Sandwich Inspiration from Sandwich Thins®, Pocket Thins® and Bagel Thins ® + Giveaway

The coupons for free product, information, and gift card have been provided by Sandwich Thins®, Pocket Thins® and Bagel Thins ®.  All opinions and experiences are my own.

Who doesn't love a good sandwich, right?

But bread has become a rather taboo treat lately. Whether you are counting carbs or worried about the extra calories, it is hard to create a great sandwich without a way to hold in all the yummy fixings.

So I was ready to take a new look at my favorite sandwiches. I grabbed Sandwich Thins®, Pocket Thins® and Bagel Thins ® to see if I could have my sandwich, and be able to enjoy it too.

I found all three options at my local Walmart, right in the bread section.

Now, I love bagel sandwiches, but sometimes the bagel can be too much. Too filling, too dry... just too much of a mouthful. I grabbed a bag of Thomas'® Bagel Thins® Bagels, in Everything. All Bagel Thins® are 110 calories, cholesterol-free, low in fat and contain zero grams of Trans Fat. Now, don't they look even better?

Instead of grabbing that bagel shop morning sandwich, which can really add up, I made one for myself at home. ...And I promise, I didn't miss the big, dry bagel. 

Great Morning Bagel Thins ®

You Will Need:

• 1 fried egg
• 1 slice provolone cheese
• 2 slices of bacon
• 1  Bagel Thins ® 

Mmm... this was a great way to start the day and I wasn't feeling sluggish afterwards. It was the perfect start to my good morning.

Did you know that Bagel Thins are only 3 points on Weight Watchers? You can find more delicious recipes on the Weight Watchers site. And even more fun on the Thomas' site.

For lunch I decided to have my fill with a Pocket Thins. I just adore pita pockets and flatbread because they can hold a salad in sandwich style. This time I made a filling Greek Salad to fill my whole wheat Pocket Thins.

Greek Chicken Pocket Thins® Sandwich
You Will Need:

• Plain Greek yogurt
• Greek Peppercinis, sliced thin
• Kalamata olives
• Grape Tomatoes, halved
• Grilled, sliced Chicken
• Butter lettuce, torn
• Whole Wheat Pocket Thins
• olive oil
• lemon juice

Smear the inside of a Pocket Thins with a little Greek yogurt (instead of mayo). Add your ingredients to the pocket and then drizzle with a little olive oil and lemon juice.

So easy. How would you load up yours?

But let's not forget the Sandwich Thins! For this classic sandwich twist I went with classic tuna sandwich and then stacked it high. More is alwasy better, right? Use Greek yogurt in the tuna salad to cut out some of the fat. Or check out other Weight Watchers recipe ideas.

Andrea's Stacked Tuna Sandwich Thins®
You Will Need

• 1 can of white meat tuna
• Plain Greek yogurt
• Butter lettuce, torn
• Colby Jack Cheese
• Red onion, sliced thin
• Tomato Slices
• Whole Wheat Sandwich Thins

Okay, now that you saw what I made with my Sandwich Thins®, Pocket Thins® and Bagel Thins ®, are you inspired to make something for yourself?

Giveaway Time!!!

Would you like a chance to win your own product coupons to try the Sandwich Thins®, Pocket Thins® and Bagel Thins ®? And a $25 gift card so you can stack your own sandwiches as high as you like?
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Annie's Microwavable Cups Are Busy Mom Approved!

*Disclaimer - I received a sample of Annie's White Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese from Influenster in order to facilitate my review. All opinions and experiences are my own.

I gave up on macaroni and cheese years ago.

Most boxed stuff wasn't doing it for me. It was cheesy, but didn't taste like any real cheese I knew. And don't even get me started on the ingredient list. I moved on. I grew up.

I love to make macaroni and cheese from scratch, but to really do the dish justice, it takes a lot of time and money to find the best cheeses and do it right. A flavorful beschemel paired with aged cheddar and other strong specialty cheeses does produce a nice sauce, but it can be expensive. So we save this family favorite for special occasions and birthdays.

Now, I love Annie's products because they are healthier boxed food. Nursing a new baby, I don't always even have time for that. So these Macaroni and Cheese microwavable cups are a fabulous option for this busy Mom. They prove that real cheese really does taste better!

I received a complimentary cup in my Influenster #MamaVoxBox and it was the perfect single serving mid-afternoon snack. I fixed it one-handed while holding my baby, and then enjoyed it ... just the two of us.

So if you like #RealCheese? Give these handy, portable cups a try.

