Seasonal Sundays: Summer Sandwiches (Week 34)

Grab some mustard and mayo, all, because this week's "Seasonal Seven" recipe collection is all about the sandwich goodies we tuck into buns, tortillas, English muffins, wraps and more for fast, family-favorite meals. Summer's on the wane (sniff) so here's to lots of sandwich inspiration and a new "keeper" or two in your own recipe repertoire. Is a sandwich a day as memorable as an apple a day?!

~ Skip Straight to the Good Stuff ~

~ PIN This ~

Welcome to Seasonal Sundays ...

As always, I thank you for inviting me into your InBox. I do so hope to kickstart your food imagination for the coming week ...

Big News! I have a job!

LOL, well, it's a job if you have to get up Dark Early, right? and be dressed and coffeed before 6:30? and people are counting on you to show up? and you have get to learn new skills?

Well, if that's a job description, I have a new job, for sure. And so far, a week in, it's fun!

For the next few weeks, my job title is "wake up & breakfast & daycare delivery manager" for our great-great nephew, age 22 months. He's an adorable towhead who gets all the kudos that this week went well because he's 100% patient with his Auntie Al who's a good 30 years out of practice with diaper changes and who has a tear-filled history with car seats.

Wish me luck!

ISO Advice ...

Any tricks of the trade for a sleepy toddler? In my new "job", I'm doing breakfast with a 22-month old. He's used to (and loves) a sweet yogurt and applesauce plus bananas and strawberries but I'd like to work in some extra protein.

Would love your ideas! I've got full access to his parents' fridge and kitchen and can also bring things from home since we live so close.

In Praise Of ...

• ... this modeling clay in 24 really pretty colors (affiliate link) that was a real hit with a great-niece who just turned seven and loves arts and crafts, her party ended around noon and a couple of hours later, her mom sent pictures of E and her sisters working with the clay, there were lots of presents that day, I was happy this one got a thumbs up! PS I ordered a set for here too for "Auntie Al's Fun Box" with drawing and craft supplies for rainy days with Littles, I kinda can't wait to get my hands into it myself!


• ... nixing "pink" for the garden (except for spring- and early-summer blooms) because by August, ugh, pink seems so out of place and all our gold / yellow / orange / purple flowers look so good ... does this idea come from my mom who insisted on a couple of "August" dresses for my first corporate job out of school, summer fabrics in darker colors (and yes, I didn't have a dress from a store until I was probably 20 or so, she sewed them all, or I did!)

Democracy Matters

The country needs calm, thoughtful and assertive voices amid the chaos inflicted by a minority hellbent on taking/retaining generational power by strangling democratic principles and equal rights. None of us have to personally change the world. We just have to do our part. Pick one thing for the top of your To Do List this week.

Check Your Voter Registration Check your other family members too! Red States, especially, are purging their voter rolls and too often, getting it w-r-o-n-g, purging long-time eligible voters who haven't changed their names, addresses, etc. (More info here: Voting Rights Lab)

A good place to start is here, Vote.gov, which is an official U.S. website run by the General Services Administration.

Small world! GSA's head is Robin Carnahan, whose father was governor of Missouri. He and his son were killed in a plane accident while he was running for the Senate and his widow, Jean Carnahan served as a Missouri Senator for about two years. Afterward, she became a food blogger! My husband is a long-time supporter of the Carnahan family and I run into Robin every so often at the grocery store and social events, just out there being a regular citizen.

Made Me Think ...

• This is a 2019 report from the World Wildlife Fund for Nature, a Swiss-based NGO and the world's largest conservation organization, that I bookmarked a year back but it's 100% worth a look, even if you only read the opening paragraphs.
• READ 50 Foods for healthier people and a healthier planet
• TAKEAWAY "Most of us might believe it’s our energy or transport choices that cause the most serious environmental damage. In fact, it’s our food system that creates the biggest impact."
• WHO'S READY FOR algae/seaweed? cactus? fonio? moringa?
• REMEMBER it's not been so long since "quinoa" was a strange food! And me, I remember trying fresh mushrooms for the first time when I was probably 20 years old! Until then? Canned which I deeeee-spised.

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THE SEASONAL SEVEN: Summer Sandwiches

For this week's recipes, I aimed for recipes leaning on flavors and combinations ...

• ... that cross the day from breakfast through lunch and supper
• ... with a mix of proteins, both plant-based and meat
• ... hit the table toot-sweet (haha) as summer winds down and school starts back up
• ... that just might tempt you to move past tomato sandwiches and BLTs, I know, I know, that's a high bar

• THE RECIPE Homemade Egg McMuffin A family favorite! (PIN This)
• ANOTHER TAKE Fried Bread (Skillet Toast) Slices of hearty bread, toasted in a pan until crisp and golden. (PIN This)

• THE RECIPE BATTLE Sandwiches BLTs on steroids.
• ANOTHER TAKE Veggie-Lentil Burritos with Cilantro Sauce Heaven on a plate, truly.

