Recipe(tried): Raspberry Balsamic Chicken, Cheese, Bacon, and Spinach Sandwich, Senate Bean Soup

The night before last, I made Gladys' Raspberry Balsamic Chicken
Gladys' Raspberry Balsamic Chicken for dinner. Since I only cooked 3 chicken breasts, rather than the 4 the recipe calls for, there wasn't enough left for DH and myself to have as leftovers for dinner so I created the following sandwich for us to have for lunch. I also have been hungry for U.S. Senate Bean Soup and have usually bought Dominique's which I love. However, at $2.69/can (at least that is what it costs here), last night, I decided to make my own. I mean, we are talking beans here! $2.69/can is highway robbery!! Normally, I might not serve the 2 together (This sandwich and this soup), but that is how it turned out with what I had on hand. DH said it was too much for lunch so I think that this would make a really nice supper as well.

Raspberry Balsamic Chicken, Cheese, Bacon and Spinach Sandwich 2 sandwiches

Bread, your choice (I used Canadian Oatmeal but
I think croissants would have been awesome)
Raspberry Balsamic Chicken, thinly sliced
Cheese of your choice (I used thinly sliced
cheddar on DH's and Jarlsberg Lite on mine
because that is what I had. Havarti or
Muenster would have been wonderful,
too.)
Red Onion, thinly sliced (to taste on each
sandwich)
4 slices bacon, cooked until crisp
Spinach or baby spinach leaves, stems removed
Mayonnaise mixed with some of the sauce leftover
from the chicken
Salt and Pepper to taste

Spread some of the mayonnaise mixture on each side of bread. Layer thinly sliced chicken, salt and pepper to taste, thinly sliced red onion, bacon, cheese, and spinach leaves on 2 of the slices. Top with the other slices. Cut in half and serve.

Another idea for this sandwich would be to make it into a grilled sandwich or panini type of sandwich. Instead of mixing the sauce with the mayonnaise, eliminate the mayonnaise, and spread some of the leftover sauce on 2 sides of bread. Layer the ingredients as above and maybe, but not necessarily, eliminate the spinach. Top with othet 2 slices of bread. Lightly butter the outside pieces of bread and grill until brown and crispy and cheese is melted. Cut in half and serve hot.
You could also toast the bread, then layer everything except the spinach on each sandwich. Broil under a broiler until cheese is melted. Top with spinach and other pieces of toast. Cut in half and serve hot.

U.S. Senate Bean Soup

1 lb dried white beans & water to soak
1 meaty ham bone or 2 smoked ham hocks
3 qts water (12 cups)
3 medium onions, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 stalks celery, finely chopped
1/2 c. carrots, finely chopped (I added this for
color. Carrots are not in the original recipe.)
1/4 c parsley, chopped
1 c cooked mashed potatoes, or 1/3 c instant flakes (I used homemade mashed potatoes.)
1/4 t pepper, and salt to taste

Soak beans overnight. Drain and place them with the ham or ham hocks in a large (5 qt) pot. Add 3 qts water. Boil, reduce heat and simmer over low heat, partially covered for 2 hrs. Remove ham hocks and cut meat off of the bone, discarding the fat and bone. Cut meat into very small pieces and put back in the soup.
Add chpped vegetables and potato. Simmer 1 hr longer, or until beans are tender.
Season with salt and pepper.

The House Version: Only beans, ham and seasoning. The beans are bruised with a spoon to barely cloud (thicken) the soup before serving.