Turkey, Brie, & Apple Grilled Sandwich

First I should tell ya'll that my neighbors are overwhelming me with fresh apples so I am looking for every healthy recipe on the planet that contains apples, so I'm sure more apple recipes will follow. Second, of all of the sandwiches I've ever had, I don't think any have been quite so perfectly decadent. Go try it and you'll thank me forever! Third, I got this on the Tasty Kitchen website which is actually quite helpful.

• 4 slices Sandwich Bread; Sturdy Enough For Grilling (I used French Bread)
  
• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 1 teaspoon Apple Butter (You Can Substitute Apricot Preserves, Cranberry Dressing, Or Just More Mayonnaise)
• 1 teaspoon Mayonnaise
• 4 ounces, weight Brie Cheese (rind Removed Or Left On)
• 1 whole Apple Of Choice (make It A Crispy And Tasty Choice!)
• 2 slices Turkey Breast, Or More To Taste
• 2 pinch(es) Salt And Pepper (to Taste)

Begin by preheating your panini press, grill pan, skillet or oven. If using a grill pan or skillet, heat over medium heat; if using an oven, set to broil (on the low setting, if that’s an option).

Start building the sandwich by laying out your sandwich bread and lightly brushing the insides with olive oil. On one piece of bread, spread apple butter; on the other, mayonnaise. You don’t need much of either.

Cut the brie into thin slices. To make the brie easier to slice (and to remove the rind, if you’re like me and want your cheese to be free), put the brie in the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes. Use a serrated knife with long, smooth, strokes for happy brie slicing. Place one layer of brie slices on one piece of the bread.

Next, thinly slice your apple of choice. I used a Granny Smith, but you can use what you’d like. Just make sure it’s nice and crispy. Top the layer of brie with a layer of apple slices.

Add the turkey* on top of the apple. I used turkey breast from my local deli, which was fine, but I can’t wait to try it with that leftover turkey from Thanksgiving!

(*If you’d like to make a version without the turkey, add a second layer of brie in place of the turkey for a fancy pants grilled cheese.)

Season with salt and pepper to your liking. I like lots of pepper.

If you’re using a panini press, grill pan or skillet, lightly brush the heated surface with olive oil before placing the sandwich on.

Panini/grill press users: place the sandwich on and “press” for about 4 minutes. Check every minute or so to avoid burning. You want the cheese to melt and the sandwich to warm but not burn. And the little grill lines are cool, too.

Grill pan or skillet users: place the sandwich in the pan, then place another pan on top to press the sandwich. Or press the sandwich with a spatula. Cook on one side for about 2 minutes, then flip and cook on other side for about 2 more minutes. Again, you’ll want the cheese to melt and sandwich to warm but be careful to watch for burning.

Using your oven on broil? Lightly brush the outside of the sandwich with olive oil. Place sandwich on a baking sheet or directly on the oven baking rack in a heated oven. Be very careful to watch for burning. After about 2 minutes, carefully (carefully!) flip sandwich and continue heating for another minute or two. Cook time will depend on your oven and your bread choice. Don’t walk away—keep an eye on it.

Enjoy!

Banana Bread (Low Fat and Delicious)

I was shocked when I tasted this banana bread because it's supposed to be so healthy-tasting and I couldn't stop eating it! I didn't even feel guilty, because there's no butter, oil, or crisco. It was moist and delicious.

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt
3/4 cup sugar

2 slightly beaten egg whites
1 cup mashed banana (about 2-3 extra ripe)
1/4 cup applesauce (or cooking oil)
Non-stick spray coating

DIRECTIONS

(Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees)
1. In medium bowl, stir together dry ingredients
2. In larger bowl, mix egg whites, banana, sugar, and applesauce
3. Stir flour mixture into banana mixture until moistened
4. Spray an 8x4x2 loaf pan with nonstick spray and spread batter into pan.
5. Bake in 350 degree oven for 45-50 minutes

*Note: Makes one loaf. Double or triple recipe if desired.

"cran-tastic" baked pear slices

Ok my pictures don't really do this justice. I don't know if any of you have heard of this website/cookbook, but its my new absolute favorite! It is www.hungry-girl.com. The cookbook I have is 200 recipes all 200 calories or less. I've tried a few recipes now and LOVED all of them- this is just the only one that I have stopped to take a picture of :) So here is the incredibly east recipe straight from the book!

Ingredients:
-4 med. pears, sliced
-1 1/2 cups Diet Ocean Spray Cranberry Spray
-Dash Cinnamon

Directions:
-Preheat oven to 375 degrees
-Spray a large baking dish lightly with nonstick spray. Lay pear slices flat in teh dish. Sprinkle with cinnamon and pour cranberry drink on top.
-Bake 45 minutes, or until pear slices are soft.
Remove from teh oven and let pears sit in the "juice" for at least 30 minutes.
-Drain any excess liquid from pears. Enjoy hot, cold, or anywhere in between!

A serving is one whole pear. Per serving: 98 calories, 0g fat, 20 mg sodium, 26g carbs, 5g fiber, 17g sugars, 0.5g protein.

Strawberry Fruit Leather

I have always loved fruit leather. I never knew how to make it though. Homemade is So Yummy So easy and so Cheap (assuming the fruit is in season and cheap. Buy from the Farmer's Market if you can) 

You'll need:

2 cups strawberries (or fruit of your choice)

2 Tbsp honey

1 Tbsp Lemon Juice

Cut out the leafy part and cut up the strawberries. Blend them smooth in the blender. Add the honey and lemon juice and blend it some more. Then spread it out on plastic and dry. When they're done, roll them up and store. 

Sun Dry: Spread the mixture out on plastic wrap and place outside in the sun with a screen over it so the sun and air can get in, but the bugs can't. This takes about 24 hours (Longer for Strawberries)

Oven Dry: Place plastic wrap on cookie sheets. Spread the fruit mix on it and put it in the oven on the lowest temp. Place a hot pad or wadded up towel in the door so it satays open and the moisture can escape. This should take about 4-8 hours. Rotate the pans every hour.

{ I did it in the oven, but I wanted to make smaller rolls so I did 6 smaller sheets of plastic instead of 2 big ones. My oven's lowest temp was 170 instead of 140 so that and the fact that I spread them a little thin, made it so they only took 2 hours to dry. }

Are they Done? 

They are done when you touch them and they are still a little sticky, but you can peel the sides off easily. Don't be afraid to make the layer a little thick cause if it's too thin, it'll get crispy fast. 

Storage:

Room Temp = up to 30 weeks

Fridge = Months

Freezer = Years

Although really it won't last that long, it's too yummy.

I can't wait to try more fruit!