Elementary Chef

There’s nothing like a grilled cheese sandwich. It is one of the easiest and crowd pleasing lunches around. Substitutions can be made to this yummy sandwich to make it even more delectable.

For the basic grilled cheese sandwich, you’ll need:

Slices of American Cheese
White bread
Butter
Skillet

First take your bread and cheese to make your sandwich. Over a medium heat, melt some butter. Smear it on the bottom of the pan. Place the sandwich on the skillet. Then after one minute or so, turn it over with a spatula. Cook for another 1-2 minutes until brown.

Now to make it even more delicious, try adding different types of cheeses. Or add ham to make it a ham and cheese grilled sandwich. That’s always a treat at our house. There’s just something about the sandwich being grilled that makes it restaurant quality.

The grilled cheese sandwich is fast to make and filling. So, for those of us who want to spend as little time as possible in the kitchen, this is one dish that should be on the menu.

School is back in session for us. That means that are days when cooking dinner just sounds like oh-so-much to do. Enter the brilliance of sandwich wraps! These new recipes from Santa Barbara Bay are sure to please even your pickiest eaters! And don’t forget the lunch sack… These wraps will beat PB&J any day!

And don’t forget these fabulously zesty and kid-pleasing Clementine recipes! (Yes, you can substitute oranges!)

New clothes … new teachers … new friends … Yes, going back to school brings many new and exciting changes; however, year after year the brown bag special seems to include the same
boring basics. Case in point, the average American child consumes a whopping 1,500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches by the time high school graduation rolls around. While everyone loves a classic PB&J every now and then, the culinary experts at Santa Barbara Bay Foods agree it’s time to
add some punch to the student lunch!

The good news is that sandwich solutions are easily within reach. For example, simply swapping out your run-of-the-mill mayonnaise for your favorite dill or onion dip can add an interesting depth of flavor to a sandwich or wrap. This school year, why not try the following easy, delicious sandwich recipes featuring best-selling dips and spreads from Santa Barbara Bay:

Southwestern Deli Wrap
Ingredients:
— 1 large tortilla (your choice of whole wheat, flour or sun-dried tomato varieties)
— 1/4 lb deli-sliced turkey or ham
— 1 tbsp Santa Barbara Bay Caramelized Onion and Roasted Garlic Dip
— 2 tbsp shredded cheddar or Jack cheese
— 1/2 medium ripe avocado, diced
— Chopped sun-dried tomatoes
— Shredded carrots
Directions: Lay tortilla flat and cover completely with onion and garlic dip. Distribute deli meat evenly across the tortilla and sprinkle with cheese, avocado, sun-dried tomato and carrots. Roll all ingredients up in the tortilla and cut in half to serve.

Dill-iscious Salmon Sandwich
Ingredients:
— 1 sandwich-size bakery roll
— 1 filet grilled salmon
— 1 tbsp Santa Barbara Bay Garden Dill Dip
— 1 tsp capers
— Sliced tomato
— Sliced red onion
— Romaine or baby lettuce
Directions: Open bakery roll and spread dill dip on each side. Arrange lettuce, onion and tomato on the bottom half of the roll as desired. Top with grilled salmon, capers and roll top, and enjoy.

Armed with these unique recipes, it’s easy to boost your back-to-school sandwich arsenal from ho-hum to yum-yum.

In addition to the product varieties used in these sandwiches, Santa Barbara Bay carries a traditional line of premium refrigerated dips, spreads and salads, with popular flavors including Spinach, Artichoke,
Chili Con Queso, Raspberry Chipotle, Roasted Garlic Ranch and Cajun Krab Dips. Full product descriptions, featured recipes and distribution information are available online at ttp://www.santabarbarabay.com.

Here’s good information (and a terrific recipe!) from the cranberry industry!

Do you know anyone who’s a Type-A personality? A multi-tasking, go-getter? Well, if fruit could take personality tests, the cranberry would turn out to be Type-A. There’s a lot of good stuff in these little red gems. But the antioxidants deserve some special attention.

Cranberries have a wide array of antioxidants, but one kind that is unique to cranberries is proanthocyanidins. This type of flavonoid antioxidant keeps certain bacteria from adhering to the walls of your bladder, helping you maintain a healthy urinary tract. In fact, research suggests daily consumption of cranberry juice cocktail can help maintain urinary tract health.

Fruits and vegetables, which supply fiber and essential vitamins and minerals, are important for good health and in reducing the risk to certain chronic diseases, including heart disease. So, when trying to meet the daily recommendations for fruit intake, don’t forget about the cranberry. The cranberry’s one-two punch of anti-adhesion and antioxidants means that doing good things for your health can be easy and delicious.

You can include cranberries throughout the day whether you enjoy fresh cranberries, dried cranberries, cranberry juice, or cranberry sauce. Try these simple tips:

– Start your day with a cup of 100 percent cranberry juice blend. According the latest Agricultural Research Service Report from the USDA, one cup of 100 percent cranberry juice blend has more naturally occurring antioxidants than one cup of orange juice or apple juice.

– Toss dried cranberries on your salad, or mix them in chicken salad for a sweet twist on a lunchtime sandwich.

– Create a satisfying afternoon snack by combining dried cranberries and your favorite nuts and seeds.

– Add cranberries to whole grain rice pilaf - you get added color and flavor!

Power Lunch Pita Pockets

Trade your routine sandwich for a cranberry-studded tuna pocket that everyone in the family will enjoy. Swap canned chicken for tuna if desired.

Makes: 3 sandwiches

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

1 large (12-ounce) can tuna packed in water, drained, flaked

3 tablespoons low-fat mayonnaise

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1 cup chopped lettuce

1/2 cup grated low-fat cheddar cheese

1/2 cup grated carrot

3 whole wheat pita bread pockets

Mix tuna and mayonnaise in a medium bowl until well combined. Mix in the remaining ingredients, except the pita bread. Cut each piece of pita bread in half, carefully open the pocket and spoon the mixture in.

For more information on cranberries, visit http://www.uscranberries.com.

If you’re looking for a quick dinner idea, Jackie had a burst of feta-loaded brilliance here!