Chicken Cheesesteaks

My favorite lunch is Chicken Cheesesteaks. Actually, to be honest my favorite lunch is the salad bar at Ruby Tuesdays. But my favorite homemade lunch is Chicken Cheesesteaks. I got the recipe from an episode of Jon & Kate + 8 and I've been making it at least twice a week. It's a great quick and easy lunch recipe, but much more exciting than the old standby PB&J sandwiches.

Chicken Cheesesteaks

• 1 loaf french bread cut in half and split open
• 1 tbsp. vegetable oil
• 1/2 lb. skinless, boneless chicken breast cooked , cut into strips
• 1 small green OR red pepper cut into 2" strips
• 1 medium onion , sliced
• 1 15 oz can of tomato sauce
• 1 pkg of sliced mozz. cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Meanwhile, heat oil in skillet. Add chicken and cook until browned, stirring often. Remove chicken. Add pepper and onion and cook until tender. Return chicken to skillet and heat through. Spoon chicken mixture on bottom bread half. Then cover with tomato sauce. Finally top each half with mozz. cheese. Place in the oven and bake for about 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Top with remaining bread half if desired.

I don't use quite the same measurements since Kate's version is written to feed a family of 10, and usually lunch here is just Bella and I (and the occasional scrap pickings from Fluffy). Instead of a loaf of french bread, I use hoagies (I cut Bella's in half because she usually doesn't eat it all at once). I only use half a green pepper, and about 1/4 cup of chopped onion. And I just eyeball it with the tomato sauce and mozzarella (one 15oz can of tomato sauce usually lasts us for a few sandwiches). Bella loves cheese so I usually put a little extra on her sandwich.

Yesterday I tried mixing a little tomato sauce in with the chicken mixture, and I seasoned the chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Then I topped it with a little more tomato sauce and the cheese. It was superb.