BLT Bagels with Basil Cream Cheese Spread

This was our dinner last night and we loved it!  Sometimes it's so nice just to have a sandwich or bowl of soup instead of a heavy meal.  We are all trying to recover from the huge meal I made Monday night for Mark's birthday.  I make homemade bagels but store bought work too.  This cream cheese spread is divine!  It goes great on a turkey sandwich too!  Basil is one of my obsession but if you don't like it you can sub in some other herb.  Chives or Dill would be great too.  Ohh, Dill with Ham on a bagel, I think I just came up with my lunch!

Ingredients:

4 Bagels (Any flavor, Store bought or Homemade), toasted
1 Package Bacon, cooked
Fresh Spinach
Tomatoes, Sliced
Basil Cream Cheese Spread

To make spread:  Combine 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, 2 tablespoons milk, and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese.  Beat with an electric mixer until smooth.  Sprinkle with Salt and Pepper to taste.  Add 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil; gently stirring to combine.

Spread Cream cheese spread on bagels and top with remaining ingredients.  Dig In!

Enjoy!

Note: Watching what you eat? Try a whole wheat bagel, turkey bacon, and fat free cream cheese. =)

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Italian Shredded Beef Sandwiches

Happy Monday Everyone!  This is going to be an exciting week!  I have my nephew here visiting this week, so I am trying to plan lots of fun things to keep all these kids busy.  4 bored kids in the house will drive everyone crazy!  The kids also start back to school in a couple of weeks so this is kind of their last hoorah!  Yes, you read that right, school starts back in a couple of weeks.  I don't know where Summer has gone.  I hate how early the kids go back to school in the South.  Anyways, I am going to indulge their sweet tooth's and mine this week and bake up some fun goodies.

This week is going to be crazy hot again, like it has been all over the country.  I have some wonderful Crock pot and Soup recipes to share with you this week.  Yes, you read right again.  I know it sounds crazy but a Crock pot generates so much less heat then an oven.  I have been using it a lot lately.  It keeps the house cooler and our whole meal can be prepared in one pot! Less clean up too, always a perk!  Soup is a great choice for Summer too.  It's a lighter meal and can be served with a crisp, cold salad or a sandwich which is a perfect way to beat the heat.

This recipe is so easy! It makes a delicious, juicy shredded beef perfect to pile on a big hoagie roll.  Serve with some Parmesan Fries, a nice crisp salad, or even some fresh raw veggies and you will be good to go!

Ingredients:

1 (4-5 pound) beef roast (chuck, arm, etc.)
1 (.7 ounce) package dry Italian- style salad dressing mix
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
Salt and Pepper
Shredded Mozzarella cheese
Hoagie rolls or buns
Peperoncini peppers (optional)

Place roast in Crock pot; salt and pepper both sides generously.  Sprinkle package of Italian dressing over roast.  Pour entire can of tomato sauce over roast.

Cook on Low 8-10 hours.  Shred meat with a fork.

Preheat oven to Broil.

Place hoagie rolls a baking sheet, top with meat, and sprinkle with shredded cheese. Broil for 30 seconds to a minute or until cheese is melted.  Watch closely!  Top with Peperoncini peppers if desired.

Enjoy!