I knew that I had officially fallen in love with Brian when, approximately an hour into our meeting on Monday, he looked me straight in the eye and said to me, “You need to cut out this healthy shit.”
I’m sure I laughed in some sort of adorable way, especially because I know that he loves vegetables almost entirely as much as I do. But I knew what he meant. Butter is the spice of life and there is no two ways about it.
It must have really resonated with me, though.
Because I came home and, without even realizing what I was doing, baked a loaf of peanut butter banana bread. Cut myself two slices. Covered them with more peanut butter and more bananas and some chocolate and raspberry jam. (For good measure. And because my thighs were too sore to protest. I am so not morally opposed to kicking them when they’re down.)
And called it lunch.
Well I’ll be damned. So. Satisfying.
While I would like to say that this all came about through some kind of divine intervention and that around mile 21 of the marathon a higher power whispered the idea into my ear in some kind of sordid and downright dirty attempt to push me through to the end. Well. I can neither confirm nor deny that. (The last thing I need right now is for “schizoid personality disorder” to weasel its way into my medical records…)
Much more likely, it was the voice of Susan Russo, the author of the blog Food Blogga, who has been tempting me with this sandwich for weeks now. Ever since I got her new cookbook – The Encyclopedia of Sandwiches – to review, in fact.
This book is really a treasure trove for anyone who likes sandwiches. And even if you think you don’t like sandwiches…it’s just because you haven’t seen this book. It is written in encyclopedia format with the sandwiches listed from A to Z and a little historical note accompanying each recipe. Plus each sandwich gets its own picture. I love that in a cookbook.
From the instant I got it and flipped through it’s pages and tried to convince myself that if it was an encyclopedia, it was meant to be studied and thus it was totally reasonable for me to toss my medical boards review book aside in lieu of conquering this adorable tome. From that very first second. I knew that I wanted to make both a savory and a dessert sandwich. There was no two ways about it.
So first, there was the torta. Layers of avocado, eggs, chorizo (or soyrizo in my case), refried beans and hot sauce. All evened out by a cooling spread of crema on either end. It really does come together to be a beautiful amalgam of flavors and textures. The hallmark of a good sandwich, if you ask me. (And perfect for an Easter Sunday brunch! How timely!)
The dessert sandwich proved much more difficult to decide upon. I woke up in cold sweats. Many nights in a row. Trying to decide between the banana bread sandwich and the banana split sandwich.
So then in true Eats Well With Others fashion, and with a little bit of goading from Brian, I went the way of excess. And just had both. In one.
Oh dear.
I would recommend that you have this for Easter brunch as well. But isn’t this holiday supposed to be about sacrifice? And, well. This sandwich involves nothing but gluttony. Beautiful, glamorous, gluttony.
And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
In case you’re looking for another Easter brunch treat, check out the Italian Easter Bread I made last year! So. Good.
Peanut Butter Banana Bread
Makes 1 9×5-inch loaf, adapted from Cooking Light via Joy the Baker
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup AP flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 (heaping) tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (I used three)
1/3 cup Greek yogurt
1/3 cup creamy all-natural peanut butter
3 tbsp butter, melted
2 large eggs
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1. Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat it to 350. Grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flours, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.
3. In the bowl of your stand mixer, or in another medium bowl, whisk together the mashed bananas, Greek yogurt, peanut butter and butter. Whisk in the eggs and sugar. Blend until no sugar lumps remains.
4. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, stirring until just incorporated. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 55-65 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean (I use chopsticks). Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the pan for 20 minutes before running a butter knife along the edges and inverting it onto a wire rack to cool.
Banana Split Sandwich
Serves 1, adapted from The Encyclopedia of Sandwiches
2 THIN slices of banana bread
butter for greasing bread
1/4 banana, sliced on the diagonal
1 tbsp peanut butter
1-2 tsp chocolate sauce or hot fudge or one Lindt chocolate truffle, sliced
1 tbsp raspberry jam (or strawberry or pineapple or a combination!)
1. Grease both sides of the slices of banana bread with butter. Cook on a grill pan (or stove or George Foreman) for about 2 minutes/side or until nicely browned.
2. Spread peanut butter over one slice. Top with banana. Drizzle chocolate sauce on top or place slices of chocolate on top. Smear jam over the second slice of bread. Sandwich together. Enjoy.
(Vegetarian) Mexican Torta
Makes 1, adapted from The Encyclopedia of Sandwiches
1 tsp canola oil
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
1/4 link (soy)rizo (I used Trader Joe’s brand, you can also sub in 1/4 lb chorizo!)
