It’s not like patting out my own hamburger patties is hard, but sometimes I like the convenience of the pre-made kind.   The only problem with this is the inability to add flavors inside the patties (like adding onion soup mix or bbq or other seasonings to the meat before patting them out).

Here are a few ways to add flavor to the patties: 

Sprinkle it on:

• Seasoned salt
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Chili powder
• Good old salt and pepper

Slather it on:

• BBQ sauce – I’ve been liking a combo of Country Bob’s and Sweet Baby Ray’s.  Surprisingly good mixed together.
• Italian dressing – don’t save it just for chicken breasts
• Hoisin sauce
• Worcestershire sauce

Cheese it up:

• Cheddar
• American
• Swiss
• Pepper Jack

I’d love to hear your ideas for making hamburgers more interesting.  Leave a comment and tell me how you eat them!

Part of my family is heading to Disney World in a couple weeks.  Because I’m in the group going, I can’t seem to stay away from the Disney stuff.  That means I’ve been avidly reading the Disney Food Blog.  Disney and food are two of my favorite things.

The other day, I ran across this review of a new sandwich found in Animal Kingdom.  I new I had to try to create this!  Of course, I have no idea what it tastes like, other than the way it is described in the post.  Maybe I’ll get to sample the real deal while I’m there, so I can compare my version and Disney’s.

However, I have to say that the review was a great inspiration.  My version turned out full of flavor and tender.  My family loved it too.  And the fact that it uses the slow cooker is a bonus.  There’s just enough spice to make it interesting and give the meat a lot of flavor, yet it’s not burn-your-tongue hot.

Here’s what you’ll need to make these sandwiches: 

We love sandwiches at our house for lunch or dinner.  But sometimes we get in a rut, plunking the same kind of meat and cheese between the same old bread, slathered with the same drab spread.

Here are some ways to pull your sandwich from the brink of boring: 

1.  Change up the bread

Try tortillas (spinach or other flavors), pita bread, bagels, thins, rolls, buns, flatbread…

2.  Add veggies

In addition to lettuce and tomato try avocado, red and/or green peppers, shredded carrots or broccoli, spinach…

3.  Add red onion

Red onion can perk a sandwich up all by itself.  A little bit adds a lot of flavor.

4.  Add sprouts

Sprouts add flavor, crunch and a good does of health too.

5.  Add pickled things

Banana peppers, roasted red peppers, dill pickles, sweet pickles bring interesting taste and color to sandwiches.

6.  Skip the bread

Wrap the whole sandwich in a slice of cheese or in a lettuce leaf.

7.  Season it

Sprinkle on salt and pepper, Cajun seasoning, ground red pepper, garlic powder, seasoned salt…

8.  Try a different spread

Slather on the honey mustard, chipotle mayo, or other interesting spread.  Or sprinkle the sandwich with oil and vinegar.

9.  Change up the cheese

Try muenster, provolone, pepper jack, cream cheese (lots of flavors to choose from), cheddar, Swiss…

10.  Heat it

Broil the whole sandwich, toast it on a griddle, toast the bread only, zap it in the microwave…

You can also change up the way you wrap a sandwich when packing.  Baggies aren’t the only possibility.  Try wrapping in foil or waxed paper instead.

Or try a reuseable sandwich bag, like these from Etsy.  Click the photos to visit the Etsy stores.

Last summer, we spent time in Gulf Shores, Alabama.  We ate most of our meals at the beach house, but we did go out once.  After taking a quick survey on Facebook and seeing several readers recommendation Sea-N-Suds, we decided to try it.

Great choice!  It was inexpensive, casual and right on the beach.  I chose to try the Shrimp Sandwich, which was loaded with breaded, deep-fried shrimp.  Delicious!

This pan fried version is simple enough for a weeknight dinner.  It probably rings in at a few less calories than the deep-fried version too.

Here’s what you’ll need to make it: 

Sometimes, when I sit down to write up a recipe post, I can’t find anything to say.  This is one of those times.

Because, really, the beauty of this sandwich is that it’s so simple.

