Sandwich Archives - Busy Moms Helper

Turkey Pesto Panini Sandwich

April 25, 2016 by Angela Paris

A Turkey Pesto Panini Sandwich is the a delicious and easy lunch that’s impressive for company. Trust me, this will be your new favorite sandwich this summer!

I just adore making my own basil pesto at home. In the summer, when we grow our own basil, I almost always have a jar in the refrigerator. You can get my favorite recipe for Basil Pesto here. You could also try my Tarragon Walnut Pesto for something different.

You can use a store-bought pesto, but in my humble opinion, it’s just not the same as homemade. As for the other ingredients, I enjoy fresh mozzarella and a slow roasted turkey. You can get the turkey from the deli, but leftovers from a roasted turkey is phenomenal. This is one of those cases where quality ingredients make a big difference in the sandwich itself.

When you’re making a panini sandwich, you need to start with a hearty bread. It needs to hold up to being pressed so I like using a ciabatta or focaccia bread. Regular sandwich bread is too light and airy and won’t hold up to the panini press.

Here’s how to make a delicious Turkey Pesto Panini

Ingredients

Sliced roasted turkey breast
White or whole wheat ciabatta bread, sliced
Fresh mozzarella, sliced
Store-bought or homemade Basil Pesto
Tomato slices, optional
Salt and Pepper, to taste
Olive oil

Directions

Preheat your panini press according instructions from the manufacturer.
To make one sandwich, spread two slices of the bread with 1 tablespoon of the Basil Pesto. Next, layer on 2-3 slices of turkey. Top with mozzarella slices, and, if desired, tomato slices. Top with the second slice of bread. Gently brush the outside slices of bread with a little olive oil.
Repeat for additional sandwiches.
To grill on the panini press, add the sandwich to the preheated press and and close. Cook 4-5 minutes until golden brown. Serve hot.

This Turkey Pesto Panini is a delicious summer sandwich. Mr. Juggling Act prefers his with fresh summer tomatoes. Either way, this is one tasty sandwich!

Other Yummy Sandwich Recipes

Truffle Mayo Turkey Sandwich with Mushrooms

February 18, 2016 by Kelly Dedeaux

Awhile ago, hubby and I went out for a quick bite to eat and I had the most amazing Truffle Mayo Turkey Sandwich with Mushrooms. I told him it was going on my list of ‘have to make’ recipes – but guess what? I like my version even better!

Now, you’ve got to have the right ingredients to really make this sandwich as delicious as can be – starting with the meats. Oscar Mayer Selects Natural meats are minimally process with no artificial ingredients or artificial preservatives (see the back of the package for the ingredients used to preserve quality), no artificial flavors, no gluten and no by-products. That’s quality, in my book – you don’t need to give up the good stuff to enjoy the quality cold cuts your family deserves.

Yes, the title says TURKEY, but hubby wanted to try it with their Slow Roasted Roast Beef, and loved it. Feel free to mix and match – there’s not really a right or wrong way, in general! Oscar Mayer Selects Natural is available in five yummy varieties: Slow Roasted Turkey, Applewood Smoked Turkey, Rotisserie Seasoned Chicken, Applewood Smoked Ham and Slow Roasted Roast Beef.

Along with the right cold cuts, the cream Truffle Mayo brings this sandwich to the next level! Don’t worry – it’s super easy to make, and only takes a few simple ingredients.

Ingredients – Truffle Mayo

3 Eggs, yolk only
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
2 tbsp. Black Truffle Oil
2 tbsp. Lemon Juice
1 tbsp. Corn Starch

For the sandwich: Oscar Mayer Selects Natural meat of choice, Hoagie (or bread of choice), Swiss cheese (again, feel free to switch – hubby used Pepper jack), sliced mushrooms, and a dash of salt and pepper if desired.

Directions

Make the Truffle Mayo: whip all of the ingredients by hand, or in a blender, until smooth.
On your hoagie, lay out your cheese slices, top with your meat choice, sprinkle on some sliced mushrooms, a dash of salt & pepper if you want – then drizzle on the mayo. Close and ENJOY!