2 eggs
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1-2 tsp hot sauce
1 tbsp crema (I used Greek yogurt)
1 roll, preferably a telera roll if you can find it!
2 tbsp refried beans
2 slices ripe avocado
1. Warm oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and chorizo and saute about 5 minutes or until meat is browned and crisp. In a small bowl, whisk eggs, salt, pepper and hot sauce. Add to skillet. Stir frequently until eggs are cooked through yet still soft.
2. Spread crema or Greek yogurt on both halves of the roll. On the bottom half, add refried beans. Top with chorizo-egg mixture and avocado. Serve immediately.
I am submitting this to Weekend Herb Blogging which is being hosted by Haalo of Cook (Almost) Anything At Least Once.
DISCLAIMER – Although I received this product for free, I did not receive any monetary compensation for doing this review. My thoughts and feelings on it are entirely my own.
I’m pretty much in love with that banana split sandwich.
I am definitely trying this peanut butter banana bread, I love all the ingredients and I can tell from the photo that it’s delicious!
Ooooh I love that oozing, melty picture in the bottom right hand corner. WANT WANT WANT!
Easter bonus – three recipes in one:) I think you need to indulge in some junk food after this meal – there are far too many healthy components – peanuts, bananas, yogurt, egg, avocado… Have a great Easter.
Wow, those are some sandwiches! That peanut butter bread sounds amazing. So scary if I made it though, I would totally want to make that banana split sandwich!! I don’t think I’ve seen that on a diet before though sadly. 🙂
It doesn’t get much better than that! Love the sandwiches and the photos..so tempting and YUM..Happy Easter to you Joanne!
Oh my gosh Joanne, what are you trying to do to me? ha ha! I have to have that banana split sandwich on that bread and I pretty much want it right now. Holy cow does that look insanely delicious. The problem? It’s going to go straight to my thighs, but at this moment I’m not really sure I’d mind that.
Love these sandwiches Joanne! PB banana bread is one of our favorites over here too. I must get ahold of Foodblogga’s book. Susan is awesome.
i saw your marathon pics on facebook! i’m SO happy/proud/estatic/overjoyed/every awesome word in the world for you!!!! <3 you girl AND this deliciously amazing sammiewhich!
oh geez. I need both, right now! They look so good.
It’s a good thing your thighs couldn’t protest, because these sandwiches sound AMAZING! Chocolate Lindt Balls on a sandwich is probably the best thing I’ve ever heard of.
I am so drooling ….
holy god, joanne. these ‘wiches look DIVINE. why are you doing this to me on passover. WHY?! don’t think i can forgive you for this one.
Had to laugh when I saw your tablecloth. Susan mentions Wonder Bread several times, and the dots made me think of that. Nice touch! 😉
I’ve been so busy with other things (Easter prep, etc.), I haven’t actually gotten a chance to try any of the recipes yet. Can’t wait to dive in. They all look good, but some look/sound AMAZING!!! By the way, your last picture literally made my mouth water (would have drooled, but my mouth was closed). Yummmm!!
Hey, if anyone is reading this, I got a second copy of the book by mistake, so if you check out my page, I’m doing a giveaway … http://hyethymecafe.blogspot.com/2011/04/cookbook-review-and-giveaway.html
YUUUUMMMMMMMM
I tried soyrizo in a vegetarian creole kinda recipe (TJ’s brand) and was very surprised at how tasty it was. This may make it onto my table too.
Those are outrageous sandwiches. I’ll start with the one meant for dessert and move on from there. I hope you have a wonderful weekend and get to enjoy Easter with your family. Blessings…Mary
Dear Joanne, I absolutely agree with you butter is the spice of life. Beautiful “sandwishes”. Have a Happy and Blessed Easter. Catherine xox
I love mexican food and this torta looks great 🙂
I LOVE Sandwiches. The best invention ever. “A sandwich, unlike a restaurant entrée, is a meal eaten in the hand, sometimes hours after it’s prepared. It needs to be constructed so that it doesn’t fall apart. Selecting the right bread is essential – it should be firm enough to absorb moisture without getting soggy, but not so firm that the contents fall out when you clamp your jaw around it. Cheese goes next to the bread to reinforce the structure. Don’t put condiments next to lettuce, or they will slide off, right onto your shirt. Greens should go on top, so that they don’t get crushed, as should anything wet (tomato, for example), so that the bottom of the sandwich doesn’t get damp. Place smaller components, like pickles, between the meat and the cheese, so that they’re held firmly in place. It’s attention to details like these that makes the difference between a good dish and a great one, whether it comes between two slices of bread or not.” ~Tom Colicchio
The A-Z format and each sandwich getting it’s own picture…me thinks this cookbook was made for me. I’ll take one of each, please.