Grilled fish that cooks up quick on a George Foreman or other indoor grill.

Cajun seasoning  kicks the flavor up a notch or three.

Homemade tartar sauce that is just mayo with a little sweet relish stirred in.

Put it on a bun, serve it with fries and carrot sticks or salad.  It’s a little out of the ordinary, but casual and easy enough for a weeknight supper.

Here’s what you’ll need: 

The fish is in a bowl of water to thaw.  It takes about 15-20 minutes to thaw like this.

I thought the sandwiches would be great with lettuce, tomato and red onion.  Sadly, I didn’t have any of those.

How often do you eat fish?

When I was growing up, my family always called sandwiches like this Wimpys.   I’m not sure how old I was when I figured out that everyone else calls the Sloppy Joes.

When I made these, my intention was to just use a can of Manwich.  But I couldn’t find it anywhere in the grocery.  I looked in all the logical places, but no Manwich.

So, I decided to make some homemade.  This recipe is adapted from Simply Recipes.  Her recipe has ketchup and carrots.  I used chili sauce and red peppers.  Mine also has more meat, but I liked her base of seasonings although I skipped a few of the herbs and spices.  Change this up for your tastes and pantry.

Here’s what you’ll need: 

Do you call these sandwiches Sloppy Joes, Wimpys or something else?

Reuben sandwiches are a combination of a lot of strong flavors:

• Corned beef or pastrami
• Sauerkraut
• Swiss cheese
• Rye Bread
• Thousand Island dressing

I happen to like all but one of those tastes, but I made several variations to come up with these sliders.

These are a tiny take on the original Reuben sandwich.  As soon as I saw Sister Schubert’s Soft Pretzel Rolls, I knew they would make perfect little Reubens.  I didn’t miss the rye bread at all.

We ate these as part of lunch after church.   They’re super quick to put together.  The pretzel rolls are frozen, but only take a few minutes in the oven and they are warm and soft.  We love all kinds of bread and I really like being able to keep these rolls on hand in the freezer and still be able to have them on the table quickly.

I do admit that my kids opted out of having sauerkraut on theirs.  That’s okay.  It’s easy to alter sandwiches for each person’s tastes.

Here’s what you’ll need to make them: 

I mentioned my kids don’t like sauerkraut.  I don’t like Thousand Island dressing.

What about you?  Do you alter your Reuben sandwiches? What part do you skip?

I was one of eight bloggers selected by Sister Schubert’s Homemade Rolls to review their products. I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program as well as my writing about my experience. I have also been provided products for review. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.

This simple sandwich proved to be one of the best meals I’ve had all year.  Thin slices of Granny Smith apple and brie, tucked inside cinnamon swirl bread then toasted.  Divine!

This idea is not my own, but I can’t remember where I first saw it.  It’s been quite a while, maybe even a year ago. 

The method is simple:

Slice Granny Smith apple thin.  Slice a wedge of brie into thin slices.  Sandwich both between cinnamon swirl bread and toast in a buttered skillet.

Please make this soon.  You will love it!

There’s something about church that makes everyone positively ravenous.  I can’t seem to get lunch on fast enough on Sundays.

Last week, I made these sandwiches.  The ham slices were pre-cut from the grocery, sold in the meat department.  I fried them on the griddle (because the gas grill was out of gas).  I topped the ham with thick slices of Monterey Jack cheese, sauteed onions and mild banana pepper rings.

What’s the best sandwich you’ve had lately?

4 ingredients (6 if you count the cheese and buns) + 1 slow cooker = 1 splendiferous dinner.  And, in case you wondered, splendiferous is in the online thesaurus.  It’s a more funtastic word than “good”, don’t you think?

I used cube steaks to make these sandwiches, but you can use round steak or another cut if you like.  Here’s what you’ll need:

Giveaway closed! There’s still time to enter the Tate’s Bake Shop giveaway, if you haven’t already.  And don’t forget to visit the other blogs having giveaways this week: The Green Backs Gal, Crystal and Co., Coupon Cookin ,Coupon Mommie, Bucksome Boomer, Savin’ Some