School is in full swing for us in San Francisco, and for his lunchbox today, my son requested a sandwich we had over the weekend.  It's a simple sandwich made in the style of sandwiches I remember tasting in Italy and Paris - minimally accessorized, giving the few fillings easy prominence without a lot of competition.

I've always had a hard time with sandwiches that are piled high with an inch of meat and all kinds of sauces and condiments.  Maybe that's why I was drawn to the simple sandwiches I had in Europe.  They were usually served with just 1 or 2 slices of deli meat and cheese, and condiments such as mayo or mustard were optional.  I remember tasting a sandwich with JUST ham and cheese (no mayo, no mustard) and marveling at how good it tasted!  I was able to really taste the ham, cheese, and bread, and boy! were they delicious on their own.

Ham and Brie is a classic French combination which is delightful in a sandwich.  I used Trader Joe's Aioli Garlic Mustard Sauce and added a handful of peppery arugula for an extra layer of flavors, but you could leave the mustard or arugula out if you're going for a really mild sandwich, or if you're assembling more than a few hours in advance.

Enjoy these at school, the office, or on a picnic, and imagine yourself relaxing at a cafe in Paris!

Ham and Brie Sandwich Recipe

1 serving baguette or French bread
1-2 slices Healthy Ham or your favorite ham
1 oz Brie cheese, sliced
1 tsp Aioli Garlic Mustard Sauce
Handful arugula leaves

1. Slice baguette open; toast if desired.
2. Spread mustard on bread.  Assemble sandwich with Brie, ham, and arugula.

Prep time: 5 minutes
Serves 1

Gluten-free option: Use brown rice bread.
Vegetarian option: Substitute roasted red pepper slices for the ham.