The Torta looks so good, but that banana sandwich is over the top fantastic!
Ha ha , i love Brian too:-)
Specially since i am working out after a LONG break 🙂
And boy u have me totally hungry now , shouldn have here on a day when i have barely eaten anything.
I love SAnd’wches too , way way muc and am always looking forward to learning new ways to get them yummy , specially if it comes from so wonderful a blogger as u , who comes up with deliciousness galore!
I just made banana bread this morning, I think it was fate that I stumbled upon your sandwich, I believe this is going to be my lunch today too!
My sister just turned me on to your blog, I love it!
How funny! You know what? It is breakfast now and I just had peanut butter slathered on toast and thin slices of banana (mashed) onto the PB.
ok, as if the banana bread wasn’t enough delicious, you made it into sandwich with so much that I am drooling here. This is one of the best creations I have seen in a while. Good job Joanne. Love the whole sandwich and feel like eating it now. It is more like a dessert than anything else. Just plain bliss 🙂
i love sandwiches! i am adding that book to my want list. the mexican torta is right up my alley and the dessert sandwich you created would makes scots day. thanks for the recipes!
Two good sandwiches! Oh yes. They are. The peanut butter banana bread is going to top this all off. Bet you could make some sort of mini bread pudding with that too.
Joanne, these sandwiches both are mouthwatering! Great recipes and photos – thanks for sharing! You have a beautiful blog and I’m so glad to have found it. I’m looking forward to exploring your recipes and seeing more! 🙂 – Georgia
There is far too much amazingness here for me to even know where to begin.
Oh! I want one of those banana split sandwiches right now. Love the photos
I got that book to review too and have been trying to decide what sandwiches to make. I’m leaning toward a dessert sandwich now. That looks phenomenal!
I want the Mexican torta for lunch and the banana split sandwich for dessert. Please?
Both sandwiches look unbelievably scrumptious, Joanne! I would absolutely love to sink my teeth into that Mexican Torta- mmmmm, soooo good! 🙂
Hope you and your family have a happy and beautiful Easter!
xx,
Tammy
(p.s. Congrats on your run!!)
I actually yelled the F word (aloud) when I saw that sandwich! The first sandwich…I can’t even talk that sammie has me so drooling….
Go Brian! 🙂 These sandwiches look awesome.
Susan did create an inspirational book, didn’t she? Encyclopedia of Sandwiches made me come up with a few creations of my own in addition to the great recipes she penned.
Awesome photo …im already hungry 🙂
Combining the banana bread and banana split sandwiches is genius! I’m so happy you’re loving the book. It’s a cheerfully chunky little book, isn’t it? 🙂
You are so awesome (you make me laugh and I like that). I’m gonna make that torta this week. As for the peanut butter banana bread? Good for you! You deserve a treat! Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters
Wow! What an incredible sandwich – I’m sure your muscles are feeling recovered now!
I opted out of receiving this book for review because I’m totally not a sandwich person and now I am kicking myself. 🙁
. . . just returned from Good Friday services and looking forward to a vegetarian meal tonight. Your veggie Torta looks fantastic, especially with that wonderful hunk of avocado and soyrizo . . . wow, that’s nice. Your banana sandwich made me smile . . what a great use of a bisected Lindt Truffle. (I recognized that Lindt sphere immediately) 🙂
your killing me with the pictures of those incredible sandwiches! I cant believe you made peanut butter banana bread to use for a sandwich, that is just over the top! I would have just added some bacon…yum!
hope you have a wonderful Easter!
oh.my.gosh.thatsandwichlooksamazing!!! and hey, i still call that healthy, full of protein, and don’t forget the fruit! love it.
Hi Joanne, This is looking absolutely delightful. Very nicely made and presented. Its always fun to see ur appetizing recipes. Saving this recipe of urs and wud love to give ur version a try on the coming weekend. Have a great day !!!
Wow! This sandwich has me speechless 🙂 I have been wanting to make a peanut butter banana bread for a while now, but this sandwich has pushed it right up to the top of my to-do list 🙂 Yum! PS: I have a fun giveaway going on right now…stop by and check it out!
Great sandwich roll– savory and sweet. I think I will go with the savory on this one and save the sweet one with a scoop of ice cream:)
Peanut butter banana bread! Be still my heart. That just sounds so GOOD to me right now! Using it to make a sandwich is insane and of course I love it! The torta looks darn delicious too – I could eat that for my meal and the other for dessert.
