From the Kitchen: Girl's Lunch

I have the house to myself this weekend (J is at a stag at the lake), so I invited my friend S over for a girl's lunch. 

I wanted to cook up something special, but was too lazy to hit the grocery store.  So I raided the fridge and cupboards for inspiration.  I decided on grilled veggie and pork sandwiches with basil pesto mayo and a craisin pecan side salad.

I sliced half an onion and 1 red pepper into thick strips and tossed them with 2 Tb of jarred pesto.  Then I laid them out on a cookie sheet coated in tin foil and roasted them at 275 for 50 mins.  This gave me lots of time to prep everything else!

Another spoonful of the pesto stirred into some light mayo is a super easy way to make basil pesto mayonnaise for these pork sandwiches.  It chilled in the fridge while the rest of the prep was done.

I had taken a pork tenderloin out of the freezer for dinner yesterday, but I ended up going out for dinner with mom. So I seasoned it with salt and pepper and grilled it on the bbq, for about 20 minutes until light pink in the centre. Pork tenderloin is lean and flavourful and superbly priced.  I often pick up a few as an alternative to chicken or lean beef. 

I had a 2-day old loaf of sourdough that J and I handn't finished.  I sliced it lengthwise, and ideal base for these open-faced sandwiches.

I layered the pesto mayo, sliced grilled pork and roasted veggies onto slices of the sourdough bread.

For a tasty side, I added craisins and pecans to mixed greens and topped it with a rasberry vinaigrette.

S and I had a fabulous lunch filled with good food and girl talk.  She even brought me a lovely flowering plant to add to the garden, which I used as a centrepiece.  I was very happy with the open faced sandwich and I think this would be so easy to make with so many other combos of meats, veggies and flavoured mayo (mayo and curry powder, mayo with garlic and lemon juice, and more).  Melted cheese would be a great addition too!  Just grab whatever's in the fridge.

I am loving this quiet Saturday at home.  How is your weekend going?

Written with love,
Lenore