See, incredibly simple and quick to make – which really helps save time at lunch! We each enjoyed our tasty sandwich, and there was enough Truffle Mayo left over to make this again 1-2 more times that week for both of us!

Learn more about Oscar Mayer Selects Natural and see what other delish recipes you can whip up!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Sweet Teriyaki Marinated Sandwich

September 3, 2015 by Kelly Dedeaux

This post is sponsored by Nature’s Harvest®Bread. All opinions are mine alone.

I love a good sandwich – but it’s only ‘good’ if it has amazing flavor! That, mixed with flexibility and that’s a winner in my book – like this delish Sweet Teriyaki Marinated Sandwich using Nature’s Harvest®Bread. The tangy and sweet mix together perfectly, leaving you licking your lips and fingers with a smile on your face!

I love that the Nature’s Harvest®Bread, their Honey Wheat Whole Grain featured in these pics, has a nice, smooth texture but a great taste that really goes well with the marinade. It’s a bonus that it includes at least 8 grams of whole grains per serving, with no artificial flavors, colors or high fructose corn syrup! I can feel great about packing it in my kiddos’ lunches, and enjoying some myself!

Marinade Ingredients

1/2 cup Corn Syrup
1 tbsp. size wedge of Sweet Onion
1 tbsp. Red Wine Vinegar
2 tsp. White Vinegar
1 tsp. Balsamic Vinegar
1 tsp. Brown Sugar
1 tsp. Powdered Milk
1/4 tsp. Lemon Juice
1/8 tsp. Poppy Seeds
1/8 tsp. Salt
1/8 (or less) tsp. Black Pepper
1/8 tsp. Garlic Powder

Marinade Directions

Put all of the ingredients in a blender and blend on high about a minute, or until it’s well-mixed. Pour into a container so you can marinate your sandwich meat of choice!

Note: Can be stored in an airtight container, in the fridge, for a few days.

See, told you it was easy! Just marinate whatever meat you’d like (I find chicken and steak are both equally amazing with this) and add your favorite sandwich toppings. Viola! You’ve got yourself a totally delicious sandwich! You can even mix up the bread if you’d like! Nature’s Harvest® bread comes in the following varieties:

100% Stone Ground Whole Wheat Bread
Honey Wheat Made with Whole Grain Bread (what I used here)
Butter Top Made With Whole Grain White Bread
Butter Top Made with Whole Grain Wheat Bread

Be a Winner of the Nature’s Harvest® Sandwich Art Photo Contest!

Moms – have a little whole grain fun with your kids’ lunchboxes this school year and enter to win a “Kitchen Crash” from Celebrity Chef and contest judge, Kelsey Nixon! Winner will be announced in September.

From August 24, 2015 to September 6, 2015, parents can visit the Nature’s Harvest Bread Facebook page to submit a photo of their sandwich art creations, using Nature’s Harvest bread, for the chance to win fun prizes
Kelsey will be judging the top 10 Semi-Finalist entries based on:
o Visual appeal
o Creativity
o Incorporation of nutritious ingredients
The top 10 Semi-Finalist entries will also be posted to the Nature’s Harvest Bread Facebook page for consumer online voting from September 14, 2015-September 20, 2015

For Official Contest rules visit: Nature’s Harvest Bread Facebook

Check out these other great lunch ideas…

Caprese Arepa Sandwiches

August 7, 2015 by Kelly Dedeaux

I participated in an Ambassador Program on behalf of Influence Central for P.A.N. Cornmeal. I received product samples as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation. #PANFan

I’m loving how quick and easy it is to whip up these Caprese Arepa Sandwiches! Great for lunch, or we even enjoy them as snacks, too. Warm, moist and completely delish! They’d be super easy to pack into my kiddos lunches this coming school year, also, which makes them a definite win in my book.

These are especially great because of the versatility – you can use them for any type of sandwich whether it’s a tuna or a classic roast beef, or serve them as a single treat with honey or jam! My kids now ask for these quite often instead of their normal sliced bread!