HOLY CRAP!!!! THIS LOOKS AMAZING! wow. it’s like a dream, haha. at first i was a bit skeptical about the encyclopedia of sandwiches book, but now i realllyyy want it. you should do marketing for them. hahahaha.
Oh Joanne, you never fail to make me grin. 🙂 I love this outrageous sandwich of yours. 🙂 Reminds me of the banana bread French toast I made. Totally over the top and absolutely fabulous!! You make me smile. 🙂
I can’t decide which of these sammies that I like the best, but I’m going to say the Mexican sandwich hits a homerun with me due to the avocado! I think it is simply awesome that you were in the Marathon. You go, girl! And also I’d like to thank you for your kind comments when you visit me and I hope you have a beautiful, Happy Easter! Now I’m going to go check out the Italian Easter bread that you made last year!
Just curious, how many marriage proposals do you get through your blog on a daily basis? I nearly gave you one after drooling over these glorious sandwiches, despite the fact that 1)I’m heterosexual and 2) I’m already married. Funny, I just made myself some honey peanut butter banana muffins and so I shouldn’t be craving that sandwich as badly as I am. I think it’s the truffle in there that cinches the deal. The whole thing is genius.
OMG all the sandwiches looks awesome. Banana bread with peanut butter yummy. I haven’t tried that combo. Looks like I need to.
My thighs protested just by looking at these but my tongue salivated:) I love the fat torta.I had way too many cupcakes today so I think I ll pick that one.looks scrumptious.
Oh my, these are some decadent sammies! I look forward to reading this book. I think everyone loves sammies best. 😉
Elvis and I thank you for that banana split sandwich!!
Happy Easter!
Best,
Bonnie
omg that peanut butter sandwich looks heavenly! The picture of the peanut butter oozing out is making me drool. I bet that’s the perfect marathon recovery food.
I had no idea you were interested in ER medicine, how cool! For some reason I just assumed you wanted to be an oncologist. Congrats on winning the giveaway and I hope you aren’t too sore still!
Can I come over, and we split half of the vegetarian torta and then half of the banana split sammy? PLEASE?! 🙂
Putting those Lindt’s truffles on there is absolute brilliance!!!! It looks delish. An Easter lunch, perhaps?
And that torta! Yum… Must have and eat immediately.
Les 2 pains sont très gourmands et donnent très envie de mordre dedans.
Joyeuses Pâques et à bientôt;
After your marathon I think your thighs must be demanding these sandwiches. That pb sandwich is insane nuts and now I know I will be thinking about it all day. Curse you!
When I saw those first few pictures, I was like “is that a Lindt truffle, lord of all chocolate creamy goodness, on that peanut butter and banana loaded sandwich??????” Aaaaand, I was right. Ooh, baby. Gimme summa dat sandwich. I’m certainly not opposed to the occasional PB-double banana-choco sandwich, especially not after a MARATHON. Or for an occasional breakfast. Hmm. I wonder if I have any Lindt truffles in the kitchen … ? 😀
Have a lovely weekend, Joanne!
holy heck, look at that last shot with the melty pb and chocolate!!! what an amazing lunch. and that is good advice brian gave you 🙂 i mean, to help you remember how awesome butter is 🙂 did you get your PT to give you a good massage??
OMG. I’m so happy I saw this right now… I couldn’t decide what I wanted for breakfast, but I’m going to do a modified version! (I don’t have the patience to wait for the peanut butter bread to bake, so I’m just gonna add some extra peanut butter and call it a day.) and I think we have lindt truffles!!! score!!!
I NEED to get that book — I love sandwiches! (I’m not that great at making them, but I love seeing what other people come up with)
p.s. your photography. every single post. I have no words.
Ooey, gooey, goodness! Looks healthy to me 🙂 I’ve been reading Food Blogga’s sandwiches too – so tempting, all of them.
Banana. Split. Sandwich. Are you serious?! I’m in love! =)
I’m going to marry the banana peanut butter chocolate raspberry jam sandwich. All on pb banana bread. I am going to marry it and then we will have babies and out babies will be even better because they will also have cinnamon and vanilla almond butter and so many other delicious things…..sigh….
Both of these look amazing but I’m obviously partial to the peanut butter banana bread sandwich. Oh the party I’d have in my mouth with one of those in front of me! Btw, congratulations on finishing Boston! I realize I’m super behind on the times. We can blame the end of fourth year and China for that. Miss you!
Oh yes, I’m in full support of “cutting out healthy shit”. I know that sounds bad but I mean well.
Sandwiches are the solution to all things.
No idea what to eat for lunch?
Sandwich
What to do with leftovers?
Sandwich
Need to loose weight?
Sandwich (hey, if it worked for Jared)
Solution to world peace?
