Tuna Boats

I realize I haven't actually posted a recipe lately on this blog because I've been too busy going here and there all summer but let me assure you, I have been eating and not just at restaurants.  Our usual meal consists of some type of grilled meat on the barbecue with salad or zucchini or corn or other summer vegetable.  Pretty simple, nothing fancy.  And since we still have a freezer full of fish from Bruce's fishing trip, we have no shortage of supply of fish which is what we usually barbecue.  Last week we had fish 3 times, as you can see why.

Chicken is the second most popular choice, or game hens or something like that.  I admit, however, I have been lazy this summer and I've been buying those salmon and hamburger patties of different flavors at Whole Foods which are delicious on the barbecue, too. Shopping at Whole Foods can make you a lazy cook because all their pre-made stuff is so delicious!  

Recently, I made a family favorite we call Tuna Boats.  These make for a very simple meal and kids love them because they are sort of like individual pizzas (only healthy) that you can pick up and eat.  Finger foods are always a winner with kids, you know.  With all the interesting kinds of breads in the grocery store these days, I decided to use sandwich thins instead of the usual hoagie rolls.

These sandwich thins have 7 grams of fiber each which is really good for a skinny little piece of bread.  Original recipes of tuna boats (often called tuna melts) use English muffins or hot dog buns but now we can be adventurous with all the options available.

Serves 4

1 (12-ounce) can solid white tuna, drained
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 peeled cucumber, seeds removed and chopped
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1/2 cup chopped pickles (or less but I like lots of pickles)
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
splash of pickle juice
4 sandwich thins, halved
8 slices of tomatoes
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1.  Put tuna in bowl and flake with a fork.

2.  Add celery.

3.  Remove seeds from cucumber by slicing cucumber lengthwise

then scoop out seeds with a spoon

chop and add to tuna.

4. Add onion.

5.  Add pickles.  

I use spicy pickles which are like sweet pickles but very spicy and delicious.

6.  Combine tuna mixture well.

At this point you better be careful because the aroma of the tasty tuna will be attracting some unwanted guests.

7.  Mix mayonnaise, mustard and pickle juice and add to tuna mixture.

8.  Toast the sandwich thins and spread tuna mixture on each half.

9.  Top each half with tomato (which we have plenty of from the garden right now!)

10.  Top with grated cheese.

11.  Place under the broiler for 5 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.

And since they are called tuna boats, that's when you place a little cucumber sail on each one.  Better hurry up and eat them before they sail away!