Hi everyone!
I successfully completed my much needed and exciting excursion after work today – I’ll show you what it was tomorrow…you’ll understand in the a.m.! 
Day 3 of dinner a la Ben was ready for me when I came home and I was SO excited. I picked up a vegetarian enchilada for lunch today and it was not good. Not good at all, my friends. I got it from a place that I usually LOVE to eat at, but they definitely missed with this dish! That said, I had ~4 bites and tossed. I couldn’t bring myself to eat anymore of it!
Needless to say, I was ready for Iowa Boy Eats’ Dinner #3: Cuban Sandwiches and Tots!
Yes – TOTS!
I know I told you that Ben likes eating healthy like I do – but the man has a serious weakness for tator tots. I’m talking, used to line full cookie sheets with rows of the little potato soldiers and eat them all. You can’t really blame him though – who can resist those crunchy, popable bites of hot potato? I mean really?
The Cuban Sandwich was made with a crusty french roll layered with leftover Apricot Glazed Pork, thinly sliced deli ham, swiss cheese, pickles and dijon mustard. Oh my…
A good Cuban Sandwich, in our opinion, is melty, hot and crusty. To get that signature, crusty crunch he was after, Ben rigged up a homemade sandwich press by placing our sandwiches on a hot skillet and placing a hot cookie sheet with our crock pot insert on top!
Clever!
Wow…wow…WOW! This sandwich was insane! The sweetness of the apricot glaze melded perfectly with the vinegary tang of the mustard and pickles.
The crunchy bread and gooey cheese? A match made in sandwich-Heaven.
Ben is THREE FOR THREE with tonight’s dinner. It even got an “I freaking love” award! It’s true. I’m perfectly full and content.
I’m heading off to my brother and sister-in-law’s house to play with Finn for the evening – I can’t wait! Ooo, I even got him a little homecoming present!
Aren’t baby clothes awesome?!
Have a great night!
~~~~~
Do you prefer hot or cold sandwiches?
Honestly, I don’t think I can stand cold, deli sandwiches. I especially hate buying them because I feel like I could make them just as easily at home. There’s just something really special about a hot and melty sandwich, in my opinion!
What a great idea of pressing the sandwich! Who needs a panini press. I am stealing this idea
That sandwich looks sooo good.
I always prefer hot sandwiches to cold. I am a warm / hot food person!
Ben is on a serious roll. I wouldn’t put any kind of stop to this if I were you. Soak it up while it lasts!!!
I am definitely a hot sammie gal too. I love heating up every kind, even PB&J. Have you ever had a warm PB&J? Oh my, it’s glorious. Everything melts together and becomes gooey and amazing. You must try this! Just cook it like you would a grilled cheese and be prepared to be BLOWN AWAY!
Hot, toasted, or grilled no contest! I always request it when I eat out too.
LOVE hot sandwiches too! I also LOVE that you had tater tots:) There are a lot of restaurants that serve them now….grrrrreat idea! Definitely goooood eats!!!!
Sorry the lunch sucked, but dinner definetely made up for it!
Cute little sweatshirt for baby Finn:)
Love the home-made panini maker!! Fantastic! And Tots all the way!
Honestly, I’ve never really had many hot sandwiches…but I love toast with PB&J…so that kinda counts right?! I totally agree about buying cold deli sandwiches…I know a lot of people who go to Subway or something and get sandwiches – and don’t get me wrong they’re great (love them piled high on doughy bread) – but I usually just feel I can make them at home too.
Thanks for visiting my blog – please add me to your blog-roll if it’s okay with you – I’d love to increase my readers. Have a good night!
Hot! I press all my sandwiches in the foreman, my favorite gadget.
Holy YUM! I just showed this entry to my Cuban boyfriend and even though he’s a total Cuban sandwich snob, even he had to admit that your dinner looks incredible!
P.S. I will always have a weakness for tots. Let’s not even talk about cheese-covered tots. Or chili cheese tots. It might get ugly.
Those sandwiches look so good! I have a weakness for tots too! Have you ever dipped them in a wedge of Laughing Cow? It’s amazing!
That trick always works. My mom would use her cast iron pan on top.
I love warm sandwiches because I don’t take the time to do it at home so I love to order them out.
I haven’t had tator tots in forever but I love them and your sandwich looks really good! I’m definitely more of a fan of hot sandwiches.
Your hubby is awesome!! I love your din tonight, and the crock pot make-shift sammie press is genius
Good cook + smart boy = keeper 
I like hot sammies mostly, however on a really hot day I really do enjoy a delicious cold veggie filled pita or sub!!
Wow that sandwich looks great! Way to go, Ben. I prefer hot sandwiches when I’m going out, because I’m just like you…I can make a cold sandwich at home. The only exception is PB&J, I could eat those anytime.
Wow! All the dinners Iowa Boy Eats made are bookmark worthy. I’d love to try making these for my family when I go home. You are one lucky lady.
in theory – you could probably make homemade tater tots and they’d be healthier. but it also may be tons and tons of work!
i like warm sandwiches – tuna melt! hello! grilled veggie sandwiches, YUM!
Hmmm… I hope you’re not talking about Gateway Market’s veggie enchilada because it looks so yummy on the menu and a friend just absolutely LOVES it. I haven’t had it yet…Maybe whoever made it was having an off day?
You guys have been eating a lot of little piggies lately, huh? I’m not a big fan of pork, but the meals look fab!
Me and the boyfriend to the ghetto-fied version of the skillet as well. But, we usually use a pan with a plate or bowl on top. Works like magic! Who needs fancy cookware?
Totally loving the CUBAN’s…….yummy! My tummy just grawled! =O
The only sandwiches I like cold are chicken and tuna salad. Otherwise it’s gotta be piping hot and gooey!