Perfect Tuna Melt

This sandwich is absolutely one of the best things I've ever eaten. I love Tuna in just about any way and this is a quick and easy lunch that I crave! I recently fixed it for my sister and she couldn't stop saying, "This is one of the best things I've ever put in my mouth!" It's just that good! I copied this recipe from Sarah Titus Ministries. 

The Perfect Tuna Melt
Recipe from
Sarah Titus Ministries

This Tuna Melt might be different from any other you've had but this is the only recipe I've ever tried. I notice that other recipes are different from this. It might seem odd to put garlic with tuna, but please don't leave it out because that's what makes it so good. Also other recipes call for cheddar cheese, and even though I'm sure that's good, I love love love the mozzarella cheese on this! And make sure you toast the bread the way it says to do! You won't be sorry.

https://pin.it/4mOXJr8

My Tuna Salad

 I don't have a picture to post right now but will try to remember next time I make this.

My friends and family love my Tuna Salad and I have to say, it's my favorite to as well. One reason I've been putting recipes on my crochet blog is because I won't be around forever and I want my family to have my recipes when I'm gone. This might be similar to what other people make, but he's my favorite way to make it.

Mary Jane's Tuna Salad 

     Makes 5-6 Sandwiches

1 lg can and 1 small can albacore tuna, drained. You might want to buy an extra smaller can in case you taste it and decide you want more tuna in it.

4 hard boiled eggs

¾ - 1 cup Vidalia sweet onion, chopped

¾ cup celery, chopped

¾ cup sweet pickles, chopped

¾ cup whole dill pickles, chopped 

1- 1½ cups mayonnaise (Hellmans or Duke's GF)

In a large bowl, mix all ingredients together. 

Note: I always grate the eggs with a grater because I do not like big chunks of egg white

You may want to add more pickles, onions or celery if you think it needs more. Use your judgement too on the amount of mayonnaise. Sometimes I put too much in, so be careful.

A lot of people like to toast their bread first. I use either gluten free bread or eat it with gluten free crackers. My favorite ones are the gluten free sesame crackers from Trader Joe's.

I hope you enjoy this! If you have any questions just let me know.

Avocado Chicken Salad

 

Avocado Chicken Salad
(Gluten free)

This is a chicken salad I came up with because I love avocados with anything! But also I fell in love with the stuffed avocado chicken salad I ate in Lima, Peru. I visited there 2 summers when my parents lived there years ago. The Peruvian version was absolutely delicious and I have not been able to find a good recipe for it. So I've made my own version and it's addicting!

Avocado Chicken Salad

* Cooked chicken, chopped 

* (I use rotisserie chicken to make it more convenient, plus it's delicious!)

* Avocado cut in small squares

* Celery, cut into small pieces

* Toasted slivered almonds (or pecans)

* Dried cranberries, chino them if they're too big

* Green onions, sliced

* Mayonnaise I use GF Duke's or Hellmans)

* Salt, if needed

Note: you can add any fruit like pineapple, grapes, mango or oranges. The reason I don't add fruit to this recipe (other than the cranberries) is because I have a different chicken salad I call Fruited Chicken Salad, that is also delicious but very different from this recipe. It has a secret ingredient that makes it special.

Mix everything together and serve inside a halved avocado, with crackers or on bread. I eat it with my favorite gluten free Sesame Rice Crackers (Savory Thin) from Trader Joe's.

So Delicious Avocado Chicken Salad with Dried
Cranberries, Green Onions, and Almonds

Pimento Cheese Spread for Sandwiches

Southern Pimento Cheese
For Sandwiches

This is another one of those recipes I grew up eating in the south and I absolutely love it! I have never, ever seen anyone bring Pimento Cheese Sandwiches to a gathering of any kind here in Ohio in the 40+ years I have lived here. I am the only one who has fixed it and nobody even knows what it is!

