Soup, Salad, and Sandwich

     A classic lunch or week night light dinner combo in my house is the soup, salad, and sandwich.  Yes, it's all three....not just "you pick two!"  The most common soup on my menu is my Tomato Soup.  It's quick, simple, and oh-so-delicious!
     The sandwich can be either lunch meat or my yummy Chicken Salad.   For today's post, I decided to share my twist on a grilled cheese.  This sandwich is not JUST cheese!  It has pesto, tomato, and shredded mozzarella between two slices of buttered bread.  Then, of course it's cooked in the skillet until each side is golden brown and the cheese is completely melted.  Let it sit for a minute before you cut it in half.  This will help it stay together as you dunk into your soup!

     As for the salad part, you can make a Greek salad with black olives, feta, silvered almonds, and balsamic vinaigrette.  Or a simple house chopped salad with all of your favorite veggies and dressing.  Today I'm sharing my "specialty" salad with bacon vinaigrette.  It's special because I don't make it often.  It's like a salad indulgence!  All you do is top some butter lettuce with sliced hard boiled eggs, sauteed onions, crispy bacon pieces and homemade bacon dressing.  The dressing is easy!  Just whisk 3 tablespoons of bacon fat, 3 tablespoons of red wine vinegar, 2 teaspoons of sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon of Dijon mustard into a saucepan over medium low heat until bubbly.   

  

Peach and Cream Cups

     There is nothing better on a hot summer day than a chilled, creamy dessert.  Of course, ice cream is the common choice (and my favorite!).  Here's a very easy peach mousse-like dessert...originally from Sandra Lee on the Food Network... that can cool down and sweeten up a hot summer night.  Enjoy!


Peach and Cream Cups
Ingredients:
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon of sugar
8 oz. softened cream cheese
1 cup peach preserves
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 fresh peach, for garnish

Directions:
In a large bowl, whip heavy cream and sugar with a hand mixer until the mixture forms peaks.  Cover with plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator.

In another large bowl, mix cream cheese, vanilla, and peach perverse. Whip until ingredients are completely combined and fluffy.  Fold the peach mixture into the whipped cream.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.

To serve, divide among glasses (should make about 4 servings).  Top with slices of fresh peach.

TV Commercial Workout

     Another common excuse for not exercising is the TV.  It sounds silly but I have often found myself sunken  down into the couch in front of the TV not willing to move.  Here's a NO EXCUSES workout that is done during commercials.  That way, you can still watch your favorite show and still get in a little exercise.  My husband and I have actually done this several times and it was really fun!  It's a great way to add some fun to a lazy TV night.
    When we first started this, we followed the "plan" that we found.  Eventually, we changed it a little to fit more of what we wanted from a workout.  Click this link to see the original TV workout.  Below, is what we changed and of course, make the workout about YOU!  Start small and as the exercises get easier, bump it up!

TV Commercial Workout

Match the commercial type to the exercise.  Try to do the exercise for the entire commercial.  Take a water break at any time!

Car = Jog in place

Fashion/Shopping = Jumping jacks

Beauty = Lunges

Food/Restaurant = Crunches

Jewelry = Squats

Travel = Hip raises

TV show = High knees

Movie trailer = Russian twists

Fitness/Gym = Plank