Deli Sandwiches

Does anyone else out there find that the muse often speaks most clearly to you when you are supposed to be doing other things? I have quite a list of "things to do today," yet so many things are springing up in my mind.

As I was making David's "deli" sandwich this morning, I was smiling to myself. He used to eat peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, and he used to like to buy his lunch, too. That is, until we moved to Seattle to live at Ronald McDonald House. You see, when Katie was in the hospital, I was not able to make David's school lunch for him. Fortunately, right next door to RMcDH is a wonderful store called Metropolitan Market. Though it's a little pricey, Metro Market has gorgeous, fresh food, an amazing deli & bakery, cheese selection, fresh soups, wine selection and a smoothie bar within their espresso bar. Gregg would take David over there each morning, after breakfast, and let him order a deli sandwich for his lunch, along with a smoothie to top off his breakfast (growing boy). David grew to really like those sandwiches.

At that time, my kids were at the age where they did not like to try new foods. I had pretty much given up trying gourmet recipes at that point, because after all of the effort I would put into a meal, they would be coolly polite, but not enthusiastic, and I would feel that it wasn't worth it. But Metro Market sandwiches and smoothies began to assist David's palate along into maturity. Nowadays, he doesn't want to buy a school lunch, smoothies are considered a good snack food, and deli sandwiches are what he wants for lunch.

Ingredients: A fresh baguette, sliced in half, and then into quarters (makes 4 sandwiches)
Roasted red peppers
Fresh basil pesto (I use CIBO)
Cream cheese with herbs (Rondele is good)
Meat of your choice
Optional: a slice of cheese, Black olive tapenade

I was laughing to myself this morning as I made David's lunch, remembering the true story that one of my best college-friends told me. She used to make deli-style sandwiches for her kids, until she found out that her super-enterprising second son was SELLING HIS SANDWICHES at school. What an entrepreneur!

I hope you have a delicious day.