Did you know that Americans eat approximately 300 million sandwiches each day, with nearly half of those being consumed at lunch and just a quarter at dinner?

The Grain Foods Foundation has partnered with Jamie and Bobby Deen, hosts of the Food Network’s “Road Tasted” and sons of Paula Deen, to encourage families nationwide to make one night a week Sandwich Night.

“Sandwiches have been a big part of our family’s life ever since our early success with our sandwich cart,the Bag Lady,” says Jamie Deen. “We hold a weekly Sandwich Night now because it allows the wholefamily to be creative, experiment and have fun. Plus, we know sandwiches are a nutritious choice for dinner.”

At an event hosted by the Grain Foods Foundation and the Deen brothers, Jamie and Bobby discussed incorporating more whole grains into our diet. The sandwiches on the menu were quite delicious and I must admit was an “aha” moment. Why not save myself time, effort and money by making a nutricious sandwich paired with fruit and vegetables and/or a salad? Let’s face it, slaving over a stove gets old seven days a week. And it’s an easy way ot get more grains into our daily diet which will help us fight heart disease, diabetes and birth defects.

Perfect Chicken Sandwich from the Deen Brothers

Ingredients

8 Slices multi-grain bread

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 roasted chicken breasts, sliced (use leftover roasted chicken or rotisserie chicken)

8 thin slices of Gruyere cheese

1/3 cup mayonnaise

6 basil leaves, finely chopped

zest and juice of 1 lemon

salt and pepper

Instructions:

Lemon basil mayonnaise and leftover roasted chicken make this perfect pressed sandwich. In a small mixing bowl, stir together mayo, basil, zest and juice. Salt and pepper to taste. Brush one side of each slice of bread. Spread basil mayo on the opposite side of each slice. Top four of the slices of bread (olive oil side down) with chicken. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add two slices of cheese over chicken and top with remaining four pieces of bread (olive oil side up.)

Heat sandwich press and cook sandwiches until golden and cheese has melted.

For me this sandwich works since I usually have a rotisserie chicken once a week and need a next day recipe. This sandwich with a big salad seems like the perfect dinner.

For more recipes to help us budding sandwich chefs, the Grain Foods Foundation has created an Endless Sandwich recipe database at gowiththegrain.org where you can download recipes and add your own sandwich favorites as well as features exclusive recipes created by the Deen brothers.



