Chicken Reuben Sandwhich

I started reading Real Food: What to Eat and Why by Nina Planck. There is a section on fermented food focusing on fermented soy products. Nina writes," Fermented foods like sauerkraut, cheese, and yogurt, are among the oldest, and most nutritious processed foods. Yogurt is widely associated with longevity." The same week I received an email on an Intro to Probiotics and Fermented Food by Brian Johnson. Below is a video on how to make your own fermented sauerkraut  This is something I am thinking of trying in the future. Right now I'll stick with Bubbies Sauerkraut. It is sold at my grocer in the dairy section with the eggs. It has to stay refrigerated because it has no vinegar or preservatives. I've been adding more fermented foods and probiotics containing foods, like kefir, into my diet to help my immune system. It has taken a beating the past 6 months.

Chicken Reuben Sandwhich

4 slices of gluten free sandwich bread ( I used a recipe similar to this one from Small Plates and Sweet Treats: My Family's Journey to Gluten-Free Cooking, from the Creator of Cannelle et Vanille )
2 cooked chicken breasts chopped
1/4 cup of shredded asiago cheese
1/4 cup of Bubbies Sauerkraut drained
1/2 cup of spinach leaves
2 TBS of Bolthouse Farms Honey Dijon Dressing (this is gluten free)
Organic Ghee or organic butter ( use amount desired)

Heat a cast iron griddle skillet on medium low heat. Spread ghee onto bottom and top of sandwich bread. Top with cheese and chicken divided evenly between the two sandwiches. Place sandwiches in skillet cook until cheese is melted and bread is toasted. Flip once to evenly toast each side being careful to not lose the filling. Remove from skillet and top with kraut, spinach, and dressing. Makes 2 sandwiches.

Cider Apple Parsnip Soup

A co-worker recommend this great tasty hard cider a few weeks ago, Angry Orchard Hard Cider. I purchased the Crisp Apple flavor. Since I can't drink traditional beer anymore because of my gluten intolerance I've been hard pressed to find a good gluten free alternative. Gluten free beer is gross. At least the two or three varieties I have tried. I am more of an occasional wine drinker. I enjoyed the hard cider so much I had to use in cooking. I didn't think it would go well with traditional beer and cheese soup so I paired with apples and parsnips and voila! This recipe was born.

White Bean Burgers

I am not frugal by nature. Did somebody say filet mignon? I don't clip coupons often, but I do buy in bulk at Costco. I stock up during sales and buy most of my dry pantry staples for much cheaper prices online than at the grocer.  We eat a lot of protein and  have a serving of protein no matter if it is a snack or meal. We even have protein with breakfast everyday. I've been looking for ways to find cheaper protein sources. It is so costly to have lean organic chicken breast or grass-fed lean ground beef with every meal. I stumbled upon this recipe for White Bean Szechuan Burgers on the Spunky Coconut. I was inspired to create my own white bean burger recipe.

Barbecue Chicken Salad with Poppy-seed Dressing and my "hangry" moment

 If you've been around the blog you will notice I don't blog a lot of salads. Though I eat do a lot of greens. In fact I probably have one salad as a main meal or as a side daily. I just don't post salad recipes because it is so "diet-like." This is not a diet blog. No sir. It is a healthy eating and living blog. It took me a LONG time to come up with my blog name and even longer to start writing. At first it was simply The Lean Gourmet. I wasn't referring to myself as " the lean gourmet," but rather the recipes. However, that's how it came across so the blog became The Lean Gourmet Kitchen.  I am posting this recipe because it is SO SO SO good. Just look at that picture. I know you want to pick up the fork and dig in don't you? Just look at the juicy tomato, the yummy BBQ chicken, and oh look at those pears with grill lines and all! Ok enough of my shananigans and onto the recipe.

Tuna Melt Crispibread

I like Sunday afternoon lunches simple, fast, and yummy. I usually try to whip something up quick right after church and don't want to spend too much time in the kitchen on my day of rest. My chicken salad was one of these Sunday meals. When we got home from church this past Sunday I pureed some leek and potato soup into a nice puree and heated it on the stove. I had a huge craving for a melted tuna sandwhich. As luck would have it we didn't have ANY gluten free bread or wraps. I still had some Orgran Toasted Buckwheat Crispibread left over from my Amazon order so I decided to use that instead. All three of us loved it! Roxy did too because Isabella "shared" some of her lunch with our dog. I am also pleasantly surprised how nice the photos turned out. To be honest canned tuna looks like cat food. You may never admit it, but I know you feel the same way.

Zip Zing Wow Chicken Salad

I hate mayo. Some how I managed to fall in love with chicken salad during pharamacy school having lunch with my good friend,Angie, at a local lunch cafe,Higher Ground. We ate there a few times a week and this place made the best chicken salad made with cream cheese and sour cream. I would eat it in a wrap with mozzerella cheese warmed just till the cheese melted and topped with tomato. Mind you this was before my gluten free clean eating days. I finally came up with a clean and tangy chicken salad that I love and I hope you will too. By the way I've missed you. I haven't blogged the last two days due to working two late nights and a row. I just have this void when I don't blog. Maybe because I just love it so much. Sharing my recipes and thoughts.  Speaking of thoughts, I would love to know what yours are. Leave me a comment on this post, tweet me @LeanGourmet, or connect with me on my  facebook   page. Talk to you soon!