Ingredients

2 cups P.A.N. Cornmeal
2 tsp. Salt
2 tbsp. Vegetable Oil
2 1/2 cups Warm Water
4-5 slices Mozzarella
4-5 Slices Tomato
Dash Balsamic Vinegar, to taste
Dash Basil leaves, to taste

Directions

Mix the P.A.N. Cornmeal and salt together in a bowl. Stir in the water until well-mixed, then let sit about 5 minutes. Knead the dough and divide into 8 pieces, rolling each into a ball then pressing flat.
In a large skillet, spread the vegetable oil and heat over medium. Carefully place the Arepa’s in the pan and heat, covered, about 6-8 minutes. Flip them over and heat, uncovered, about 6-8 more minutes.
Remove and top 4 arepas with a slice of cheese, dash of balsamic vinegar, dash of basil leaves and a slice of tomato. Top it off with another arepa and enjoy!

I originally thought that these would be really fluffy, and they are but with a lot of moist ‘oomph’ inside, as well! It really fills you up – which makes these even better! The P.A.N. Cornmeal, the number one cornmeal in South America that’s now making it’s into USA Kitchens, really gives it a nice texture inside that blends well with the melted mozzarella.

Ten Tips for Stress-Free Holidays: Easy Snacks, Checklists and More

November 24, 2014 by Kelly Dedeaux

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #Feast4All #CollectiveBias

This week is Thanksgiving…like in three days. Instead of running around screaming (although I may do a bit of that in my mind where nobody will notice), I’m determined to stay calm and enjoy the season. To help, here’s Ten Tips for Stress-Free Holidays: Easy Snacks, Checklists and More!

You’re probably thinking ‘no way can you have a stress-free holiday!’ But you can! Believe me, if we can find ways to avoid the stress between hosting Thanksgiving dinner, dance lessons, half our family being sick, all of our work and the blog, plus church commitments, I bet you can at least lower your stress level with these tips!

1. Keep Easy Snacks On-Hand

With all the hustle and bustle of the season, it’s easy to put off going to the grocery store. It’s important to keep yourself, and your kiddos fueled for all the activities, though! Between errands, family visits, shopping and whatever else we do, you need your energy. You also don’t want to be hearing ‘I’m hungry’ every five minutes! Whether we’re needing a quick mid-afternoon pick-me-up between all the driving around, or at the end of a long day the kids are begging for something to fill up their tummies, you need something quick, but also that tastes great.

Just head to Walmart, hit up the frozen snacks section, and grab a few 12-packs of delicious HOT POCKETS® sandwiches! Keep them in your freezer, and you can just pull out however many you need, warm them up quickly in the microwave, and you’ve got a great snack even when you’re in a hurry!

There’s so many different flavors to choose from, and they even have a variety of crusts! Our new favorite is the Garlic Butter Crust…super good, and you can even smell the garlicy goodness when you pull it out of the package. They use quality ingredients like premium meats, real cheese and freshly baked crusts, of course. Each sandwich has 9 grams of protein or more, making it a delicious snack with serious staying power. I love that it helps keep my kids going with our busy schedules!

2. Keep Yourself Organized

I know, easier said than done, right? Life NORMALLY has lots of things that need to be organized, and the holidays add a whole mountain more! For me, the best way is to break it down into sections and have sheets for each thing. Two of my favorites are this Free Printable Christmas Planner from Crazy Little Projects and this Holiday Planning Binder from iHeart Organizing. Make sure you write EVERYTHING down in your calendar, so you don’t forget things or overbook yourself.

3. Don’t Clean More Than Necessary

So many of us think our homes have to be pristine for the holidays, in case of guests or visiting relatives. This is great, until we take it to the point of spending TOO MUCH time cleaning. Which would you rather remember: a perfectly clean home, or more fun conversations?

I don’t mean forget it all. Try to do one deep clean at the beginning of the holidays (enlist the help of your kiddos, if you can!), then you can just spend 20-30 minutes each day tidying it up to maintain the good look. Everyone knows our homes aren’t normally perfect, so why waste our time and energy pretending?