I discovered several years ago that there is a brand called Prices that my grocery store, Kroger,  sells and it's actually pretty good. I even found pimento cheese spread at Aldi recently and it was just as good as the Prices brand. But homemade is much better. I was looking for recipes on Pinterest and many of them added all kinds of spices, but I just love the simple pimento cheese spread my mama fixed. And btw, my mama never used sugar in hers, but I like it in this spread.

Can you tell I miss the south? I do fix southern food at home all the time, but sometimes I feel lonely when many people up here don't even know what grits, okra, black eyed peas, hoe cakes, red beans and rice or pimento cheese is. And of course, these are only a few of the southern foods I love.

Pimento Cheese Spread -
 great as a dip or spread
 on crackers for your
 holiday party! Delicious!

      

This recipe makes enough spread for about 12 whole sandwiches. What I'm showing above in the small container was what was left over after making 9 sandwiches. You  can also use it as a dip or spread on crackers.

INGREDIENTS - makes
9-12 sandwiches

2 cups Colby cheese, grated (it's better if you buy the chunk and grate it yourself, otherwise it will be too dry because of the flour or corn starch they coat it with)

1 cup original Velveeta cheese, grated

1 - 4 oz jar, diced pimentos, undrained (Note: this is the larger of the small glass jars you will find in the aisle with canned vegetables at Kroger. The pimentos (in the glass jar) are usually on the top shelf, near the canned mushrooms

Update: OR

You could use roasted red peppers that come in a jar. 8/12/20 - I used these roasted red peppers, (see picture below) because I didn't have the pimentos, and I couldn't tell any difference in the taste. I think I got this jar of peppers (below) at Big Lots when I was there a couple of weeks ago.

½ cup (or more) Hellman's mayonnaise or Dukes GF mayo, (more or less - sorry I didnt measure it!)

6 oz cream cheese, softened

2 - 3 teaspoons sugar or to taste

Optional: 1-2 tablespoons grated sweet Vidalia onion. I like it better without onion but sometimes it's nice for a change.

Mix all ingredients together and spread on bread for sandwiches to serve immediately, or you can put it in a container and place in the refrigerate for later.

I hope you enjoy this!

Roasted Red Peppers can be used
instead of pimentos.
 They are the same!

Italian Sausage Hero Sandwiches - Festival Style

Yum! Doesn't this look good?

Did you ever eat an Italian Sausage Sandwich with Peppers and Onions at a festival? My mouth waters just thinking about it. In fact that's one of the main things that motivates me to go to an outdoor festival! They are so good! I found a recipe in a Country Living magazine in the early 80's , but I add mushrooms to mine too. I thought I'd share this with you and I know you will thank me. See recipe below.

I like my sausage cooked well and charred!

Ingredients

2 Hot Italian Sausages and 2 Sweet Italian Sausages (I used only sweet! They aren't really sweet, but are not as spicy as the hot). You can find the Kroger brand (see picture above) in the meat section near the pork.
2 Tablespoons butter
2 large sweet peppers - 1 green and 1 red (sometimes I use all green)
1 large onion (I use sweet)
1 or 2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms (you could use canned)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon basil
1/4 teaspoon oregano
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Note: If doubling the recipe, you may not want to double the spices. I did that and thought there were too many spices.
4 Hoagie buns
Continued below

Pepper, onion and mushroom mixture

Take the casing off the sausages. You can leave them on, but I think they are better without that. They won't fall apart.
Fry the Sausages on medium high heat in the butter till brown on all 4 sides. This may take 20 or more minutes. Turn up heat if you need to, depending on how much char you want on them. Place the Sausages on a pan in a preheated oven that's been set on warm. If you think they aren't quite done put the oven on 200.

In remaining butter in the pan, saute the peppers, onions and mushrooms for just a few minutes. You do not want to get them too done. They're better when they're still a little crisp. Add the chopped garlic and spices. Stir and cook another minute or two.
Serve immediately in hoagie bun. I think they're better if the bun is warmed in the microwave for 10 seconds or even better if the buns are slightly toasted in the oven.
I hope you enjoy this!