Bored with Lunch? 3 Tips for Making World-Class Sandwiches

There are only so many days in a row that you can eat the same old deli turkey on whole wheat sandwich, am I right? Here are three ideas for making sandwiches that will have you looking forward to lunchtime.

Switch Up the Bread: Sad wimpy bread is the downfall of many a good sandwich, but even slices of artisan sourdough can get old if you have it every day. Instead of grabbing your usual loaf, look around and see what else might work. Pita bread, baguettes, ciabatta, multi-seed rye loaves: anything that will shake you out of a rut.

Switch Up the Spread: There's a whole wide world of condiments out there. Instead of mustard and mayo, get creative with the other jars in your fridge. Spreads like pesto, muhammara, tapenade, or even fig jam make tasty additions to sandwiches.

Add One Oddball Ingredient: If you peruse the menus at fancy gourmet sandwich shops, you'll notice that almost every sandwich has one oddball ingredient. These are things like sliced granny smith apples, hardboiled eggs, seared asparagus spears, cranberry dressing, and pickled beets. This unexpected ingredient is meant to contrast the more standard sandwich ingredients and tickle your fancy. And it works!

What other tips do you have for making stellar sandwiches?

Related: Recreating the Masters: Sandwiches as Art

(Image: Spring Sandwich/Leela Cyd Ross)

---

Grain-free Sandwich Bread (Paleo and SCD) Against All Grain Gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, Paleo, and SCD White Bread Recipe Little Steps: 100 Great Tips For Saving Money For Those Just ... Welcome to The Simple Dollar! If this is your first time visiting the site, read my story and my key simple ideas for improving your finances and your life. How to pack a school lunch How to pack a school lunch in 4 easy steps. ... The count down to the first day of school in on! This will be my first year packing lunch for a full day. Recipes - How To Information eHow.com Recipes: Wondering whats for breakfast, lunch, or dinner? Need a side dish or appetizer to serve with your favorite recipe? Find healthy recipes, cooking tips and ... Arts & Crafts - How To Information eHow.com Arts & Crafts: Are you crafty like Martha Stewart? Learn how to embroider, knit a new quilt, do crafts with your kids, and more on eHow. Get essential tips for sewing ... Vegan Lunch Box Simple recipes designed to be packed for work or school and suitable for both adults and children. 10 Unconventional Diet Tips: How to lose 50 pounds in three months The following are 10 unconventional weight loss tips that worked for me. Between January 4, 2006 and March 31, 2006 I lost fifty pounds. These tips wor Subway Sandwiches My Biggest Complaint - Where the world comes ... The Subway Sandwich franchise could learn a lot from other sandwich chains like Jimmy Johns, Quiznos, Zeros, Sub Station, practically everybody. DealTicker: Toronto daily deals. $29 for a ticket to Opera ... $29 for a ticket to Opera Luminata Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts - Choose from 3 Show Times - (Up to $70 Value) Cooking Light Find Healthy Recipes, Nutrition Tips, and Guides ... Find quick and healthy recipes, nutrition tips, entertaining menus, and fitness guides to help you make smart choices for a healthy lifestyle from Cooking Light magazine.

My Newest Favorite Cheese for Sandwiches The Cheesemonger

I actually had an entirely different post planned for today and was going to forgo writing within our sandwich-themed week. But just yesterday, I took a long car ride, for which I threw together a quick cheese sandwich using the only cheese in my sister's refrigerator. And just like that, whoa. A cheese column was born.

Havarti.

Yep, Havarti. It's a cheese I've probably never even purchased. I've eaten it only by chance and never, truly, by choice. It's a table cheese at best, perhaps more celebrated for its cube-ability on a dinky buffet than for its ability to wow on a refined cheese board, but I think this cheese may rival any other as the best cheese for a sandwich.

