Sandwich Supper

Kay bought me Southern Living's All-Time Favorites cookbook for Valentine's Day and this recipe was a big hit!  It can also be found here.

Italian Club Sandwich

1/2  (16-ounce) Italian bread loaf

1/4  cup  Italian dressing

1/3  cup  shredded Parmesan cheese

1/2  cup  mayonnaise

1/2  cup  mustard

1/2  pound 

 thinly sliced Genoa salami

1/2  pound  thinly sliced mortadella or bologna

4  (1-ounce) provolone cheese slices

Romaine lettuce leaves

3  plum tomatoes, sliced

8  bacon slices, cooked and cut in half

Garnish: pimiento-stuffed green olives

1. Cut bread diagonally into 12 (1/4-inch-thick) slices; arrange on a baking sheet. Brush slices evenly with Italian dressing, and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
   
2. Bake at 375° for 5 to 6 minutes or until lightly toasted.
   
3. Spread untoasted sides of bread slices evenly with mayonnaise and mustard. Layer 4 bread slices, mayonnaise side up, with salami, mortadella, and provolone. Top with 4 bread slices, mayonnaise side up; layer with lettuce, tomato, and bacon. Top with remaining 4 bread slices, mayonnaise side down. Cut in half, and secure with wooden picks. Garnish, if desired.
   

It's even better served with this delicious coleslaw!!

Sweet Restaurant Slaw

• 1 (16 ounce) bag coleslaw mix
• 2 tablespoons diced onion
• 2/3 cup creamy salad dressing (such as Miracle Whip™)
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon poppy seeds

1. Combine the coleslaw mix and onion in a large bowl.
2. Whisk together the salad dressing, vegetable oil, sugar, vinegar, salt, and poppy seeds in a medium bowl; blend thoroughly. Pour dressing mixture over coleslaw mix and toss to coat. Chill at least 2 hours before serving.

I hope you enjoy this yummy sandwich supper as much as we did!

Home

Over the past few weeks, I've thought a lot about "home".  After all, home has never really been a place for me. In thirty years, I've managed to put down roots in nine states and two countries.  Questions about my hometown always leave me feeling a bit lost. Is that the place I was born? Where I lived longest? Or where I am right now?

In the end, I'm finding that my home has always been more rooted in people than a place and I'm thankful for that. Now, my home is found in my wonderful husband, Jared, and my two kiddos, Ruby and Maxwell. Home is knowing that my family and friends scattered around the world are only a phone call or an email away. Home is Jesus. He makes it okay.

So, with that said, let me introduce you to the new place we're putting down roots!

So far, we have rented this really nice 3 bed/2.5 bath home right in the thick of downtown Brevard, in Western North Carolina (WNC). We're only blocks away from a wonderful playground and pool. We are also almost next door to Brevard College, an excellent music school that also has some amazing Environmental Science programs. It's the perfect place for me to find a job someday--either at the college or one of the many environmental companies nearby.

We have been busily house hunting and even made an offer on a house yesterday-- YEEHAW!  I'll keep you posted on all that as soon as we know anything!

As you can see, there are trees everywhere and mountains all around. It's truly one of the most beautiful places I've lived yet.  Brevard is also home of the white squirrel! (A fact which is quite amusing to me!)  

I'd almost think the whole thing was a hoax, but Jared tells me that he has spotted a few already. Guess I just need to spend more time outdoors!

Brevard is situated in Transylvania County, home of the vampires (just kidding!).  Transylvania County is actually known for it's waterfalls --boasting over 250!  Most of the county is protected forest land and absolutely gorgeous.  The climate is mild and very attractive to our large retiree community.  It sort of feels like living in a town of grandparents--with a few rednecks thrown in for color.  People have been so friendly and we have really started to feel at home just two short weeks after rolling into town.

In our first few days in Brevard, we visited Looking Glass Falls in Pisgah National Forest with Nana Kay.  Just two weeks before when Jared came for his interview, the falls was frozen!  We were thankful to roll into town with some warmer weather.  We have also been so thankful to Kay who spent about 3 weeks with us helping me to pack up, survive the looong car trip with the kids, find our new home, and unpack.  She's a full service Nana.  ;)  Ruby is already desperate for her to come back for a visit.  As you can see, they got even closer while she was with us.  We all miss you, Kay!  And we sure do love you!

Stay tuned tomorrow for the return of Tasty Tuesday!