Hot Italian-style Vegetable Hero

Total Time: 32 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 17 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 loaf italian bread (or french bread)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 large yellow onion, julienned
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 medium carrots, peeled and julienned
• 1/2 medium sweet red pepper, cored, seeded, and julienned
• 1 medium zucchini, julienned
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground (i use peppercorn melange)
• 1/4 lb muenster cheese, sliced (low sodium)

Recipe

• 1 preheat broiler.
• 2 slice the italian bread in half lengthwise. scoop out the center of each half.
• 3 place the two halves, cut side up, on a baking sheet. place in oven, 4 inches from the heat, and broil for 1 minute or until lightly toasted. remove from oven and set aside.
• 4 heat the olive oil in a 10 inch skillet over medium heat. add onion and garlic. cook, uncovered, until soft (about 5 minutes).
• 5 add the carrots, red pepper, zucchini and cook, covered, until the carrots are tender (about 8 minutes).
• 6 stir in the tomato sauce and spices. simmer, uncovered, for 2 minutes.
• 7 spoon the vegetable mixture into the bottom half of the bread. top with cheese.
• 8 broil for 1 minute, or until the cheese is melted (watch carefully).
• 9 remove from baking sheet and transfer to a cutting board or other surface. top with the upper half of the bread.
• 10 cut into 4 sandwiches and serve immediately.