Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Low Carb Sandwiches

Healthy Sandwiches

Healthy Sandwiches

 

Low Carb Sandwiches

Sandwiches are a favorite amongst young and old, but recently they’ve received a bad reputation due to being unhealthy. With growing recognition of the counter-productive dieting properties of carbohydrates, sandwiches and other foods which contain bread are becoming less and less popular.

 

 

Despite popular misconceptions, sandwiches and bread can be enjoyed as part of a balanced and healthy diet. Carbohydrates do have their place in the modern diet; especially for when energy is needed towards the beginning of the day.

 

 

Use the tips below to create healthy and delicious sandwiches that can be consumed without guilt.

 

 

Bread

Most people know the benefits of brown bread over white bread; it is one of the easiest changes you can make to increase the nutritional benefits of your sandwiches. Brown bread uses less processed flour than white bread; this means it takes long to digest, keeping you fuller for longer. It is a complex carbohydrate, meaning it keeps your blood sugar levels steady, as opposed to white bread which can cause a large insulin spike, which is counterproductive for weight loss.

 

 

Light cheese:

Cheese is a great addition to sandwiches, but it is high in saturated fats, making it bad for a healthy diet. Although fine in moderation, using light spreadable cheeses instead of harder cheeses can make a massive difference to the overall fat content of your sandwiches. Use a thin layer of spreadable light cheese applied directly to the bread to add creaminess and depth of flavour to your sandwiches, without comprising the nutritional value.

 

 

Meat:

Cold cuts of meat are one of the most popular fillings, but some are much healthier than others. Avoid cured sausages and meats like salami. Anything that contains visible white flecks will usually be high in saturated fats. Choose meats that are low in fat such as chicken and turkey. Even ham and beef can be low in fat if you choose the right cuts. Trim any excess fat from the meat before you put it in your sandwich.

 

Spreads:

Avoid high sugar spreads such as chocolate, jam and preserves. Opt for organic peanut butter; it is high in health fats, low in unhealthy fats, and high in protein. Unlike some of the more processed peanut butters, organic peanut butter only contains peanuts and a small amount of palm oil. Peanut butter is an excellent energy source, and is even popular amongst body builders for its positive health properties.

 

 

Use the tips above to create healthy sandwiches than you can include in your daily, balanced diet. If you are concerned with carbohydrate intake, eat your sandwich in the first half of the day. This allows your body to use the carbs as energy, instead of storing them as fat!

 

 

Taylors of Oxford Sandwiches are known for their fresh ingredients, delicious flavors, and gourmet presentation. For more information, please visit their website: Taylors of Oxford.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Shooter’s Sandwich

Shooter's Sandwich

Shooter's Sandwich for a Picnic

We all love a sandwich right? So quick and easy and flexible. The history of the Sandwich is shrouded in mystery.  Did the Earl of Sandwich add something between two slices of bread because he was in a hurry? Maybe… It’s a rumor that has been around for many years and has yet to be officially proven.

 

Famous sandwiches, to the extent a sandwich can be famous do exist.  From the Philly cheese steak of the US, through the BLT to the humble UK “Breakfast in a Bap”, sandwiches and their origins have their stories to tell.

 

Non more so than the “Shooter’s Sandwich”. Invented so ‘Cook’ could prepare it the night before a hunt, the Shooter’s Sandwich was the staple diet of many a hunter in Edwardian England.

 

Described as a “Portable Beef Wellington”, this sandwich works well for picnics today…

 

Serves: 2
Prep-time: 15 Minutes
Cook-time: 5-10 Minutes

Equipment

Medium Saucepan
Frying Pan
Garlic Press
Sharp Knife
Tin Foil

 

 

Ingredients

Crusty Loaf
2 Steaks
500g of mushrooms
200g of Shallots
Butter
Salt and Black Pepper
Finely Grated Garlic
Dijon Mustard
Worcestershire Sauce

 

 

Cooking Instructions

The Shooter’s Sandwich can be adapted to suit your own taste.  Try adding your own herbs or your favourite cheese.

 

Cut off the top quarter of the loaf, hollow out the loaf and save the breadcrumbs

 

Finely dice the mushrooms and shallots

 

Put about 75g of butter into the pan and cook mushrooms and shallots until softened and reduced in size.

 

When done, season to your taste with salt and black pepper, finely grated garlic and Worcestershire sauce.

 

Season your steaks and in a red hot dry pan cook them till the pink side of medium

 

Without waiting or allowing to cool tuck the first one, dripping and hot, into the bottom of the hollow loaf

 

Add your hot mushroom mixture on top of the steak in the loaf

Now add your second steak on top of the mushrooms and smear Dijon mustard on the top steak and on the inside of the loaf lid

Now put the lid back on to the loaf

 

Wrap in tin foil and squash it all flat under a heavy cutting board and as many weights as you can find

 

Leave under the weight in a cool place but don’t refrigerate, for at least six hours or if possible overnight.

 

 

Remove the foil and enjoy!

I’m Heather, I hoped you enjoyed this recipe for a Shooter’s Sandwich. If you would like to make this yourself, you can
buy steaks online   from Westin Gourmet.

 

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Reuben Sandwich

Reuben Sandwich

Reuben Sandwich

Makes 4 sandwiches

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons butter

8 slices rye bread

16 slices deli corned beef

8 slices deli Swiss cheese

1 cup sauerkraut, drained and warmed through

½ cup Thousand Island dressing (good quality)

• Pre-heat griddle or large skillet on medium heat.

• Butter bread slices, one side only

• Spread Thousand Island dressing on the sides of the bread that are not buttered.

• Lay four slices of the bread into the pre-heated skillet, butter side down.

• Layer one slice of cheese, 4 slices of corned beef, ¼ cup sauerkraut, and another slice of Swiss cheese (in this order). Top each sandwich with a slice of the prepared bread, butter side up.

• When the bottom piece of bread is browned, flip the sandwiches over and brown on the other side. Watch them closely so they don’t burn.

• Serve hot.