4. Purchase Your Gifts Early

I remember a couple years when I waited until the last few weeks of the season to purchase our gifts. Big mistake! As it gets closer, the crowds get worse, as does the traffic, people tend to be LESS than merry, and even inventory can run dry. Plus, when you’re under pressure, you’re more likely to spend more money than if you’d planned ahead. Make your lists, think about it, then get it done.

Even better, purchase them early AND shop mostly online! You can find practically anything online, and it saves you time AND money having to run out to the stores, deal with the masses of people, and potentially end up buying a lot more than you intended! This leaves much more time and energy to devote to the more fun activities (like wrapping, my favorite thing!)!

5. Keep the Dishes to a Minimum

I know it’s fun and exciting to get out the nice china every time someone comes for dinner, but think of all the time you spend cleaning up afterwards. I’d rather be chatting, doing a movie night, or playing games! Ask guests to help bring dishes or use paper products. Looking back, what do you remember more….the nice dishes at a meal, or the company?

6. Prune Your To-Do List

I bet we ALL try to fit more in than is realistically possible. Or maybe it’s possible, but our stress levels are sure going to pay the price! Look at your list of to-dos. Is there anything you can save for later, or remove entirely? Think ‘if I don’t do this right now, what will happen?’ I bet there’s at least some things that are worth putting off.

7. Scale Back Your Decor

Does every room in your home, your front porch and complete back yard (and mailbox, of course) REALLY need to look as festive as can be? I love decor, and it’s easy to overdo it. When decorating, really think if it’s enough to make YOU and your family happy. If so, don’t keep adding more just so you can beat the neighbors.

8. Budget

Few things are more stressful than worrying about the upcoming bills! Take time to set a budget for everything…presents, food, decor, cards, parties, etc. Be realistic, and stick with what you won’t be kicking yourself for come January. Then STICK to your budget!

9. Limit the Invitations

You may get a dozen party invitations, or feel like you need to host every friend for an evening. This is SO NOT TRUE! If you can only handle a few, that’s ok. Be picky which invitations you accept and give out…they’ll understand. It’s more important for you to stay sane than to try and please every single person you know.

10. Breathe and Enjoy!

The holidays are a wonderful time, and you should be able to enjoy yourself, too. Accept that not everything will go perfectly, there will be bumps, but try to take time to ENJOY the time you have and really soak in all the memories. Plus, sometimes the bumps can make the funniest memories!

Now go print the checklists and planners you need to get organized, and make sure you’re fully stocked on great, energy-providing snacks like tasty HOT POCKETS® to keep yourself and your family going through all the fun of the season!

Want more ideas? Check out Flavorful Moments by Nestle to see lots of delish ideas and fun snacks!

Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki Sauce

February 11, 2014 by Kelly Dedeaux

No need for a Subway sandwich trip because you can now make this Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki Sauce Sandwich at home.

You know those days when you’re so tired, you can’t think (much less spell) straight? Today was that for me, so instead of rambling about whatever comes to my foggy mind right now, please pretend I’m putting the funniest, most interesting paragraph ever. Thanks, I owe you 😀

This Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki Sauce, a copy-cat from Subway, is super easy, and is so GOOOOOD! Seriously, only a few minutes and you’re set to go. Woot!

Ingredients

1/2 cup Corn Syrup

1 tbsp. Sweet Onion, minced

1 tbsp. Red Wine Vinegar

2 tsp. White Vinegar

1 tsp. Balsamic Vinegar

1 tsp. Brown Sugar

1 tsp. Powdered Milk

1/4 tsp. Lemon Juice

1/8 tsp. Poppy Seeds

1/8 tsp. Salt

1/8 (or less) tsp. Black Pepper

1/8 tsp. Garlic Powder

Directions

Whisk all of the ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl. Place in microwave for about 1-3 minutes, or until heated through.

Allow to cool. Serve with your favorite chicken, or even beef!

