I’ve created a monster.

I know that’s what you’re thinking.

I can read minds. And see dead people.

If only that weren’t. Quite. So. Literal.


Speaking of which. And complete random side note.

This whole dissection thing may actually be starting to bother me. I’ve been having nightmares. About small intestines.

Which is weird. On a number of levels. The primary of which being that we haven’t even gotten to dissecting the small intestine yet. (Oh yes, Joanne, THAT is why it’s weird. This is where you start to back away. Slowly.)

Although, considering the fact that the two things I think about most are anatomy lab and food. Maybe it’s not SO weird. Sometimes I even think about food while in anatomy lab. (Unfortunate side effect of formaldehyde – hunger. So you’ll be standing there with your hands immersed in the thoracic cavity. Thinking. Wow I’d really like a roast beef sandwich for lunch.)
The strange and unusual inner workings of my subconscious notwithstanding.

We haven’t gotten to the small intestine yet.

Rather, this week is heart and lungs. And oh look, I brought home a sample specimen to show you (!):
Okay. I lied. That is not a human heart.

That is a beet.

Which brings me back to my first sentence.

I’ve created a monster.

Somehow. I’ve gone from being a beet hater. To a beet eater. In a week. Whoever said personality change was hard? Obviously has never been a food blogger.

It doesn’t hurt that beets are so damn photogenic.
To be fair. These beet buns from HBinFive. Taste very little like beets. And very much like onion (since they also have onion in them). More important than that. They are moist and delicious.

But in case you weren’t convinced. (I can’t believe you don’t trust me. I’m hurt. I really am.) I made a sandwich with them. With bacon. Because I know that even if you don’t like beets. You love bacon.

Grilled Turkey, Bacon, Arugula, and Blue Cheese Sandwich on Red Beet Buns
Serves 2, adapted from Bon Appetit Fast/Easy/Fresh

2 tbsp mayo/greek yogurt
2 tbsp blue cheese (I used cranberry blue cheese from Trader Joe’s)
2 red beet buns or any buns of your choice – I recommend ones with onions in them, for an extra dimension of flavor.
arugula (Original recipe called for radicchio. But who knows where I can even find such a thing at the moment.)
6 oz turkey (I used organic southwestern flavored turkey from Whole Foods)
6 slices bacon (I used turkey bacon)

Microwave or cook bacon until it reaches the desired level of crispiness. I opted for VERY crispy.

Mash mayonnaise and blue cheese in bowl to coarse puree; season with pepper. Place bread on work surface. Divide cheese mixture among bread slices, spreading evenly. Divide bacon, radicchio, and turkey between 2 bread slices. Top with remaining bread, cheese side down.

Grill sandwich in a panini press/George Foreman or cook it a la grilled cheese style in a pan on the stove.

This bread has been yeastspotted! It is also a part of the HBinFive round-up that will be hosted by Michelle at Big Black Dog later this month! And it is my submission to this week’s Souper Sundays!
On to a few random tidbits.

A reminder – Regional Recipes. Will be hosted HERE. At this very blog. February 28th. The theme – Middle Eastern food. We have some wonderful submissions already. But there is always room for more. See this post for the rules. And send me your entries – [email protected].

A thank you. To all of the bloggers who have given me awards recently. I know I got some from Chow and Chatter, An Edible Mosaic, Vanillastrawberryspringfields, SE Denufood, and My Year On The Grill to name a few. I am so honored that you guys not only like my food but like it ENOUGH to give me an award.

My most recent award, from Dave over at My Year On The Grill, is called the “Creative Writer Bald-Faced Liar” Blogger Award. For those of us who have a tendency to exaggerate the truth. Slightly. Originally I was not quite sure whether to be offended or grateful. I’m going with grateful. I only tell white lies after all. The stipulation: I am supposed to tell you seven things about myself. Six of which will be false.

Here goes.

1.I have five siblings, the youngest of whom is 13. None of us are twins, triplets, etc. My parents were pretty busy from 1987 through 1996. Obviously.
2. I have never broken a bone in my body. Ever. Needless to say, I had a very sheltered childhood.
3. I am afraid of the dark and sleep with a night light.
4. I love driving and got my license as soon as humanly possible. Or when I was 17, per NYC laws.
5. I have never worked in retail ever. Nor do I ever plan to.
6. I am a total neat freak. Typical Type A personality. My room is practically sterile.
7. I have 20/20 vision (or close to it).

So which one do you think is true?

