Kalamata Olive and Pesto Sandwich (Vegan Friendly) a.k.a Copycat Corfu Sandwich

Have you've ever had that favorite item on the menu that you would always order at a resturant and then once in a blue moon you would decide to try something different, and it just wasn't as good as your favorite or you were disappointed and wanted to kick yourself for ordering something different when you should have just gotten what you love? That was me everytime I didn't order this sandwich and try something different, I would always regret it.  

This is one of my all time, hands down favorite sandwiches in the whole wide world. I like to call this a copy cat version of the Corfu Sandwich from a awesome little cafe in Anchorage Alaska.  Before we left AK to live in Japan, we made sure we visited all of our favorite restaurants in Anchorage and took a menu from each place so we could recreate them at home.

Avocado Egg Salad Sandwich

Ugghhh the weather outside is nasty today, the wind is whipping around, ice/snow is falling sideways, its just not pleasant to venture outside today.  I want spring and I want spring now! So I thought I would make a great spring sandwich and pretend that spring time is on its way and forget that we still    have 2 more months of winter here in Northern Japan :(

 You know what the best thing about spring is?.... Easter Candy! I love walking into the store and seeing aisles of easter candy stacked towards the celling.  My all time favorite, hands down, are the cadbury mini eggs, I could probably polish off a entire bag of them by myself.  It takes a lot of will power not to finish the bag in 1 day. 

  This spring time sandwich will not only have you thinking of spring, but it's a healthy alternative to your everyday egg salad.  There is only a small dollop of mayo and only half the egg yolk is used, the rest of your creaminess comes from the mashed avocado which is good for you because they are full of healthy fats. 

Avocado Egg Salad Sandwich
Recipe adapted from Skinny Taste
Yields: 2 servings

Ingredients

4 slices Whole Wheat Bread or 2 Whole Wheat egg twist rolls sliced in half
2 hard boiled eggs with yolks, diced
2 hard boiled egg, without yolks, diced
1 1/2 tablespoons miracle whip
1/2 avocado mashed
1/2 cup celery, diced (about 1 large stalk)
1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

- In a Medium bowl mash together your avocado and egg yolks, add in the rest of your ingredients and mix until completely combined. Salt and pepper to taste.
- Toast your bread or roll and top with your acovado egg salad and enjoy.

It helps if you mash your avocado and yolk
in the bowl first before adding the rest
of the ingredients, I like to learn the hard way ;)

Vegetarian Dippin Dogs

The Super Bowl game will air on Monday in Japan and even vegetarians like to have tail gate snackage and super bowl party food.  I thought this was a cool, easy, and fun way to make dippin dogs with the vegetarian links, paired with a jalapeno ketchup and mustard.  Plus the hot dogs are so tasty I doubt your meat eating friends will even care or know they're not beef or whatever mixture of animals are usually made with hotdogs.

We had to eat these dogs on Sunday (sat. stateside) because while the big game is going on Monday, we'll be on a ferry on our way to Sapporo to see the ice festival.  Can't wait to share some great pics from the ice festival and stuff myself with some delicious Japanese ramen. 

Vegetarian Dippin Dogs
Oishii Treat Original

Ingredients

1 Pkg pillsbury crescent rolls, 8 count
1 Pkg Smart Dogs
1 egg white






Directions

- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees
- Open your package of crescent rolls and along the pre-made dotted line separate your triangles.
- Place 1 dog on the skinny corner of the dough and roll towards the wider end of the triangle

                    

- place on a greased or parchment paper lined cookie sheet and brush to tops with egg white and sprinkle with your favorite type of seasoning. I used garlic salt, red pepper flakes and italian seasoning

- Bake in the oven for 15 minutes or until the crescent rolls are nice and golden brown.

Jalapeno Pepper Ketchup

Ingredients

1/3 cup ketchup
1-2 tablespoons pickled jalapeno, diced small
1 tablespoon of the juice from the jar of pickled jalapenos.

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl.