The Sandwich Culture and Lettuce Wrap Ideas

Lettuce Wraps

I had a conversation with a friend yesterday and we started talking about today's lifestyle and "convenient food".  It's a topic of conversation that has been coming up a lot lately as many of my family members and friends are discovering they have health issues, as well as myself. I am the first one to admit I ate out a lot when I was working as I didn't always stop and make my lunch or breakfast. It was easier to grab a sandwich on the way.


We can thank the Earl of Sandwich for asking a servant to slap a piece of meat between two slices of bread while he played a game of cards, (although there is some debate as to whether he had asked for the same at his desk) and "Ta Da" the Sandwich is born. A convenient, quick and tasty idea which I think many of us have adopted in today's culture.



We take sandwiches to work, pick them up at a sub-shop, coffee shop, or, drive up to a hamburger place and pick up a hot beef sandwich which we can take with us to the office and eat at our desks. An absolutely marvellous invention, if we were still eating in the proportions we should and not adding the bag of chips or side of french fries to it.




As I bake bread from scratch, not just using instant yeast, but also from a natural starter, I can tell you, the proportion sizes and ingredients of the bread from the 17th Century versus today's mass manufactured bread is very, very different. The size of the French Loaves I make is more likely typical of what they produced. Bread was less available and the grains used were different then what is produced today.



I had done some research into Medieval foods years ago, I did notice our diet, today, in comparison, is exceptionally rich and we eat A LOT more. So this goes back to my thoughts that everything in moderation is probably a better choice. However, we work further from our homes today, and we work longer. You still have to find the balance between convenience and healthier choices.

Homemade Raisin Bread from a starter mix

Don't eat it if it's bigger than your head! Unless you are a Zombie!

A sandwich I couldn't finish

The Zombie Apocalypse Game - Thoughts on being prepared

A rule of thumb in our house...don't eat more than you can eat. We picked up subs at a farmers market a couple of weeks ago, I could only eat a quarter of what was served to me. A typical example of how we tend to over indulge these days. We are served portions far larger than what is healthy. I do tend to add a salad or an extra portion of some type of vegetable to our plates as I hope he will be getting a bite or two of some type of greenery. He's a typical meat and potatoes man. I, however, am not. I like my vegetables.

I have been experimenting with some gluten free ideas. As I already make so much from scratch, I don't need to look too far or spend too much money on coming up with new ideas. One example of a recipe I already have posted is my Stuffed Turkey Breast, which you can view here.

Stuffed Turkey Breast with Rice and Mushrooms


Sandwich Substitutes

The lettuce wrap for me is an excellent option. I get the convenience of a wrap or sandwich, but don't need to skimp on ingredients or ideas. The Lettuce I choose can give me an excellent and satisfying crunch instead of toast or bread. It is also convenient to to carry a complete wrap with you to work.. but watch the lettuce type you use.

This last few weeks, I have used Iceberg Lettuce, Butter Lettuce and Romain Lettuce as the vehicle for my personal sandwich ideas. I also substituted Cucumbers for Crackers and forgone any side dishes with bread or pasta. I am still eating bread, but am experimenting with new ideas too.

As examples, I have made the following:

Egg Salad Lettuce Wrap
Salmon and Blueberry Lettuce Wrap
Chicken Salad Lettuce Wrap

Links to Lettuce Wrap Recipes 

I am also experimenting with the following and hope to post finished recipes in the next few weeks. I will add the links as I go.

Ideas in the works
Cucumbers and Hummus
Cucumber Salad
Eggplant and Chick Pea Lasagna
Oatmeal flatbread/wrap
Sausage Gumbo
Braised Lamb and Rice

...and I could go on...but now I'm back to writing out recipes and trying to balance my day to day activities with this blog. We still have a lot of pre-made meals in the freezer, all homemade, and it would be wasteful to not eat what we already have at hand.

I'm busy.  I do a lot. Plus Google and several other platforms I am involved in are making changes....my brain hurts!

My blog will continue to be updated with my experiments as I go, it will also now include Gluten free, low sodium options as well as good old fashioned home cooking, as I do believe moderation is key. Too much of any one thing is going to bad for you, but a little bit of everything..well that's just tasty!

I'll be back to blogging more regularly now, but not every day. I will give you those recipes for the items noted above this week and next. In the mean time Tuna Lettuce wraps ...and more will follow.

Have a great night!

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