Ocean Naturals - Inspiring Healthy Tuna Recipes Like This Lebanese Tuna Salad

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  I purchased Ocean Naturals at Walmart in order to create a naturally delicious healthy lunch with canned tuna. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and its client. #OceanNaturals

Lunch has become my weakest link. I am so good at getting my family up and fed in the morning, then I have made some winning dinners, but what do I make for lunch? It has to be simple, and it has to be able to sustain my husband for a long afternoon of farming.

Lately that has meant I keep the pantry stocked with tuna. I can always throw tuna into pasta, or mixed rice for a really easy and filling lunch. Of course, not all tuna is created equal. I am a rather picky tuna eater. I have never been a fan of the pouches, I prefer big flaky chunks of fish. Must be an Oregon-thing.

Seeing my pantry getting a little bare, I headed to Walmart to grab tuna as well as some household staples. This was the first time I noticed Ocean Naturals tuna in my store.

It might have been there all along, but it was lower on the shelves and wasn't a brand I knew since childhood. Once I picked it up and read the packaging, well, it sounded better than my usual brand. This brand is all about transparency and quality in good food.

There is a QR code on every package so you can track where your tuna came from. You can also visit the Ocean Naturals site and enter the code on the can for more information about your specific tuna. I love being knowledgeable about my food.

This wild premium tuna comes in big flaky pieces, just as I like. I keep hearing that tuna is good for me, and Ocean Naturals lists why right on the package. A great way to get your Omega 3 Fatty Acids as well as protein to help with long days.

The flavor is great! Being on the West Coast and having lived in Japan, I have had the luxury of having very fresh tuna. If your tuna smells too fishy, then it isn't fresh. This tuna didn't overpower my home with a fishy odor. It was just good solid tuna. It was the perfect inspiration for a fast and naturally delicious lunch.

My can of Ocean Naturals SkipJack Tuna was turned into a Lebanese Tuna Salad. I am always looking for healthy tuna recipes for my family and this one is always a hit. To make it lighter,  I served it in tomato cups. The tomatoes on our farm right now are amazingly sweet and juicy.

This isn't your Mom's tuna salad! Oh, no. You won't find any mayonnaise, pickles or bread here. Instead there is a nice flavor from tahini paste, Greek yogurt and seasoning. Have you tried tahini paste before? It is ground sesame seeds and has a full, nutty flavor.

I also added in some finely chopped red onion for punch, capers for a little salt and green peppers for crunch.

Coring a tomato created the perfect little cup for my tuna salad. My husband is very proud of the farm's tomatoes this year. They are at their peak right now.

I filled my tomato cup to the brim and served it on a nice little bed of kale. The kale isn't just a pretty garnish, it actually helps to keep the tomato from falling to one side.

Ready for this simple little recipe?

Lebanese Tuna Salad

You will need:

Tahini Sauce

• 2 Tbsp. Tahini paste
• 1 6oz plain Greek yogurt
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 2 Tbsp.dried parsley flakes
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 tsp. chili powder
• 2 tsp. cumin
• salt & pepper to taste

Tuna Salad

• 2 cans of Ocean Naturals tuna
• 1 c. red onion, diced
• 1 c. green bell pepper, diced
• 4 Tbsp. capers
• 1 recipe of Tahini sauce 

Make the Tahini sauce first. The sauce can be made ahead of time and chilled till needed. Whisk all ingredients to combine.

Drain the tuna and flake into a medium bowl. Combine the tuna salad ingredients and mix to combine. 

Serve in a tomato cup, with lettuce leaves for a lettuce wrap or on whole grain bread or crackers.

Enjoy!

Connect with Ocean Naturals on Facebook and check out the Ocean Naturals Tuna Tuesdays Facebook Giveaway for your chance to win free tuna!

Poached Eggs in Chard over Brown Rice

The name may not be elegant, but the flavors and preparation are simple with a delicious outcome. Last week we were on the road for our annual Winter vacation. This is really the only time of year my husband can get away. Luckily not may people plan there vacations for February so we are able to get some great deals and beat the crowds along our journey.

Of course, all that eating out took a toll on my body and this week I have planned some simpler fare at home. One of my go-to recipes is this poached egg and sauteed chard favorite. Yes, eggs are always on the menu since my hens are now laying at least 10 - 13 a day. This simple lunch cooks up quickly and is enough to satisfy even my husband's huge farmer appetite.

Chard is one of my favorite dark leafy greens because it will grow all Winter in my garden without any special care. It also grows back well after the leaves are harvested. Spinach doesn't do well with Winter temperatures and kale starts to get buggy this time of year, but my chard is ever faithfully growing.

I first read about chard in Barbra Kingslover's book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life. She talked about seeing the colorful stalks of rainbow chard at her local farmer's market.  Included in the book were several of her family's favorite recipes and I adapted this one from hers. I didn't grow up eating chard, but have fallen in love with it ever since.

