Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Balsamic Mushroom & Pesto Feta Sandwich

Its only Tuesday. The week already feels like too much work.I've grown to appreciate routines but I don't enjoy them much. They do make life seem so mundane. I'd rather be true to the free spirit I am. Life however, doesn't lend itself to that. Especially when you make choices such as a career in Corporate America, a mortgage and a bad shopping habit that requires that job in Coporate America. So, for now I am slave to this 5 day work week/2 day weekend structure.




Unless I move to France where the structure is likely to change to a 4 day work week. Did you know Americans take the least amount of vacation? I need a vacation, its been too long since I took one.
If I sound incoherent, its because its only Tuesday, and I want it to be Thursday.
 This balsamic mushroom sandwich is a quick and easy lunch on days when you need to pull something together quickly.
Its bursting with flavor from the balsamic and garlic and pesto and feta!

INGREDIENTS

- 1 8 oz white Mushrooms (I used pre-sliced)
- 1-2 cloves Garlic crushed
- 1/4 cup good balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 tbsp Pesto (fresh or store bought)
- 2 oz crumbled Feta Cheese
- Salad greens
- Ciabatta bread
- 2-3 tbsp Olive Oil

INSTRUCTIONS

- In a pan, head 2 tbsp of Olive oil and add crushed garlic.
- Roughly chop the sliced mushrooms into smaller pieces and add to the pan.
- Saute for 1 min and then add balsamic vinegar 
- Turn heat to medium and let the balsamic vinegar reduce. As it reduces in the pan, its cooking the mushrooms.
- When the vinegar has full cooked off, turn the heat off and add salt and pepper
- In a seperate bowl, mix Pesto and Feta cheese well.
- Cut Ciabatta in the center, drizzle with olive oil and place on a hot grill pan or a griddle and grill till you get nice brown marks.
- Cool the bread and then spread the Feta/Pesto mix, add the mushrooms and top it with salad greens.

How's your week treating you?

30 comments:

  1. France really has the right idea when it comes to the ideal work/ life balance. In fact i love their views toward work in general- many people who have been friends for years barely know what the other does for a living, but they know all about each others hobbies, political views, their food preferences and the like. (I miss living there, if it isnt obvious:) ) anyways, this looks delicious! i love mushrooms and balsamic together.

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  2. We totally need to protest and get a 4-day work week! It makes me so sad to know that I will be spending 70% of my golden years slaving away. Traveling is fun when you're retired, but I'd like to enjoy my 20s-60s as well!

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    1. you are just starting out, so I highly recommend fitting all your life goals into your work life - there is never a later time when you "start" to do things you want to do! I learned that the hard way. And yes, if we could make the work week 4 days, it would definitely help!

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  3. I must be living under a rock! (or working too much) France has a 4 day week?! Oh my! I need to move pronto!
    Slad with feta sounds great - but on this ciabatta - oh yum yum yum!
    Shashi @ http://runninsrilankan.com

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    1. you are probably working too much! France isnt there yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did!

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  4. Fran sounds like a good place to live ;)
    Thanks for visiting my blog. Glad we connected
    This sandwich sounds yum!

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    1. you have a lovely blog Shema! Thanks for stopping by here.

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  5. Lately we've been enjoying sauteed mushrooms in our sandwiches too, and so happy to see you have the mushrooms in the sandwich! And how wonderful to know it works with pesto and feta at the same time! Will definitely give this a try very soon! :)

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  6. I spend a lot of time feeling embittered about the amount of vacation time they get in France compared to the US. But I'm self-employed, so I guess I have no one to blame but myself, right? Balsamic vinegar + mushrooms is such a good combination--it really brings out the umami in the mushrooms!

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    1. I suppose it's harder when you work for yourself, you end up expecting so much from yourself. Hope you take a nice vacation after the book is done!

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  7. I agree. Vacation is overdue..I have never tried mushroom + balsamic combination. Sounds like a delicious thing to try

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  8. Delicious sandwich! The mushrooms look decadent.

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  9. This sandwich looks heavenly. I love feta cheese and I'm sure it adds just the perfect amount of saltiness to this meal. Thank you for sharing! Here's to it almost being the weekend!

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    1. it really was great, goat cheese works well too, its a different flavor combination though

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  10. I had no idea that Americans took the least holidays. I think Australians get quite a few but it's never enough. I'd love to have a 4 day working week! :P And this sandwich too!

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    1. We do indeed, but if I lived in Australia, the weather would be so great, it wouldn't feel so awful !

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  11. THis sandwich looks delish, i love the combo of mushrooms and balsamic. Feta is a flavor I'm slowly growing to like, but I'm not there yet.

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    1. if you don't like feta, try goat cheese, its a very good combination with balsamic mushrooms!

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  12. So funny...it's definitely not easy to be in corporate America! But really, if I didn't work I don't know what I'd do with all my time. Sad but true.

    Looks like a delicious sandwich!

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    1. now you made me wonder! What would I do with all that free time, I think I just don't like being on someone else's schedule. I want to work when I feel like it and not when I don't!

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  13. This sandwich sounds amazing! Mushrooms and balsamic is such a heavenly combination.

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  14. Ah, the life of corporate America. and yet we are ridiculed for taking vacations whereas, it's the least for us :D Hope you get some break soon. Love the added balsamic here. Yum!

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  15. Archana - nice blog and great recipe. But please don't wish your week ( days) away! Yes it is true that we work to pay off the mortgage and the bills but we are more fortunate than so many millions in the world. Yes, do take a vacation. But a good way of being on vacation at home is to plant a hibiscus in the garden, then it feels like you are on a tropical holiday!

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