All last week’s talk about bread was in preparation to share a favorite sandwich.  I had a craving for one I discovered years ago at Artemesia Cafe: www.artemisiacafe.com/. Every time I go determined to branch out, I order it. Theirs always comes with sprouts.  Today I substituted young leaves of Lacinato Kale, a variety that is tender enough to work in a sandwich, even with (tender) fillings like steamed sweet potato and avocado. Also, I didn’t have a tomato – waiting for flavorful ones to come into the market….

I’ll use this to review Udi’s Soft and Hearty Whole Grain Bread, our “go-to” when we don’t make bread.  In other words: the bread we use often… OK, all the time!  (udisglutenfree.com/)  If Gus is in residence we keep a loaf or two in the refrigerator.  The slices are small; he’ll use 4 to make two halves of one sandwich.  Today I have one loaf in the freezer.  The slices are easy to separate and defrost quickly.  We find Udi’s Bread among the most user friendly, standing up to sauces, grilling, toasting, loading, even soaking for French Toast.  Some GF breads are only edible toasted.  Udi’s is among the few that is OK soft (PB & J!)  Because it was 3:00 by the time I got around to it, I made myself half a sandwich (1 slice o’ bread), but eat lunch closer to noon so you can have a whole!

Homage to Artemisa Sandwich – for two

Four slices of Udi’s Whole Grain Bread, toasted

1 Avocado, sliced thinly

1/4 sweet potato, steamed, or cooked in water until able to pierce with a fork, cooled and cut into 1/4″ slices

4 ounces sliced cheese – soft Cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Havarti, something with “body” that won’t squeeze the avocado and sweet potato out of the sandwich

1 large tomato, sliced thinly

1 cup Alfafa Sprouts

1/4 cup pesto mayonaise (2 T. mayo + 2 T. pesto) or plain mayonaise (Though I sometimes make my own, today I used Helman’s which is GF.)

1.  Toast the bread, cool slightly and spread with the pesto mayonaise.

2.  Layer on the avocado, sweet potato, cheese, tomato, and sprouts, splitting the ingredients between 2 servings.

3.  Slice on the diagonal (Grandmother Catlin insisted this was the only civilized way.)

Enjoy the marvelous melange of flavors!

Udi’s from the freezer

Kale instead of sprouts today

Steamed sweet potato

Love the avocado slicing tool

Ready for my half

Pesto made yesterday plus Helman’s

Toasted and ready to assemble

Layers of goodness

Lunch!