• THE RECIPE Kalamata Tuna Salad Bok Choy Wraps Homemade tuna salad made with kalamata olives wrapped in pepper leaves of bok choy.
• ANOTHER TAKE Chicken Salad for Sandwiches Makes up in minutes with pantry ingredients. (PIN This)

• THE RECIPE Chicken Burgers with Fresh Spinach, Feta and Garden Tzatziki Sauce Summery Greek-style chicken sandwich with chunky Greek tzatziki. (PIN This)
• ANOTHER TAKE Greek Chicken Dagwood Sandwiches A towering sandwich, summer style. (PIN This)

• THE RECIPE Green Chili Burgers Just good meat with a good green salsa.
• ANOTHER TAKE Spinach Burgers A meaty burger laced with fresh or frozen spinach, moist & juicy.

• THE RECIPE Slow Cooker Vegetarian Lentil Sloppy Joes A little bit spicy, many rave reviews.
• ANOTHER TAKE Minnesota Sloppy Joes Sloppy joes made from scratch in the crockpot.

• THE RECIPE Oil Tanker Burgers Stacked so high, you might call 'em Super Tankers.
• ANOTHER TAKE Skillet Burgers with Tomato Gravy Burgers cooked right in the skillet with my "homemade marinara". (PIN This)

• THE COLLECTION Sandwich Recipes for quick lunches, suppers, even snacks.
• AND ANOTHER Burger Recipes for everybody's favorite sandwich, meaty and plant-based both.

What's Brand-Spankin' New?!

Wondering about a recipe from the last while? Check Recent Recipes from Kitchen Parade and Recent Vegetable Recipes from A Veggie Venture.

• THE RECIPE Jerusalem Turkey Burgers with Zucchini Moist, flavorful burgers specked with grated zucchini and fresh herbs. (PIN This)
• ANOTHER TAKE Chicken Burgers with Fresh Spinach, Feta and Garden Tzatziki Sauce Summery Greek-style chicken sandwich with chunky Greek tzatziki. (PIN This)

• THE RECIPE Easy Blueberry Vinaigrette A summer salad dressing, such lovely color. (PIN This)
• ANOTHER TAKE Strawberry Vinaigrette with Chipotle Bright with berry color and flavor, spiked with a touch of heat. (PIN This)

• THE RECIPE Easy Sautéed Red & Yellow Peppers A simple, colorful side dish. (PIN This)
• ANOTHER TAKE Peperonata with Potatoes The classic Italian side dish, rustic and colorful.

• THE RECIPE My Spice Rub Our house seasoning, an all-purpose blend and a "chef's kiss" for meats, vegetables and more. (PIN This)
• ANOTHER TAKE DIY Herb Blend for Homemade Herb Bread The twelve herbs I use for herb bread.

August : Reader Favorites

• THE RECIPE Naked Peach Cobbler Peaches so good, who needs a topping? (PIN This)
• ANOTHER TAKE Peach-Pie Pudding It's peach pie without the crust!

August: Lost Recipes

• THE RECIPE Summer Three-Berry Pie An all-berry pie (or fruit crisp), glistening with raspberries, blueberries, blackberries and strawberries. (PIN This)
• ANOTHER TAKE Peach, Cherry & Blueberry Fruit Sauce or Fruit Soup A special three-fruit combo, especially good on chocolate ice cream. (PIN This)

Looking Back ...

THIS WEEK, YEARS PAST

• 2022 Seven Days of Tomato Inspiration (Week 34)
• What am I, European, taking August off these last years?

RECENT WEEKS
• Summer's Best Tomatoes (Week 33) (PIN This)
• Dog Days of August (Week 32) (PIN This)
• Cool as Cucumbers (Week 31) (PIN This)
• Summer Sweet Corn (Week 29) (PIN This)
• Peach Season! (Week 28) (PIN This)
• Red, White (& Blue) (Week 27) (PIN This)
• Let's Beat This Heat (Week 26) (PIN This)
• No-Ordinary Green Beans for Summer (Week 24) (PIN This)
• Summer Easy (Week 22) (PIN This)
• Summery Spreads & Dips (Week 21) (PIN This)

Soups & Salads Especially for August

• AUGUST's HUGE COLLECTION Seasonal Soup & Salad Recipes for August Take advantage of all that summer produce!

BUT REALLY, DON'T MISS
• Fresh Three-Bean Salad
• Julia Child's Cucumber Salad
• Raw Corn Chowder

Good to Know!

