by Marie Monroe

Created on: August 28, 2007

Here's a delicious vegetarian sandwich that makes a nutritious and filling meal:
Marie's Greek Yogurt and Cashew Sandwich.

This sandwich is a wonderful cool treat jam-packed with fresh food. It's a nice mix of creamy, seemingly rich, but light fare sprinkled with sweet nutty crunch and wholesome goodness.

Even though this sandwich takes a little planning, it is well worth it.

The cashews are a real surprise, but have to be prepared a few hours ahead of time. Invest the time. You'll be hooked and won't ever mind again. I promise.

This makes an especially fun meal for guests. I can guarantee they've never had it, but once they have, they'll ask for it again and again.

You will also be able to introduce some folks to 2 new ingredients: the soaked nuts and the Greek yogurt. Both are mild enough for almost everyone's taste so it is easy to serve a little gastronomic adventure without risking too much.

The opportunity to enjoy Greek yogurt and to introduce it to your guests is great fun. Its versatility will delight the cooks and the guilt-free pleasure of such a creamy food will win over everyone. Fage (my favorite brand) is simply a great find. It brings a thick, rich body much like sour cream, but dramatically stacks nutrition and health sense in your favor. It is a rather neutral' food that can be used for sweet or savory taste. It makes a wonderful dip as is or easily accommodates blending with whatever you'd like. I use it as a sour cream substitute. Here, it is used as a sandwich spread straight out of the carton, but it also cooks well and makes a nice creamer for sauces and pasta.

The sandwich itself is simple. I encourage you to experiment and make it your own. Keep a carton of Fage on hand. You'll be amazed how often you reach for it.

1. Cover raw and unsalted cashews with water and refrigerate for a few hours.
(About 12 cashews per sandwich)
The nuts will absorb water and plump up into a new and wonderful food
that is more digestible than the unsoaked variety.

2. Pour off any water that is left.
(Even if you pass up this sandwich, you must try these soaked cashews!)

3. 2 pieces of your favorite whole grain bread per sandwich.

4. A double-dollop of Greek yogurt smoothed across one slice of bread.

The yogurt can be found at your whole foods grocer.

5. 12 cashews (or so) pressed into the yogurt (so they won't fall out!)

6. A layer of sliced tomatoes. Salt and pepper.

7. A sprig of fresh dill.

8. Fresh alfalfa sprouts.

9. Olive oil, salt and pepper on the top slice of bread.

10. Yum.

Do yourself a favor. Try your own variations. Add some cucumber. Try some cheese. Mix some of your favorite fresh herbs in the Fage or add a sprig of your own liking to the stack. A little curry sprinkle goes a long way. Fresh pickled ginger? Wasabi? Some baby field greens? Tangy things like olives, pickles, pico de gallo, salsa and the like.

Fage also mixes up into a pale green guac treat. Try this for the spread: mashed avocado, garlic, lime, lemon, salt, pepper, substitute Fage for mayo-a little southwestern yum with additional nutrition.

Happy taste treats to you and yours from the kitchen at my house, me and mine. We look forward to your own special take on the sandwich and hope you'll send it along. Peppy steps, sparkly eyes and shiny coats to everyone.

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