Sliced thinly and placed on bread, havarti has more of a condiment-like quality, more akin to mayonnaise or even butter than cheese. My sandwich was as simple as could be: mustard, havarti, and some frisee, in between two pieces of a really soft multigrain loaf. The cheese had this almost melty quality, the way that it sunk into those fluffy slices of bread. It's nearly sticky, it's so fatty. I found myself remarking after each bite just how this grocery store commodity cheese was entirely responsible for the deliciousness of my simple sandwich.

Havarti is rich. It tastes like softened, salted butter. Really, it does. My grandmother used to butter her bread for sandwiches, which I always loved. It's the butter devotee in me. I don't think I've buttered a sandwich since I sat in her kitchen during summers of my childhood, though. But now, this havarti-on-a-sandwich move of mine is a sure way to cull up some nostalgia.

If it's a plain cheese sandwich you're after, with only a condiment or two and perhaps a slice of tomato or some lettuce, I think havarti may be exactly right. Paired with another, more toothsome cheese might be nice, too, to offer a textural contrast. If placed directly on the bread itself, you'll get this buttered-bread effect to your sandwich.

My havarti sandwich moment made me think of two other applications for havarti, mainly due to its similarity to butter: on white bread with thinly sliced cucumber and fresh dill, to mimic a tea sandwich, and grated into scrambled eggs, because eggs plus butter equals heaven.

As for what I had planned to cover this week, you'll just have to check back next Wednesday.

Nora Singley used to be a cheesemonger and the Director of Education at Murray's Cheese Shop. Until recently she was a TV Chef on The Martha Stewart Show. She is currently a freelance food stylist and private chef in New York City.

Related: Recipe: Havarti, Parsley and Garlic Cheese Ball

(Image: CGissemann/Shutterstock)

---

Murray's Cheese Shop - West Village - New York, NY (212) 243-3289 "I LOVE cheese! I really do. And Murray's selection is pretty awesome. this is really my first time buying cheese from them since none of their ... Subway Sandwiches My Biggest Complaint - Where the world comes ... The Subway Sandwich franchise could learn a lot from other sandwich chains like Jimmy Johns, Quiznos, Zeros, Sub Station, practically everybody. Best Sandwich in the World - General Topics - Chowhound Howdy folks. A couple of months ago I stumbled across the Reubens sandwich, which is probably my favorite sandwich now. I just wondered if there wer New York City Cheese Shops - The Best New York City Cheese Shops Saxelby Cheesemongers Saxelby's is a pint-sized stall inside The Essex St. Market focusing on American farmstead cheese made in the Northeastern US. Cheesemonger's Mac and Cheese Recipe at Epicurious.com Find the recipe for Cheesemonger's Mac and Cheese and other milk/cream recipes at Epicurious.com A CUP OF JO: The Best Egg Sandwich You'll Ever Have Confession: I'm a terrible cook. Long recipes freak me out, and I only flip through cookbooks to admire the photos. When everyone else was learning to cook ... How to Store Cheese: What To Do When You Get It Home The ... Cheese storage is one of those confounding subjects. If you buy a really nice cheese, you don't want to ruin it with a lack of parenting skills, right? Perhaps you ... Saxelby Cheesemongers - Lower East Side - New York, NY (212) 228-8204 "Today was my first day at The Essex Street Market and therefore also my first time at Saxelby Cheesemongers. The booth was pretty small but they ... The Saxelby Almanac This Week at Saxelby Cheesemongers: Goats on the Radio, Goat Cheesy Gifts for Easter, and National Grilled Cheese Month! Inspired Cheese Pairings From New York's Casellula Cheese and Wine ... There's a great place in New York called Casellula. It's a haven for cheese fanatics, and they do a superb job of elevating cheese to new levels with condiments. If ...

Rethinking Dessert: 7 Sweet Sandwiches

When you hear the word "sandwich," you likely think of PB&J or maybe ham and cheese. My personal favorite is a BLAT (Bacon, Lettuce, Avocado, Tomato) with a great egg salad coming in close behind. But what about mascarpone, nutella, strawberries and peaches? Ingredients on the sweeter side of things can make darn fine sandwiches, too.

