Steak and cheddar panini with horseradish sauce

My most favorite sandwich at Panera is the Steak and White Cheddar Panini.  However, I despise paying $10 for a sandwich, and ½ of a sandwich has 480 calories and 18g of fat.  I realize in the grand scheme of things, that’s not as bad as some things I could get when eating out, but I think for the money, I can do better, and save a few calories and fat.  So tonight was my attempt.

I did invest in a Panini press ($30).  It doubles as a smaller version of my family size George foreman grill, which is a pain to drag out when I’m just cooking for 1.  So I can cook on it (lots of fish and veggies!) and I can make paninis.  Win win!  So far, it has been worth the $$.

Steak and Cheddar Panini with Horseradish Sauce

Nutrition:  Calories:  323     Fat:  10.5     Sugar: 0.5     Protein: 22.5

Couple tips: I found (at Target) a Demi-Baquette  It creates 2 servings, and I don’t have to worry about what to do with another 3 ft of Baquet.  I also use Roast Beef deli meat, as it seems simpler than trying to cook a steak and slice it thinly, :D

Horseradish Sauce:   Calories:  33   Fat: 2.5 (This is already included in the sandwich total above)

 (This will make approx. 7, 1 TBSP servings)

 ¼ c light mayo

1 ½ TBSP. Dijon Mustard

1 ½ TBSP Horseradish cream. 

Mix and keep refrigerated.  It is better if you make it the day before and let it all meld together.  You can add more Horseradish or mustard if you like it spicer.

To make you will need:

French Baquette

Horseradish sauce (1 TBSP)

Your favorite cheese   (I prefer the sharp white cheddar, but all I had was sharp yellow, it worked.  Also 2% or reduced fat cheese still melts pretty well, fat-free...not so much.  Mine was 2% sharp cheddar)

Carmalized onions

Roast Beef Deli meat

To carmalize onions, sautee them until they start turning brown.  This brings out the sugar in them and makes them a little sweeter.  I sautéed mine in water, when the water cooked out, they started browning.

If you have the Demi Baquette, cut it in half.  If you’re using the bigger one, cut off 1 serving.  Split in half, and spread 1 TBSP (total) of Horseradish Sauce onto the top and bottom.  (This would have been easier with a slice of cheese, but all I had were shreds)

Place half the cheese on the bottom slice,  top with 6 slices (1 serving) of the roast beef deli meat, and carmalized onions.  

Place the other half of the cheese on top with the top half of the bread and grill until cheese is melted and sandwich is warm.

I had mine with Zucchini/Squash slices, tomatoes and side of ranch.  The ranch only add 30 calories to the meal (not included in the above nutritional info), if that, since I didn’t finish it.  It was exactly Panera, but it was really close, and satisfied my “craving” for waaaay cheaper, and a bit less on the calorie/fat content.

Enjoy!

Shrimp, Lobster & Crab Ravioli with Gelzinis Sauce

Shrimp, Lobster & Crab Ravioli with Gelzinis Sauce

I have had friends who have had by-pass tell me they can’t eat pasta, so far, that has not been a problem for me.  Not sure if that’s a good or bad thing, lol.  I don’t eat it often, but I like it about once a month or so.  (For my by-pass people wondering I actually could not eat all of one serving.  5 pieces was a serving, I was able to get 3 1/2 pieces, the shrimp and about 1/3 of the salad in.  Always eat protein first, :D  I'll eat the other part when i get home from the gym, since i have to get the calories in.)

Today’s recipe is actually really easy.  Being a good cook doesn’t always mean you do everything from scratch, sometimes it’s more about finding easy/good solutions for what you’re wanting.  And today, that is what I have done.

I found Lobster & crab Raviioli at BJ’s (similar to a Sam’s Club) for a really good price.  (8.99 for 7 servings).  And I pared it with a mix of Trader Jo’s Roasted Garlic Marinara and Light Creamy Alfredo Sauce.  (I LOVE Alfredo sauce, but it is typically VERY high fat, I was excited to find Light Alfredo by Classico.  I can’t taste a difference, and I’m picky when it comes to light stuff)

Nutritional:

Calories: 340   Fat:  12.5    Sugars: 3    Protein: 23.25

To Make:

This was SUPER easy.  Prepare 1 serving of Ravioli as directed by package.   Top with ¼ c Gelzinis Sauce.  I sautéed and top with ½ a serving of shrimp, to add extra protein.  Serve with a side salad.  Really, it can’t get easier than that.

Directions for Gelzinis Sauce:

Gelzinis Sauce is named for 2 of my most favorite people, Jeff and Emily Gelzinis.  They came up with this ratio of sauces while visiting one of their favorite Italian restaurants.  It is a very simple ratio:

2/3 Alfredo Sauce

1/3 Marinara Sauce

I have a hard time using jars of sauce since they tend to spoil long before I get back around to eating them.  So here’s a helpful tip: ice trays.  I got 3 ice trays at Wallie world for 1.34.  Each little cube is about 1 Tablespoon.  So I pour the sauce in, and freeze it, then throw it in a freezer bag when frozen and just pull out the number of cubes I need.  (16 Tablespoons are in a cup)  So if I want ¼ a cup, I pull out 4 cubes. 

And that is it.  Good luck!