• THE RECIPE Soft Rolls for Sandwiches (NOLA-Style French Rolls) Especially for extra-good sandwiches, crispy crusts, soft interiors. (PIN This)
• ANOTHER TAKE Light & Fluffy Homemade Whole-Grain Bread & Buns The light and fluffy texture that so many people prefer. (PIN This)

Silly (But Fun?!) Food Holidays

• August 19th — Potato Day (potato recipes)
• August 20th — National Bacon Lover's Day (BLT Pasta Salad?!)
• August 22nd — Eat a Peach Day (peaches & nectarines)
• August 23rd — Buttered Corn Day (corn recipes)
• August 24th — National Peach Pie Day (Fresh Peach Pie)

Sam's Club Test Kitchen

I've been loving this jar of basil pesto, very easy to use. Eggs. Fish. Pasta salad. Mac 'n' cheese.

I do love-love-love my own recipe Homemade Fresh Basil Pesto Without Cheese but at the moment, the cheesiness is appreciated ...

A Quick Peek Into a Real-Life Kitchen

Just so you know, everything's not all pretty pictures around here, in the background is a pile of dirty dishes. And just like many (all?) of us, come five o'clock, I too draw a blank about what to make for supper, despite so many recipes I so dearly love. Here's a quick peek from this week.

• THIS WEEK Salad for breakfast, it just feels right, especially after a bit-too-much back-to-school ice cream. And with summer tomatoes? So good!
• THE RECIPE Everything Bagel Breakfast Salad Just minutes to throw together yet filling and satiating.

• THIS WEEK The grocery store had these beautiful beets, 3 XL beets with totally fresh greens and for $3! So I bought two bundles, watch for lots more beety stuff soon. That very night, I roasted three in the oven. So good!
• THE RECIPE My Favorite Way to Roast Beets The traditional method for roasting beets.

• THIS WEEK As per usual, this is what happens just as soon as those beets are done roasting. Swoooooooon. So good!
• THE RECIPE King Hill Farms Simple & Sublime Warm Beets with Butter Just warm beets, butter and a little salt.

• THIS WEEK This quick vegetable skillet makes such a satisfying base for protein, this week it was a little roasted fish. I added some okra and some store-bought pesto. So good!
• THE RECIPE Quick Summer Squash & Tomato Sauté Barely cooked with a pile of garlic and a little tomato.

• THIS WEEK This month's fish subscription (from Sitka Seafood Market, much recommended) included some extra-sweet shrimp. Paired with summer tomatoes. WOW. We had no spinach, I missed that touch of green. So good!
• THE RECIPE Shrimp with Tomatoes, Spinach & Feta Shrimp cooked in a nest of tomatoes, spinach and feta cheese. (PIN This)

Just Updated!

• THE RECIPE Fast Roast Chicken with Hasselback Potatoes My signature recipe, just three ingredients and an hour. (PIN This)
• ANOTHER TAKE Baked Chicken with Herb-Roasted Potatoes A simple, satisfying supper.

• THE RECIPE Kung Pao Chicken A Quick Supper, meaty moist chicken in a hot mahogany sauce. (PIN This)
• ANOTHER TAKE Steak & Tomatoes A Quick Supper, pan-seared ribeyes atop a delicious bed of tomatoes, onions and late-summer vegetables.

• THE RECIPE Five-Minute Fruit Salad It's all in the presentation! (PIN This)
• ANOTHER TAKE Grape Salad with Almonds & Cilantro An unusual fruit salad, savory and sweet at the same time. (PIN This)

• THE RECIPE Brown Sugar Lemon Curd My Canadian family's signature recipe. (PIN This)
• ANOTHER TAKE Lemon Pudding Cake with Raspberries Tart lemon + juicy berries.

Don't Be a Stranger ...

I'd love to hear from you. Comment, send me a quick e-mail (my current address is in the FAQs), dot-dash in Morse code, build a fire for smoke signals, launch a message in a bottle, send a Christmas letter, get the dog to yip, toss me a note wrapped in a rubberband, write a message in the sky, scratch a note in the sand, listen to a seashell, tuck a question into a plastic Easter egg, whatever.

• Any advice for Seasonal Sundays?
• Just one thing that would make it more useful for you?
• Anything else? Chime in, chat away.

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Kitchen Parade is written by second-generation food columnist Alanna Kellogg and features fresh, seasonal dishes for every-day healthful eating and occasional indulgences. Quick Suppers are Kitchen Parade favorites and feature recipes easy on the budget, the clock, the waistline and the dishwasher. Do you have a favorite recipe that other Kitchen Parade readers might like? Just send me a quick e-mail, you'll find my current address in the FAQs. How to print a Kitchen Parade recipe. Never miss a recipe! If you like this recipe, sign up for a free e-mail subscription. If you like Kitchen Parade, you're sure to like my food blog about vegetable recipes, too, A Veggie Venture. When you make my recipes, I'd love to know your results! Just leave a comment below or better still, on the specific recipe's page.

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