I first had a dessert sandwich at a little market on a drive home from Sonoma. We'd been wine tasting and were likely just a touch tipsy, and the big gooey chocolate brie sandwich on homemade baguette was calling to me. Since then, I've spotted sweet dessert sandwiches on a few restaurant menus here and there.

I think the key to not overwhelming the palate is to share these treats with a friend (or, a lot of spots are doing them in mini sizes), and if you're making them at home to aim for balance: a nice mild cheese can often balance out a tart lemon curd or sweet berries, for instance.

Here are a few stunners from around the web. Which one calls to you?

Try a Recipe:
Roasted Strawberry, Brie and Chocolate Grilled Cheese (pictured) - How Sweet It Is
Nutella Sandwich - Giada De Laurentiis
Peach Mascarpone Sandwiches - Vanilla Lemon
Chocolate Raspberry Panini with Mascarpone - Epicurious
The Bianca - The Grilled Cheese Academy
Dessert BLT - Will Cook For Smiles
Grilled Fruit and Peanut Butter Dessert Sandwich - I Love Peanut Butter
Pound Cake Dessert Sandwiches - A Cook and Her Books

Related: Easy Summer Treat: Strawberry Sandwiches

(Images: How Sweet It Is)

---

California Pizza Kitchen - Menu items, catering and beverages At California Pizza Kitchen, we are always adding new and innovative items to our menu. Dine in, take out or use our convenient online ordering system to enjoy CPK today. Recipe Explorer - Find Recipes By Ingredient, Cuisine, or Meal ... On the menu today: Kim's Corn Chip Salad; Coconut And Macadamia Nut Banana Bread; Down East Clam Chowder; Clam-Stuffed Mushrooms; Lobster Salad Sandwiches; Peanut ... Food.com Food.com - Home of the Home Cook ... We'll Be Right Back. We are working behind the scenes to improve the Food.com experience and will have the site working shortly. Recipes - How To Information eHow.com Recipes: Wondering whats for breakfast, lunch, or dinner? Need a side dish or appetizer to serve with your favorite recipe? Find healthy recipes, cooking tips and ... Sweet Recipes Delicious Dessert Recipes With Pictures Sharing Holiday Recipes is a Great Way to Get in the Spirit. If you are lacking in the holiday spirit, getting your holiday recipes out and sharing them with others ... Lunch/Dinner/Dessert - Montgomery Restaurant, Weddings, Prime Rib ... Lunch/Dinner/Dessert Gray's Mill serves only the finest, freshest, house made food. 10 Creative sandwich recipe ideas from Pinterest Did you know that August is National Sandwich Month? Get out of your PB&J or ham-and-cheese rut with these fresh takes on the humble sandwich from the ultimate ... Kudos - Sweet, Red Peach! Inglewood, California Bakery, Cookies ... Sweet Red Peach is a family owned & operated bakery located in Inglewood ,California which prides itself in offering the best looking and VERY best tasting desserts ... Easy Desserts To Make Delicious Dessert Recipes With Pictures 5 Easy Steps To Make Tasty And Healthy Dinner Recipes In 30 Minutes Or Less. Want some great ideas for fast and delicious healthy dinner recipes? Recipe Center: Recipes for Professional Chefs & Home Cooks ... Chef2Chef's recipe center features thousands of delicious recipes for professional chefs and home cooks. Browse recipes by ingredient, cuisine, course, and more.

Sandwiches of All Shapes & Sizes: 20 Sandwich Recipes for a Better Lunch Recipe Roundup

California BLT with Avocado and Basil Mayonnaise

Is lunchtime feeling a little... bland? Repetitive? Do you need some fresh ideas? We do too, so we considered the sandwich. And we realized we needed to get out of the sandwich box. What makes a sandwich a sandwich, philosophically-speaking? Is it just a filling between two pieces of plain bread? Or can it expand into adjacent territory -- burritos, wraps, baked pockets?

