De-construction is an up-and-coming trend in the culinary world today. De-construction uses classic recipes in a new way to showcase your favorites in a unique way. Soups and other casseroles or dishes are separated and the individual components are highlighted as individual pieces of the total dish. For instance, “de-constructing” a soup to an entrée, presents the meat as the main protein, the vegetable ingredients as the sides and the broth becomes an au jus or is thickened to a sauce. Classics are given a new face with a familiar comfort food palate.

By highlighting each individual ingredient, the cook is given the creative license to enhance flavors and personalize the presentation. Taking the vegetable ingredients from a soup or casserole and changing their identity to a meal’s side dish brings them to the forefront and their serving size is usually enlarged. Developing your favorite broth or cream soup to a full-flavored sauce

This is a simple twist on a classic comfort food that makes enjoying your favorites even more fun! As it applies to sandwiches, here are some ideas for doing some of your own de-construction:

Chicken Casserole Ciabatta: Dice steamed broccoli, cooked white rice, shredded cheese and savory chicken breast topped with a few spoonfuls of warmed cream of chicken soup.

Turkey Dinner Wrap: On a medium, flour tortilla set slices of turkey, spread two teaspoons of your favorite dressing (a.k.a. stuffing) and a light touch of cranberry jelly. Wrap and enjoy this abbreviated turkey dinner!

Baked Potato Pockets: Cube cooked white potatoes and combine with sour cream, bacon bits and chives for a twist on baked potatoes.

Chicken Soup Sandwich: Cube cooked chicken and combine with steamed, cubed carrots and celery. Add crushed chow mein noodles and toss with chicken broth. Serve inside a warmed pita.

Vegetable Soup Sandwich: Cube steamed carrots, celery and onion. Mix with tomato sauce and serve inside a warmed pita.

Roast Beef Dinner Wrap: Combine mashed potatoes with cubed carrots, green peas and chopped roast or pork. Top with gravy and wrap for a single portion of this popular home-cooked meal!

A key advantage of de-construction sandwiches is carrying a healthy, favorite meal in a convenient sandwich to work, a picnic or a party. Eating a healthy homemade sandwich is a distinct quality improvement over most fast food offerings. Plus, the simple comfort of knowing what is included in the ingredients and how your food was prepared gives peace of mind to many individuals. This is a positive note especially for those who are particularly sensitive to preservatives or other ingredients sometimes “hidden” in today’s mass-produced food items. Possibilities are endless with this new “de-construction” trend. You are limited only by your own creativity!