Sadly, my chickens are also fans of the plants. This Winter I didn't have enough to get me through, but at least I know that added nutrition is making it's way into their eggs. I picked up this red Swiss Chard at our local grocery store. Not as good or colorful as my garden chard, but will do in a pinch.

This recipe uses plain ingredients, nothing fancy, but nothing artificial.

Poached Eggs in Chard

You Will Need:

• 1 Tbsp. butter, unsalted
• olive oil as needed
• 1/2 medium yellow onion, diced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 bunch of Swiss Chard (I like the color and contrast from red or rainbow varieties)
• 1/2 c. chicken stock
• 4 eggs
• salt & pepper to taste
• Parmesan cheese, freshly grated *optional
• cooked brown rice or other base to serve the chard mixture over

Assemble your ingredients and begin by sauteing your onions and garlic in butter and olive oil till soft. Rinse and chop the chard into bite-sized pieces. Why butter? Well, it will help the eggs not stick later. I try not to use non-stick pans when possible.

When the onions are done, add in the chard to start wilting. Add chicken stock and simmer for a minute or two.

Make 4 small wells in the chard mixture and fill with one egg each. I topped these with a little freshly grated Parmesan cheese, completely optional. Add a little salt and pepper then cover and let these poach to your desired firmness.

I like to serve mine over brown rice, but it is equally nice over quinoa or bulgar.

Enjoy!

Pregnancy Cravings Satisfied with Lean Cuisines Salad Additions #BYOL

What can I say?

When I was pregnant with my son, I was crazy for carbs. I think I survived on baked potatoes and pasta. Okay, it wasn't a good look for me. Sweet desires came when I was pregnant with my daughter. I had a real thing for hot fudge and brownies. Unfortunately, I still haven't lost that baby weight. This baby? Well, my desire is green, leafy and piled high in an endless number of combinations. Salad is currently king in my mind. But, who has the time to chop all those veggies?

I am not a big fan of eating out, but I do love the variety of salads I can have someone else make for me. This pregnancy I am a "mature mom" of 34 and moving a little slower. I am happy to have help where I can get it. Especially when it comes to preparing my food. So most of my salads have been from our favorite restaurants.

 If I was to create my favorite Asian Salad or Cobb Salad at home I would have to buy a large amount of ingredients and involve a lot of prep work. Most of my favorite salads at a restaurant here cost as much as my husband's entree!

When I pay that much for a meal I like to take my leftovers home to finish the following day. Have you ever taken home a salad? With all the dressing and ingredients mine usually come back out of the fridge limp and soggy. Not very appetizing, right?

Earlier this month I noticed this coupon in the January edition of All You magazine. I always find the best Walmart coupons in there! Be sure to check out the Walmart site as well for other great coupon opportunities. I hadn't heard of the Lean Cuisine Salad Additions before and saved this one for later. I was intrigued that I just needed to #BYOL, or bring your own lettuce.

I found signage all over the Walmart grocery area. There were signs in the frozen section as well as near the lettuce and bagged salad mixes. You can take a peak at what I found in my Google+ album.

When my husband went away for a Farm Bureau weekend I had to come up with some simple meals for myself and the kids. My kids have a really restrictive diet so I usually end up making their dinner and then single serving meals for myself. This was the perfect chance to try out these new Lean Cuisine products. I am never good at cooking for just one person.

The kit contained everything I needed to make a quick and delicious salad for myself. I just needed room temperature water, a microwave and my favorite lettuce mix.

The kit is frozen so I put the salad dressing in room temperature water.

Then I microwaved the steamer bag containing chicken and vegetables for 2 minutes and 30 seconds. I let it cool slightly before putting it on top of my greens. Topped with crunchy noodles and salad dressing, I was good to go in less than 4 minutes. Now, that is faster than I usually get seated at a restaurant!

So how did my Lean Cuisine Salad Additions: Asian Style Chicken stack up to my favorite restaurant salads?

Pros:

• Economical
• Faster than I am usually seated at a restaurant with my family
• Perfect portion for me (less waste and guilt!)
• Fresher than a restaurant. I control the greens used how they are washed
• I can savor my salad in my pajamas... if I want to.

Cons:

• I need a bigger freezer now!
• I have minimal prep and clean up.

Overall I was very happy with this tasty new find! This was not only delicious, but it was so colorful and visually appealing. Now I can have salads for a quick lunch or dinner when the mood strikes me. I don't have to worry about planning out a recipe, shopping for all the various ingredients or doing all the slicing and dicing in my kitchen.

This is convenience food that makes me happy.

Want to connect with Lean Cuisine on social media? Find them on Twitter and Facebook.

*Disclaimer - I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias®  and NESTLE #CBias #SocialFabric. All opinions and experiences are my own.