Boiled Egg, Seared Asparagus & Pickled Onion Sandwiches

Personally, I think a sandwich is a full meal you can hold in your hands -- nourishing, satisfying, and easily carried. So that would include baked goodies like saucy calzones, pita pockets, and more. This clearly opens up fresh vistas of possibility for lunchtime!

Here are 20 of our own favorite sandwiches of all shapes and sizes, from chipotle chicken fajitas, to the perfect summer tomato sandwich. There's a spicy lentil wrap (better than Trader Joe's!), a simple cheese and onion sandwich, and homemade piadinas. It's time to get out of your lunch rut -- try a new sandwich (whatever the shape or size) this week!

CLASSIC SIMPLE SANDWICHES
1 California BLT with Avocado and Basil Mayonnaise
2 Farmer's Lunch Sandwich
3 Quick, Easy Scrambled Egg Salad
4 The Perfect Summer Tomato Sandwich

HOT SANDWICHES
5 Chicken Cordon Bleu-Croque Monsieur
6 Tomato Mozzarella Sandwich
7 Cuban Sandwich
8 French Dip Au Jus

VEGETARIAN SANDWICHES
9 Cheese and Onion Sandwich
10 Bnh M with Lemongrass Tofu
11 Boiled Egg, Seared Asparagus & Pickled Onion Sandwiches
12 Fresh Vegetable Sandwich

BAKED POCKETS
13 How to Make Calzones (And Freeze Them for Later!)
14 Whole Wheat Double Peanut Butter & Jelly Pockets
15 BBQ Cabbage & Sausage Stuffed Sandwiches

WRAPS & ROLLS
16 Chipotle Chicken Fajitas with Creamy Black Bean Spread
17 Spicy Lentil Wraps with Tahini Sauce
18 Roasted Sweet Potato Wraps with Caramelized Onions and Pesto
19 Homemade Piadinas
20 Vegetable Summer Rolls with Spicy Peanut Sauce

What's the best way to break out of the sandwich rut? Got any fresh ideas for fall?

More sandwiches:
How To Make Your Own Frozen Wraps

(Images: See linked recipes for full image credits)

---

The World's Largest Collection of Vegetarian Recipes Browse extensive collection of user-created and reviewed vegan recipes. Plus, 15,000 VegFriends profiles, articles, and more! Danish Open Sandwiches (Smrrebrd) Danish Open Sandwiches (Smrrebrd) Authentic recipes so you too can enjoy Danish smrrebrd at home all year long! Easy Kids Recipes Recipes For Kids Kid Friendly Recipes How To Prepare Easy & Quick Snack Items For Kids. Maybe youre one of those searching for those quick & simple lunch or snack items ideal for all kids? Pasta Recipes With Pictures A collection of all pasta recipes complete with pictures. ... ThyCa Cookbook Please send your recipes! Diet Tips 12-14 Salads and Salad Dressings 12 Bavarian Potato ... Coupons - Betty Crocker - Recipes & Cookbooks Food, Cooking ... Recipes, cooking ideas, baking tips, and more from Betty Crocker.com Best Panini Sandwich Recipes - Squidoo : Welcome to Squidoo It goes like this: Take two slices of Italian bread. Stuff them with delicious goodies such as mozzarella, tomatoes, prosciutto, fresh basil, roasted red peppers, and ... Free Printable Coupons, Grocery Coupons & Online Coupons Coupons.com SAVE 50 ON TWO Betty Crocker when you buy TWO BOXES any flavor/variety Betty Crocker Fruit Shapes, Fruit by the Foot, Fruit Gushers or Fruit Roll... Cooking Tonight, I phoned for Chinese takeaway. There's a few things I can only get by ordering takeaway, and I enjoyed myself. One of those things is Mushroom Foo Yung (most ... Danish Open Sandwiches (Smrrebrd): Smrrebrd Recipe List This page contains a list of all the recipes included in this blog to date. Food on Shine - Yahoo! Shine - Women's Lifestyle Healthy Living ... It's the Jewish New Year, the start of the year 5773: a time for friends, for family, for celebration. And what's a better way to celebrate than to host a fall ...