Turkey Avocado

January 24, 2014 by Kelly Dedeaux

You know, other than my family and friends (duh), there’s not a LOT of things I miss about Utah. That’s the majority of what I miss. However, in the minority of things that I miss is some places we always use to eat for a special treat or birthday lunch. One of these places is La Beau’s. I LOVE THEM! Now, their shakes are a-maz-ing, but that’s for later. Today’s post is all about doing a copy cat Turkey Avocado Sandwich. I would order those anytime we got lunch there, often splitting with my mom because they were so large. Yumm-o!

Ingredients

Hoagie Bun

Sliced Turkey (cooked)

1-2 Large Leaves Lettuce

1 Large Avocado, sliced

1 Small Tomato, sliced (I used several cut cherry tomatoes)

Cheese of choice (I’ve used Swiss and Provolone), sliced or shredded

Directions

I’m not going to get all technical here because, well, it’s a sandwich for crying out loud! It doesn’t take a scientist to put it together. Besides, everyone likes their sandwiches put together a bit differently (some mash the Avocado as a spread, I prefer slices). So take the above ingredients, put it together on the hoagie bun the way you like it, and ENJOY!!!

Monsters University Pre-Party

September 2, 2013 by Kelly Dedeaux

Happy Labor Day! I don’t know about you, but I REALLY needed today, just a break from normal school-work-life. Can you relate? Anywho…even though this 3-day weekend is almost over, I thought sharing a little extra FUN thing would add a few more smiles! So this summer we visited my family back in Utah, and had So. Much. Fun!!! Seriously, my mom is such a fun, cute grandma, and loves doing extra fun things for the kids. While we were there she decided to take us to see Monsters University, and to get the kids excited we had a Monster’s University Pre-Party the night before. See, told you she was fun!!!

Monster's University Pre-party / Busy Mom's Helper

My uber-talented sister (well, one of them – I have four!) made this amazingly cute Cutie Cupcakes. The kids thought they were so fun – although some of them absolutely refused to eat the eyes, even though they’re just sugar candy.

My adopted-into-the-family-because-she-is-just-so-awesome sister created this Monster-Mouthed-Melon, who’s either eating up everything, or spitting it back up. Either way, tons of fun!
Advice: careful when transporting the finished product in your vehicle….this tipped over in hers, spilling fruit juice everywhere!

Finally, my mom and a bunch of us put together these Toothy Sandwich guys. Scary yet too cute to resist!

It was such a fun party, such a fun SUMMER! Sad to see it go, but excited for all the upcoming food, crafts and other exciting holiday stuff soon to be our way. Bring on the Holidays!!!

Hawaiian Pulled Pork

July 17, 2013 by Kelly Dedeaux

Hawaiian Pulled Pork

Ingredients
3-4 lb. Pork Roast
1 cup Teriyaki Marinade
1 tbsp. Paprika
1 tsp. Ground Black Pepper
1/2 cup Chicken Broth
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
1/4 cup Soy Cause
1 cup Chili Sauce
6 oz. Pineapple Juice
1/4 Onion, diced
2 tbsp. Ginger
4 Garlic Cloves, minced
8 Hamburger Buns

Directions
Place the Onions along the bottom of your slow-cooker. Place the Pork on top of the onions.

In a large bowl, combine all of the remaining ingredients EXCEPT the Buns. Pour sauce over the pork.

Cook on low for 7-8 hours. Remove from slow-cooker and shred easily with two forks or tongs.

Nutty Chicken Salad Sandwich

June 3, 2013 by Kelly Dedeaux

Do you like chicken salad sandwiches? I do! They’re just so….versatile? Is that a good word for them? I think so, let’s stick with that…..Chicken Salad Sandwiches are versatile! I mean, you can just change one little ingredient…..take something out, throw something in….and it’s a whole new experience of taste. Perfect for trying to add variety to sack lunches (or lunches here at home). Another reason I love them is that you can just cook and shred/cube a whole bunch of chicken at once, then during the week make a variety of meals. Perfect for us busy women!

