Diet Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

During my pregnancy with Siena I was constantly eating Grilled Turkey, Pesto and Cheese sandwiches. I had to figure out a way to cut the calories without losing the amazing taste. I ended up creating a toasted turkey with laughing cow light cheese and pesto. It is so good and very low in calories compared to its counterpart.

All you need is:

1 slice sourdough bread

1 light laughing cow swiss cheese wedge or two if you'd like

pesto

smoked turkey (Boar's head hickory smoked is the best, I get it at the Holiday Market)

salt and pepper

Toast the bread in the toaster

layer with pesto, cheese, and turkey

top with salt and pepper

It's an open faced sandwich of extreme goodness

If you don't know how to make pesto, here my recipe:

1 box organic basil (I get it a TJ's and it comes in a box, probably about a bunch to a bunch and a half)

pine nuts (i buy in bulk at Winco)

Parmesan cheese - I prefer it to be fresh and shaved rather than the grated powdery stuff

garlic cloves

Kosher salt

Olive oil

Add what ever amount of each you want with the basil. I don't have exact measurements because I eyeball it. If I had to guess I would say it is probably 1/2 c. pine nuts, 3/4 cheese, 3-4 garlic cloves, salt to taste.

Ok so I start by adding in the Cuisinart the pine nuts, garlic, cheese, salt and basil. Turn on and add oil from the top hole. Add oil until it looks like pesto! Always stop on the chunkier side and then add more oil till it gets smooth. You don't want to over add oil because you can't take it out.

Carolina Rub Pork Chops

This has to be one of my favorite pork chop recipes. I found it in Cooking Light a while back and ever since then we have had our bbq'd chops this way.

Dry Rub:

2 tsp garlic powder (or granulated - i use this)

1 tsp onion powder (or onion salt)

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp fresh ground black pepper

1/2 tsp salt

***I also add in Cayenne pepper. Also you may want to increase the amounts above. I use that rub for 2 chops. Their recipe call for 4. I think you need more seasoning.

BBQ sauce of your choice - just don't use something weird like teriyaki BBQ sauce, that would just be gross.

4 - 4 oz pork chops

mix rub ingredients in a small bowl

pat chops dry

apply rub to all sides of chops

let sit for 10 minutes

BBQ chops on one side, then flip and halfway through bbqing on the other side apply bbq sauce and then finish cooking.

So yummy! goes great with brown rice and veggies.