Grilled vegetable sandwich and a spring picnic menu

there's nothing like enjoying the spring weather with a little picnic outdoors. it's my favorite 'cheap-date' with my husband, and also a fun way to hang out with family or friends. 

my husband goes crazy over sandwiches. growing up, he'd eat anything and everything on a sandwich. he has a special gift - he comes up with these extravagant concoctions every time. so of course i can never go wrong when i whip one up for him myself...which makes him the perfect picnic date.

i've partnered with some lovely bloggers to bring you a spring picnic menu! i've made and shared a favorite sandwich recipe, and you can find the other portions of the menu below. i hope you feel inspired to get outside, enjoy the weather, your loved ones, and some good food! 

my in-laws just got back from italy, and they brought us some fresh parmesan cheese and balsamic vinegar. i've been anxious to dip into these goodies, so this sandwich was the perfect excuse. instead of going for a standard sauce, i simply used balsamic vinegar on the bread, and instead of a heavy, sandwich cheese, i decided on freshly grated parmesan. a little taste of italy!

grilled vegetable sandwich

serves: 4

ingredients:

• 1 eggplant, sliced vertically
• 1 sweet potato, peeled and sliced vertically
• 1 zucchini, sliced vertically
• 1/2 red onion, peeled and sliced
• 1 yellow bell pepper
• balsamic vinegar
• fresh parmesan cheese
• salt and pepper
• 2 baguettes
• extra virgin olive oil

start by preparing the eggplant. slice it long-ways into thin slices and place in a bowl and sprinkle with salt. let sit about 30 minutes. you will notice the eggplant start to 'sweat.' after 30 minutes, place in a colander and rinse [this gets rid of all the bitterness of the eggplant]. while the eggplant is 'sweating,' grill the other vegetables. pour some olive oil into a cast iron skillet and set the stove on medium high. place all of the vegetables into the skillet and cook about 8 minutes on each side, until slightly charred and soft. salt and pepper, to taste, before removing from heat. when the eggplant is ready to go, add to the skillet and cook.

cut the baguettes in half and pour balsamic vinegar on the inside of each half, letting it soak into the bread. layer the vegetables onto one side of the bread - eggplant, sweet potato, zucchini, red onion, bell pepper. grate parmesan directly on top of the vegetables and top with the other half of the bread.

to see the rest of the picnic menu, visit these other lovely ladies blogs:

• appetizer on sweet to the soul - avocado and feta salsa with homemade tortilla chips 
• side salad on stir and scribble - super spring salad
• beverage on annapolis and co. - sparkling cherry limeade
• dessert on amanda k. by the bay - lemon bars

not only do we have this delicious menu for you today, but we also have a giveaway with a chance to win a fully stocked picnic basket! to enter, use the rafflecopter below. good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

i don't know about you, but i cannot wait to try the rest of these recipes! enjoy your picnic! :)