook for another 10 minutes or so until browned and cooked through breaking it into small pieces. Mix in the garlic, fennel seed, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper.
  • Pour in heavy cream, half and half, and tomato paste. Stir well, bring to a boil, and then simmer for 10 minutes.
  • Toss pasta into the sauce stirring to coat all of the rigatoni.
  • Cook on low for another couple minutes.
  • Remove from heat and add half of the fresh parsley and parmesan cheese and mix in. Serve and set out remaining parsley and cheese for toppings.

Notes

Adapted from original recipe by Ina Garten in her cookbook Cooking for Jeffrey.

 

 

 

Healthyish Rigatoni with Sausage and Fennel

 

More Delicious Pasta Recipes

Best Spicy Whole Wheat Pasta

Spicy Sriracha Pasta with Ground Turkey

 

Easy Manicotti with Spinach & Artichokes

Easy Manicotti with Spinach and Artichokes

 

 

Blackberry and Cream Cheese Toast with Pistachios

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Liven up your start to the day and go for this blackberry and cream cheese toast with pistachios. It’s hard to believe something so simple can be this good!!

 

Blackberry and Cream Cheese Toast with Pistachios

 

I like to think that my recipes are easy. Like so easy I don’t have to pay attention to the so-called recipe. But there’s also something that’s even more important than easy and that’s tasty yet healthy. I love good tasting nutritional recipes. And when I say nutritional I mean nutrient dense. Not a few pieces of sad lettuce tossed in a bowl with some drab dressing. Nah, that’s not at all what I mean.

This toast has substance, it has flavor, and I absolutely LOVE it!!  What’s not to love when it’s ready in 3…2…1.

 

Blackberry and Cream Cheese Toast with Pistachios

 

This post may seem a bit silly because it’s hardly a recipe but after the last few days I am begging for simple and quick and tasty yet still healthy. So, this blackberry and cream cheese toast has earned a spot here on 3 Scoops of Sugar. And I’m not sorry about it.

Eating well doesn’t have to cost a fortune nor should it require 30 ingredients to get the job done even though sometimes it feels that way to me.

You know what seems to add up at the grocery store? All of those boxes of crackers that cost nearly 5 dollars a piece. Seriously?! I was set on buying this one flavor and I bought it over and over week after week until I recently decided I’m done. My kids were always asking for them at lunch, for snacks and some weeks it seemed we could get through more than 2 boxes. Well I haven’t bought them for at least two weeks and guess what my kids don’t ask for them when they don’t see them in the pantry. We train ourselves to eat the way we do. Change is possible and sometimes it isn’t as hard as we think if we simply stop buying the box of crackers or whatever it may be.

 

Blackberry and Cream Cheese Toast with Pistachios

 

This delicious blackberry and cream cheese toast looks like a great breakfast because it is!

But it’s also a great snack.

Or add the blackberries and crushed pistachios on top of some greek yogurt and it becomes a quick and delicious dessert.

So grab some of those fresh blackberries at the store right now and give this yummy toast a try!!

 

 

Blackberry and Cream Cheese Toast with Pistachios

 

Blackberry and Cream Cheese Toast with Pistachios

Blackberry and Cream Cheese Toast with Pistachios

Megan
Liven up your start to the day and go for this blackberry and cream cheese toast with pistachios. It's hard to believe something so simple can be this good!!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 3 minutes
Total Time 13 minutes
Course Breakfast, Snack
Servings 4 -6

Ingredients
  

  • Good quality bakery style bread sliced
  • 1/2 cup Light cream cheese in tub
  • 6 oz Fresh blackberries
  • Crushed pistachios for topping

Instructions
 

  • In a small food processor, pulse blackberries a few times until coarsely chopped. Set aside.
  • Add cream cheese to a small bowl and soften down with a spatula so it's spreadable.
  • Toast bread until golden brown.
  • Add 1-2 tablespoons cream cheese to each bread slice. Spoon smashed blackberries on top of cream cheese and sprinkle crushed pistachios on top. Serve immediately.

 

 

Blackberry and Cream Cheese Toast with Pistachios

 

More Delicious Breakfast Ideas

 

Best Healthier Blueberry Muffins

Best Healthier Blueberry Muffins

 

Blackberry Muesli Breakfast Cups

Blackberry Muesli Breakfast Cups

 

Modern Eggs Benedict with Avocado Sauce

Modern Eggs Benedict with Avocado Sauce