You are reading this post on Eats Well With Others at https://joanne-eatswellwithothers.com. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author and or owner of Eats Well With Others. All rights reserved by Joanne Bruno.
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72 Responses to Grilled Turkey, Bacon, Arugula, and Blue Cheese Sandwiches on Red Beet Buns

  1. That looks like the most amazing sandwich ever! I love everything about it!

  2. Kim says:

    I was so excited to see how the red beet buns turned out. Love all the gruesome looking pics of you grating the beets. The sandwich sounds excellent with the blue cheese, turkey and bacon- yum! Congrats on your awards! That last one is kinda fun.
    I’m debating which one might be true and I think it might be that you are afraid of the dark and sleep with a nightlight. I’m not sure why. It seems like the best answer. You’ll have to tell us which one is right.

  3. Faith says:

    Lol, it’s funny, I never realized how gruesome beets could look! But still, I love them. Hmmm, applying that same logic, I wonder if I should give sweetbreads a try! (They’re one of Mike’s fav dishes when we go out…despite his pestering I still haven’t been willing to give them a try! 😉 )

    LOVE that sandwich…honestly, if I had to pick just 1 sammy to eat for the rest of my life it would probably be that!

    I’m going to guess that #1 is true.

  4. Debbie says:

    The sandwich looks like it would make a fantastic lunch or dinner. Just beautiful!!!! Never cared much for beets but maybe they would be ok in bread!

  5. I think you haven’t worked retail.
    Love the beet buns! And that sammie is a work of both art and love. Yum!
    (beet lover!)

  6. ruchikacooks says:

    Growing up with siblings is always fun! and you were the fantastic five of NYC? I guess that one has to be true as you spilled the beans about your bro in mine 🙂

    The beets have a gorgeous color, thought it was meat for sure..red beets, green herbs and the white all reminds me of italian flad,like Giada always says!

  7. My husband hates beets but I maybe able to slip them in this way. There are so many health benefits to beets that I want to take advantage of.

    Congrats on the awards 🙂

  8. I bequeth all beets to you… enjoy

    And you have never worked retail, and you should be honored. i love all recipe blogs, but yours is worth reading

  9. don’t worry! i won’t be ending the blog! your comment made me soo happy/tearful! i have issues with believing in myself! =(
    i will not doubt myself anymore! =)
    try the sunbutter! it’s not as GREAT as tj’s (the jar of which is on its way to a fast demise) but it’s not too shabby!

  10. Bob says:

    Holy crap, that’s a sandwich! Love it, even though it has beets in it. Heh.

    I’m going to say… 7 is true.

  11. KC says:

    This is a great turkey sandwich! Looking forward to sending a recipe for Regional Recipes.

  12. Ann says:

    Hmmm- I’m guessing you are the Type A neat freak clean freak person.
    Wow – beets in bread? And your crazy shredded beet pics are SO apropos…..
    I can totally relate to the dissection dreams. When i took Zoology in college, we had a 4 week session in dissecting a mouse. The EXACT 4 weeks that I stupidly decided to try out going vegan for Lent.
    the dreams I had during that period…are not fit for any comment box….

  13. wow thats what I call a sandwich great job

  14. teresa says:

    i love the buns, i can’t wait to make them myself! the color is fantastic! congrats on your awards!!

  15. Mo Diva says:

    yes, anything with bacon is delicious… even chocolate!

    those buns look good… and I love the GORY lookin ones! hahaha bloody looking

  16. Amy says:

    When I read the title of the post I was surprised because A) you rarely eat meat and B) I know you are not fond of beets (understatement.)

    That sandwich does resemble a monster, but in a Scully-Monsters-Inc. sort of way. I love all the ingredients, so why not mingle them? Sounds like a lot of intense flavor.

    I might add, I find it slightly disturbing that you’re writing about small intestine carving, while showing us pictures of graded red beets.

    Now, about this list of lies…. hmm. Here, I think I know you and I’m sort of at a loss. I’m going to say you have 20/20 vision. ???

  17. I’ve never had beets that I liked, so maybe its time I revisited that one!

    I am going to say that the true part of 7 things about you is that you have never broken a bone. I must have had a sheltered childhood as well, because neither have I!

  18. Ha ha ha…hey cutie pie u know am so so glad to have company coz i felt exactly the same about the award though did think of it as exaggeratn the truth…not even slightly but took me awhile to be ‘happy or honoured about this one but i skipped along being happyy and actually enjoyed writin the post on this….had fun and was giggling all the way thru…..

    After reading Dave’s un truths was a little or rather totally lost in the big bad world in my tiny cocoon but regained composure soon enuf to write and all s left is a cook up for the post…hehehe

    Can see that u didn pass it on….smart ….

    me too wondering if they’ll like slam it as not positive :-)))

    Those pics of ur beets?????a pic to prove or drive home what u say???hehehehehehe

    I think u never worked retail and never will….
    do tell us ..we are all waiting so….

    and yeah they do look like cheery toms and have a tangy sweet taste …evn tossed ’em in a salad with spinach and cottage cheese and they held their own but have no idea wht they called…thanx a ton and have a rocking lovely day….

