If You Can't Stand the Heat....Make a Sandwich!

It's August. In Atlanta. I've lived here for more than 10 years and still haven't gotten used to the heat and humidity!! When it's hot outside, I find myself gravitating towards easy-to-prepare dinners that use seasonal ingredients. Sandwiches are some of my favorite versatile, cool, dinners for hot summer evenings. They're quick, satisfying, and are easily customized to you & your family's preferences and budget. Here are some creative sandwich ideas plus sides & desserts to mix & match. Enjoy!!

Cool Sandwiches:

Photo by Eiliv-Sonas Aceron (@shootdelicious) via Unsplash

• "Salad" sandwiches: Homemade or store bought chicken, tuna, egg or chickpea (recipe idea here) salad sandwiches on multigrain bread with lettuce or mixed salad greens.

• Heirloom tomato sandwiches: Heirloom tomatoes sprinkled with sea salt on soft, white bread with mayo, herbed goat cheese, or pimento cheese. A southern classic.

• Cucumber sandwiches: Top thin sliced sturdy bread with cream cheese and sliced English cucumbers. This is amazing with Trader Joe's "Everything But the Bagel" seasoning mix sprinkled on top!

• Turkey tea sandwiches: Ina Garten's recipe is my favorite. Don't forget to cut off the crusts and slice the sandwiches into triangles!

• Caprese sandwiches: Ciabatta rolls, sliced fresh mozzarella, sliced tomatoes, basil, and balsamic glaze (you can find this on the vinegar aisle). Yum!

• Grilled vegetables (zucchini, eggplant, squash), roasted red peppers, and hummus on a baguette.

• Scrambled egg sandwiches: Top toasted, buttered sourdough bread with scrambled eggs and toppings of your choice like cheese, ketchup, salsa, soy sausage, bacon, veggies, and anything else that you have the fridge or pantry!

• Grown-up PB & J: Try your favorite nut butter, Nutella®, or Biscoff® spread on your choice of bread with sliced banana, sliced dried mission figs, and fig jam.

• B.L.A.T. sandwiches: Bacon, lettuce, avocado, tomato on toasted sourdough bread. Mayo or garlic aioli is a flavorful addition to this classic sandwich!

Sides & Desserts

• Potato chips (there are so many fun flavors!) or pretzels

• Root vegetable chips

• Pita chips and hummus

• Potato salad or cole slaw from the deli

• Veggies and dip

• Pickles, pickled vegetables, and olives

• Fresh cherries

• Sliced watermelon

• Sliced peaches or nectarines

• Your favorite popsicles or frozen fruit bars

• Ice cream bars or ice cream sandwiches

• A bowl of your favorite ice cream topped with seasonal berries