Nutty Chicken Salad Sandwich

Ingredients
3/4 cup Chicken breast, cooked and cubed
1 1/2 tbsp. Mayo or Miracle Whip
1 tbsp. Sour cream
1 tbsp. Tarragon, flakes or chopped
1 Celery stalk, chopped
2 tbsp. Almonds, chopped
1 Baguette or large roll
1 leaf Lettuce

Directions
Combine everything (except the roll/baguette and lettuce) together in a bowl.

Scoop onto your choice of roll or baguette. Top with lettuce, cut in half, and enjoy!

Notes: This makes 1 sandwich

Chicken Caeser Salad Sandwich

May 9, 2013 by Kelly Dedeaux

Okay, so I consider myself a skilled speller. Seriously, I was editor-in-chief for the yearbook in high school (wow, that was awhile ago), edit manuscripts for some author friends, and edit almost everything for my hubby. Now with THAT SAID…..the word Caeser is just a struggle for me. I actually had to google how to spell it. I can’t remember which order the a and the e go! Does anyone else struggle with that word? If so…yeah, I’m not alone! If no…well, I’m alone and should avoid writing Caeser. Moving on…

I’ve been trying to add more variety to Flash’s and Wonder Woman’s lunches lately, and was thrilled when I came across this chicken caeser salad sandwich. You can make it ahead, store it in the fridge, then throw it all together! Plus, you can mix it with things such as lettuce, tomatoes, just vary it up. Fantastic!

Ingredients:
2 lbs. Chicken, cooked and shredded
1 cup Caeser dressing
1/2 cup Shredded Parmesan cheese
2 tsp. Parsley flakes
1/2 tsp. Ground black pepper
1/4 cup Celery, chopped

Directions:
Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Store in an air-tight container in the fridge. Serve cold or warmed up, on bread, buns, wraps…get creative!

Cherry Rolled Sandwiches

March 23, 2013 by Kelly Dedeaux

Contains affiliate links that help support this blog at no extra cost to you. See our disclosure for more info.

I was a little nervous about this recipe for my kids, since they can be rather picky. They all loved it, though, especially the garlic and herb cheese spread. They were even asking for seconds! If you need help pitting the cherries, I highly recommend getting a Cherry Pitter – it’s such a pain to do it by hand!

Ingredients:
½ cup Dried tart cherries
¼ cup Garlic and herb cheese spread
10-inch Tortilla (we use whole wheat)
1/3 ounce Fresh spinach leaves
2 ounces Thinly sliced luncheon meat (we used turkey breast)
2 ounces Thinly sliced swiss cheese

Spread garlic and herb cheese evenly over the tortilla, spreading to the edges.

Sprinkle cherries over spread.

Place one layer of spinach leaves over the cherries, followed by a layer of luncheon meat and the layer of cheese.

Roll up each tortilla, jelly-roll style. Make extra tight, then wrap securely in plastic wrap.

Place in fridge for at least 2 hours, or overnight.

*for 1 tortilla

Notes: For my kids, I cut the rolls into 1-inch thick slices, so it was easier to eat without falling apart.

Here’s how to make a delicious Turkey Pesto Panini

Ingredients

Directions

Other Yummy Sandwich Recipes

Ingredients – Truffle Mayo

Directions

Learn more about Oscar Mayer Selects Natural and see what other delish recipes you can whip up!

Marinade Ingredients

Marinade Directions

Be a Winner of the Nature’s Harvest® Sandwich Art Photo Contest!

Check out these other great lunch ideas…

Ingredients

Directions

1. Keep Easy Snacks On-Hand

2. Keep Yourself Organized

3. Don’t Clean More Than Necessary

4. Purchase Your Gifts Early

5. Keep the Dishes to a Minimum

6. Prune Your To-Do List

7. Scale Back Your Decor

8. Budget

9. Limit the Invitations

10. Breathe and Enjoy!

Hawaiian Pulled Pork

Nutty Chicken Salad Sandwich

More Great Sandwiches…