  19. aAnd have evry mind to include u in my list to pass the award too….
    no rules to ban me u c…and im honestly one of those who so love and look very foward to all ur posts …evr since u introduced me to have the cake…cant forget that coz love it so and looking foward to red velvet this month…..

  20. Love the sandwich! So huge and the beet buns look good!

  21. SnoWhite says:

    those beet biscuits look yummy!

  22. I adore this sandwich!!!! Beets are awesome, and I agree, totally photogenic! 🙂

    I am going to go with – you never worked in retail. 🙂

  23. I’d rather have that kind of red on my hands any day! Your sandwich looks so good! I’m looking forward to trying this recipe. Somehow, I don’t think Cookie Monster has to worry about being usurped by the Beet Monster 🙂

  24. doggybloggy says:

    dang thats one good looking beet! and your sandwich is like one of those pages of the flags of the world – you have every single color in there but blue!

  25. OMG, the pics are great and the sandwich looks delish!!! You crack me up.

  26. Deeelicious sandwich! Yummers! 🙂 You so better be telling us what the true one is tomorrow. 🙂

  27. SE says:

    totally photogenic and a wholesome sandwich !!! I guess will like to know the truth from you..:-)

  28. Karine says:

    These are original buns!

    I am a bit clueless for the true statements. It might be the siblings one but I am sure it is not the driving one.

  29. Pam says:

    The sandwich looks fantastic – I love the beet buns.

  30. im not fond of beets but you got me at bacon … your posts are always engaging… enteraining and witty … hmm i just love it!

  31. PJ says:

    i am gonna say the driving bit is true, is it? Lovely use of beet buns.. the story about intestines intertwines with grating of beets pictures is sure potent 😀 congrats on the awards, love the stride with which you took the last award!

  32. Cristie says:

    I was sorta on the fence about the beet buns, but these look out of this world. I love beets, just not sure about the bread thing. Your sandwich looked fantastic!

  33. sophia says:

    Holy shit. If that was on the menu in a restaurant, you bet your ass I would order that!!! Mmmmm~~~~

    Girl, you’re one hell of a baker. Bake something for me!!!

    p.s. See you in BlogHer!!! 😀

  34. Shirley says:

    Type A personality ha? So thats how you can manage college, anatomy, assignments, cooking delicious, blogging crazy and networking! The secret is out now.
    Good looking dish. Didnt know you were an ex- beet- hater. Here are some of my beets. Specially designed for the kid who hates beet. (No I didnt mean you!). Do check them.
    Beet Jam-
    http://enrichingyourkid.blogspot.com/2009/10/beetroot-jam.html
    Beet Cutlets-
    http://enrichingyourkid.blogspot.com/2009/11/beetroot-cutlets.html
    Beet Parathas-
    http://enrichingyourkid.blogspot.com/2009/09/beetroot-paratha.html

  35. Debinhawaii says:

    I am thinking it’s the not ever working retail but I am so trusting I believe anything. 😉

    The rolls look wonderful on their own and just spectacular with the bacon )oh, and the other sandwich fixins too!) Thanks for sending them to Souper Sundays.

  36. Marisa says:

    First off, let me say the colour of that bun looks beautiful! Makes quite a big statement. (Pondering: *mmmm, wonder if I can MAKE beetroot buns?*)

    As for the truth/lies bit… I’m pretty sure nr 1 is a big fat lie, you’ve talked about your family before, but never THAT many siblings.

    And for some reason I think you’re like me and HATE driving (I only got my license at 26!).

    My guess is the retail one is the only truth. So am I right?? Keep us posted!

  37. My partner looked over when I opened up this post and drooled a bit on my laptop. Looks delicious!

  38. The sandwich sounds fab, and the picture of the beat/human heart is lovely. But I just cannot get myself to like beets. Maybe that bread would change that?

  39. JUST found your blog (as in 10 seconds ago) and LOVE it! Just wanted to say hi 😉

    — and that you’ve ruined my day. why, you ask? because no matter how hard I try — i will NEVER be able to make a sandwich that tasty 😉

  40. Karen says:

    I think #5 is true. Love the beet rolls… going to have to look that up in my book. The sandwich sounds amazing – as anything with bleu cheese would!

  41. Maria says:

    Love this! What a great sandwich!

