Being budget-conscious doesn’t mean depriving yourself. Upscale brown-bag lunches with economic gourmet sandwich options. Keep it healthier and when possible, buy organic. Seasonal local produce assures freshness and supports your farming community, too. Choose no-nitrite, low sodium deli meats or grill hormone-, antibiotic-free chicken cutlets at home for salads and wraps. Select all-natural cheeses instead of highly processed brands. These ideas will no doubt inspire other creative combinations.
This roast beef, jarlsberg & arugula sandwich is big on flavor and won’t break the budget.
Roast Beef, Jarlsberg & Arugula on Sourdough
Serves 4
3 tablespoons Boursin Garlic & Fine Herbs cheese or Light version
1 tablespoon milk
8 slices sourdough or sourdough rye bread
8 thin slices roast beef
8 deli thin slices Jarlsberg or Jarlsberg Lite cheese
Arugula, watercress or other favorite green leaf lettuce
Cream Boursin with a touch of milk. Spread one tablespoon Boursin on 4 bread slices. Divide roast beef, cheese and arugula between other 4 bread slices. Top with bread spread with Boursin (spread on the inside).
Smoky Portuguese Pork & Cheese Rolls
Serves 4
3 Tablespoons of a favorite BBQ sauce
1 ½ tablespoons mayonnaise (regular or non-fat)
1 – 3 teaspoons minced, canned chipotle chiles in adobo (this can get very HOT, so taste along the way, for preference), optional
½ cup washed, dried, finely chopped cilantro leaves
4 fresh Portuguese or Kaiser rolls, halved
8 thin slices roasted pork or lean ham
8 thin slices Manchego (Gran Maestre variety, if available)
Green leaf or Iceberg lettuce
Mix together first 4 ingredients to make sauce; spread on each roll half. Divide pork or ham and cheese between each roll. Top with lettuce. Finish each sandwich topping with second half of roll (spread on the inside).
Saint-Tropez Veggie Wrap*
1 tablespoon Boursin Light
1 9- or 10-inch tortilla or vegetable wrap
1 cup finely shredded lettuce
1 small tomato, sliced
½ small ripe avocado, thinly sliced
¼ cup alfalfa sprouts
¼ cup thinly sliced cucumber
Spread Boursin Light over surface of tortilla or wrap. Top with lettuce, tomato, avocado, sprouts and cucumber. Starting from one end, tightly roll up wrap; cut in half. Makes 1 wrap.
*For extra protein, add thinly sliced grilled chicken.
