Brown Bag Lunches

Savory chicken salad gets a sweet kick from a generous dose of pickle relish in this Southern recipe, which comes from web editorial assistant Laura Sant’s mom. It’s perfect on soft rolls or white toast, and we particularly like it with good old Saltines. See the recipe for Laura’s Mom’s Chicken Salad »

A version of a California classic, this sandwich is a healthy mix of vegetables, whole-grain bread, and Jack cheese, topped with ranch dressing. Get the recipe for California Sandwich »

This simple sandwich is a good way to use ripe summer tomatoes. Get the recipe for Tomato Sandwich »

Famed Texas cook Helen Corbitt created this rich chicken salad for the café menu at Neiman Marcus department stores in the 1950s. It’s delicious on toasted multigrain bread with lettuce and tomato.

DiNic’s, in Philadelphia, serves this sandwich of luscious wine- and herb-braised pulled pork, sharp provolone, and roasted long hot peppers.

A New Orleans staple, the hefty Muffuletta is an irresistible sandwich stuffed with layers of olive salad, meats, and cheeses.

Marinated artichokes and briny niçoise olives dot this Provençal-inspired tuna salad, paired with hard boiled eggs and roasted peppers for an easy, dressed-up sandwich. Get the recipe for Provençal Tuna Sandwich »

Ham and eggs may be a breakfast classic, but they’re even better for lunch: try sliced or quartered hard-boiled eggs layered with a salty ham and a bit of mayo on a hearty white bread. Get the recipe for Ham and Hard-Boiled Egg Sandwich »

Commonly served during merienda (afternoon tea) in Cuba, this sandwich of turkey, jam, and cream cheese on a roll is sweet and savory all in one.Commonly served during merienda (afternoon tea) in Cuba, this sandwich of turkey, jam, and cream cheese on a roll is sweet and savory all in one.

There’s no reason this tried-and-true combination needs to be limited to tea time. Make three or four of these paper-thin preparations of white bread topped with tangy, softened cream cheese and crisp cucumber slices, and call it a lunch.