The Salad Sandwich

Can we talk about something?

Like... There was a time that I thought getting a sandwich on wheat bread was the worst part of my week. Or the time of my life where eating a salad was as difficult as tying my shoe. Unfortunately for tiny Shannon my mother made salads constantly. It was such a chore to eat. My brother opted for combining his lettuce with whatever we were eating for dinner (the lettuce pizza--I'm sure you've heard of it?) but even pepperoni couldn't soften the blow of that cursed side dish.

Now days? I gladly make salad for dinner. Just salad. Like a giant plate of salad.

Isn't growing up crazy?

However, man cannot live on leaves alone. So over at the Wood house we regularly switch up our salad routine. 

This one though... Friends. Strangers. Listen. This salad sandwich. It has changed our world. To the point that if someone offered me a choice between this salad sandwich or a burger, I would have a difficult time choosing. If you don't know, I have a thing for hamburgers. And this isn't just puffed up food blogger talk, this is real. 

I don't know how you could not like vegetable sandwiches after eating this. This is really more method then recipe, but the key is the bread and the sauce. To be sure my favorite part of a salad with all the dressings is the dressings--so this recipe celebrates just that. If you are a leaves only type, I encourage you to step out of that cabbage patch and come join my veggie-explosion over here. Add whatever veg is in season or your favorite produce. Things like onions, radishes, olives and tomatoes are sure to debut in the coming months. 

Also, the bread is a monster crouton. I like to make a few croutons with our salad meals whenever we have stale bread on hand. I just chop up the bread and throw it in a frying pan with some oil and spices. Tastier and fresher then the box. This is the same method, but with a whole slice. Crispy and flavorful, not dry. Do not skimp on the crouton bread.

And before I go further, since it is a Salad Sandwich you could eat it with your hands. But since it is a Salad Sandwich, you should eat it with a fork and knife.

Are you convinced yet? I feel like you are not convinced yet. But I'll stop before you tire of my exuberance. It is just good! I mean, look at all the pictures I took of it! Mr. Wood was so sad when he came home and I told him what I had just eaten. But a girls got to do what a girls got to do before the light is gone.

Enough. Recipe :

Salad Sandwich

Dressing:
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tbsp juice from pepperoncini jar
1 pepperoncini chopped
1 dash garlic powder
1 dash hot sauce
1 tbsp parmesean
salt and pepper to taste

Sandwich:
1/4 head Lettuce
1 Cucumber
1 Carrot
1 Avocado
1/4 Green Pepper
Slices of your favorite cheese
8 thin slices of bread
softened butter
1 tbsp oil
Garlic Powder
Salt and Pepper

1. Prepare veggies by washing and slicing each. Thin slices are best.
2. Prepare dressing by mixing all ingredients together, keep in fridge until ready to use.
3. Heat a large skillet on medium heat. Drizzle a little oil in the pan. Spread each side of bread with a little butter (less than you would if you were making grilled cheese). When the pan is hot place your bread slices in and cook until golden crisp. Sprinkle one side with garlic powder and then flip and cook that side until golden crisp.
4. Assemble sandwiches by generously layering veggies, cheese and dressing. Lightly Salt and pepper the avocados and cucumbers. Enjoy!

notes

You can thin the dressing out by adding more pepperoncini juice. Thicken it by adding more mayonnaise.

Add any veggies you like to the sandwich!