JACKPOT EASY TUNA MELT DELIGHT

I have entered a special season of life due to my husbands’ health issues so I’m scouting out some small portioned, well balanced, tasty meals that I can also tweak for my nutritional needs. I will say this meal did not meet my nutritional needs with the sourdough bread and the seasoned curly fries but WOW!!!!! It was DELICIOUS and motivates me to search and share. I will also add that this smaller meal satisfied my hunger through-out the entire evening. I didn’t want the cookie or bowl of ice cream or additional glass of wine. This has me pondering for sure. Here’s my hypothesis: If you eat super healthy and are never full at the end of a meal, perpetual grazing becomes a habit and those calories (even though healthy) add up over the day. Just perhaps, a mindful meal that satisfies will keep the calories for the day down in the optimal range. Are you ready to experiment with some lighter meal choices? I am ready to look for recipes and experiment in my kitchen to help you find the keepers for your recipe book.

Because I am a VEGAN with seafood exceptions, Tuna is in my wheelhouse and this had some nice tweaks from a traditional tuna melt. My experience with a tuna melt was an open faced piece of bread with tuna salad and Velveeta cheese mixed in…broiled till cheese was melted and bubbly. It was a nice side to a can of tomato soup. Oh, how far I have come …ha!!! This recipe is easy to put together and the ingredients can be found in your pantry or frig so perfect for that last minute fast dinner. I will provide the recipe and the tweaks that made it work for me and all you others out there watching your dairy in take. Gluten free friends, I think the G.F. ciabatta buns found in the Kroger bread aisle would work beautifully for this as well. (next time, that will be my bread of choice, but, if you can do Gluten… slice off 2 skinny slices of sourdough and let your taste buds soar!!! ) Now, in regards to those delicious seasoned curly fries…… There is a package of Arby’s frozen curly fries in the freezer section of your grocery. (who knew??) and they pop into your air fryer and make a glorious side. Here is my discovery: When I only put a few on my plate, I savor each and every one of them. I didn’t deprive myself but I also didn’t eat a basket of fries simply because they were there. Hint: Only cook the portioned amount you will need for you and your family… no extras!!!! Let’s do this!!!!!!

• I cut this recipe in half for Fred and I but if you want leftovers so another meal can be put together in the next day or two, use the recipe as follows.

3 Tbl. minced red onion

3 Tbl. mayo (I use Vegenaise)

1 tsp. lemon zest (I used 1 tsp of fresh lemon juice I had frozen)

1/4 tsp. crushed fennel seed (I used dill weed instead)

1/4 tsp. pepper

3 slices of cooked and crumbled bacon (I have real bacon bits in my freezer from Costco)

2 cans of drained albacore tuna

Mix and spread on sourdough bread…top with 1 slice of provolone. (I used shredded Daiya cheddar cheese). add another slice of bread ….butter (I use plant based butter) both sides of your sandwich and pop it into your George Forman grill or Panini maker or into a frying pan. Cook until cheese is melted. Cut your sandwich in half for serving