  42. Chef Aimee says:

    It looks to me like you just gave every other sandwich in existence a complex…LOL! Awesome! 🙂

  43. Sophie says:

    Waw,..;what a grand filled sandwich!! I so love your beetroot rolls!

  44. Gulmohar says:

    lol.. but somehow in my Zoology lab ,food was the last thing that came to my mind…:-).love your writing..,and so I love beets. This is a great sandwich

  45. Yum Yucky says:

    that’s the prettiest dang beet i’ve ever seen! this whole thing is making me hungry-er.

  46. theUngourmet says:

    Such a cool photo of the beet! This bread is so unique. I’d love to try it!! Your sandwich looks killer too!

    It was fun reading about you. Congrats!

  47. Wow, I love the idea of red beet buns and the sandwich sounds totally awesome!

  48. Katy ~ says:

    What a hoot. Beet buns. Well that’s a new one on me. Just when i thought I had heard it all you come up with this. Well I’m a big fan of beets, love bread, so I’m thinking this bread is a total winner.

  49. How gorgeous, different and grand! I want to like beets now too just so I can take photos – they really are photogenic! I’m going to guess #1 is true 🙂

  50. What a fancy-shmancy looking sandwich! It’s better than something I would get in a gourmet sandwich shop. How delicious! I was thinking 7 but I’m going to go with 6.

  51. Mari says:

    I think you outdid yourself! that sammie looks amazing

  52. Nicole, RD says:

    20/20 vision!

    Beet bun? YUM! Your food is always SO creative and unique! Love it!

  53. Velva says:

    I would say #1 is the truth!
    The first thing I thought of when I saw grated beets was she is eating beets!!! She really does like them! Then my second thought was how food
    ( the beet) represents the anatomy lab-YIKES!!! I was on my game this evening reading your blog.

    Congratulations on the award.

  54. Peabody says:

    Red Beet Buns sounds awesome. I’ve used them in quick breads but this idea is new. Cool.

  55. Graziana says:

    These sandwiches looks like a real treat! I love their colour and the ingredients combo you used

  56. Muneeba says:

    I go away to have a baby for 2 weeks, and look at what u get up to! I’m still reading thru all the other posts to catch up .. but had to comment on this one, ‘coz I’m SO impressed with those beet buns. They. Are. GORGEOUS. Btw, thks for stopping by my blog and sending your best wishes for my new baby boy! (don’t tempt me with your offer to baby-sit)

  57. Danielle says:

    you made them already? I don’t like beets so I’ve been hesitant but since you say they don’t taste much like beets and more like onions and i LOVE onions…ok ok…I’ll make them.

  58. love the picture of the human heart…aka beet.
    Interesting idea to make beet buns.

  59. Mimi says:

    You don’t realize how surreal it is to only visit here on YeastSpotting day. You really don’t, lol!!

    I think you come from a large family.

    That sandwich is awesome!

  60. Mama Lisha says:

    Thought you might enjoy my blog post, “Heart BEETS”… Enjoyed reading yours for the first time, will follow it.

  61. Michelle says:

    Glad to hear the beet buns were so good! But the sandwich you served with the bun sounds out of this world fantastic! WOW!

  62. Love those buns – I vote for #5.

  63. Kerstin says:

    What gorgeous bread! I’m inspired!

  64. megan says:

    Oh, I cant wait to make my beet bread now. Yours looks awesome! Maybe I should go with a full batch. I did my 1/2 batch of the chocolate and I’m kicking myself for not doing a full batch. It was delicious. Much more then I expected.
    I dont believe the drivers licence one.

  65. Bonnie says:

    I was sort of thinking that I might skip the beet buns for the next HB in Five and going right for the expresso bread, but I might have to rethink. They’re really that good? They sure are pretty.

  66. Foodycat says:

    You should have saved this post for valentine’s day – your beet heart is so cute!

    I am so happy to see this recipe – I’ve had beetroot in my vegetable box for the last 3 weeks and I’ve run out of ways to use them! Beet cake, beet gnocchi, beet chips, beet dip…

  67. Very interesting story and great photos of the beet. I’ll have to take your word on how good it is. I’m going to skip this one.

  68. Ezzie says:

    Another funny and great post. Glad you have learned to love beets!

  69. Bonnie says:

    This is so funny. I too liked this bread.

  70. I just LOVE your posts! Even when my computer froze up, I had to come back to your blog.

    Congratulations on your well-deserved award! 🙂

    Beautiful buns. I still don’t think I’ll eat a beet bun. But if you bring one by, I’ll give it a try.

  71. Darlene says:

    I love your photos and the blog is hilarious! And you are a baker and studying to be a Doctor? Is there anything you CAN’T do????

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