Sandwich
See, everything applies!
Bananas, peanut butter, jam, chocolate…you are a rock star, Joanne. That has got to be the most decadent sandwich I have ever seen.
Joanne, I can’t decide which sandwich I want to try most. I’m automatically drawn to avocado, but the other two look scrumptious also!! MMMMM
This is a cookbook that Joey from Friends would LOVE!! Also, I would too 🙂 I like the idea of a sandwich for dinner AND one for dessert. Why not? They both look like perfection. And I agree with Brian, time to be a bit more naughty, Joanne. Come on, you know you want to 😉
That banana bread sandwich is killing me! Oh, man does that ever look good… Although I’ve used it to make french toast before, I can’t believe I never thought to make a sandwich with it. I think it’s time to make another loaf, asap.
Oh my goodness Joanne, you surprise me every time with your creations! What a scrumptious dish!
Wow! I definitely think the next post will be Elvis is alive and residing in Joanne’s apartment!
Yum! Butter is the spice of my life too, and I generally eat healthy and avoid butter in my dinners since I make so much dessert….
Banana peanut-butter sounds amazing by itself, but in a ‘sandwich’ – yum!
There are so many good things going on in this post! I love Brian’s ideas on cutting out the healthy shit. LOL! MY favorite out of these sandwiches is the raspberry and peanut butter chocolate, banana! Wowza!
is it a sure fire way to finish up those easter eggs? WITH peanut butter as well.. AND banana.. ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Is that drool on my keyboard. I think it’s time to hit the kitchen and have breakfast.
As always, great photos Joanne. Love the sandwiches. I must get a copy of that book. Happy Easter.
HOPPY EASTER !!!
Oh yum. Can you bring one of those to my office right now?
omg! Everything you cooked are so deliiiiiiiiiiiiicious! Seriously…the photos are almost edible! Gosh..that sandwich…oh man..just too good!
Happy Easter!
I don’t know what is more exciting your dating life or your recipes! Here this sandwich is so tantalizing I found myself daydreaming about eating it right this minute!
Over the top and, as you would say, rock-star delicious! Very tempting. (I’m loving the Encyclopedia of Sandwiches, too. Great book.)
Yum…yum…and more yum. I don’t even know where to start with how good these look. I have heard of this cookbook and am wildly intrigued. I did not hold the sandwich in high esteem until I married a true sandwich connoisseur. Now that I have discovered their magic, I need to start collecting some great recipes like these:) Thanks for sharing:)
Wow what great sandwiches!!! I bookmarked that bread when I saw it on Joy’s site a while back. Love all things peanut butter and bananas!
Wow I love that you used banana bread to make this sandwich. Deliciousness overload! Again, loving the veg dishes. Keep ’em coming and Happy Easter!
Oh my these just look beyond awesome!! I can see that I need to be making this Banana Bread like tomorrow!
This is one heck of a sandwich Joanne! Loaded with flavors and very fulfilling!
WOAH! The ultimate sandwich <3
You won my giveaway! Email me your address so I can send it out ASAP!
Bananas and peanut butter….the perfect combo.
I’m completely drooling here. These sandwiches look better than any I’ve had in a long, long time!
I’m so glad I happened across your blog!
And here I’m going to try and cut out sugar. You are NOT a very nice person.
Great photos and some very unique sandwiches
here 🙂
I want that lunch too!! Brian is fabulous 🙂
oh my gosh!!!!
that pb, banana, chocolate sandwich looks soo good!
that last picture with the gooeyness seriously made me drool.
ahhh!
excellent selections, joanne! lunch and dessert, avocados and nanner bread, done and done. 🙂
I love everything you have on this page!!! Viva gluttony! Girl, you just ran the Boston Marathon! You deserve it!! You can’t take it with you! Though I’m pretty sure heaven is paved with these banana split sandwiches.
Oh, how I miss a good ol’ torta!
now those are what I call sandwiches – lovely yummy scrummy fillings – if I had the energy to make such deliciousness I would eat sandwiches for lunch everyday
Both sandwiches look delicious. I am taken with the fact that you put one of my favorite melty truffle balls on the desert sandwich–genius! That bread is pretty darn incredible too. 😉
Both of these sandwiches rock! I’m drooling!
Wow! Would love to have the Mexican torta for lunch then a piece of the banana split sandwich for lunch. 😉
Oops I mean for dessert! Haha.
Wow! At first I thought that was a cadbury cream egg on the sandwich… Just imagine how amazing THAT would be! Next time?
Oh, amazing. I’m so hungry now….must…satisfy…with…banana split sandwich!