Happy National Sandwich Day, 2011!

Sloppy Joe from The Encyclopedia of Sandwiches by Susan Russo. (Yup, that's me.) Image courtesy of Matt Armendariz.

Have you eaten a sandwich today? Odds are you have. Hundreds of millions of people across the globe do every single day. And today that number will rise. Why? Because, sandwich lovers, it’s National Sandwich Day. That’s right. An entire day designated to celebrating the humble sandwich, a simple combination of bread and filling that is satisfying, fast, comforting, and portable.

Everyone loves sandwiches, but Americans are besotted. We love to make them, talk about them, and gaze upon them. Entire books (mine included), televisions shows, and websites have been devoted to them. Why are we so passionate? Because sandwiches typically have deep cultural, ethnic, and geographies roots. Think of the Vietnamese Bahn Mi, the Mexican Torta, and the American ham sandwich. Some sandwiches have become icons of the city from which they emanated. Can you imagine Philadelphia without its cheese steak or New Orleans without its Po ‘Boy?

Click here to continue reading and to get the Sloppy Joe recipe! 

I (heart) Turkey: A Turkey, Proscuitto, and Gorgonzola Sandwich

I made a turkey for New Year's Day. Yes, I realize New Year's is not a turkey holiday, and the next major food holiday isn't until Valentine's Day (which I don't think features turkey); I cooked a turkey just because Jeff had a hankering for this sandwich. It's that good.

We had a lot of leftover turkey after Thanksgiving, and in an attempt to make something that did not include cranberries or gravy, I made this sandwich. Jeff took it for lunch one day, and actually called me to tell me how delicious it was (and to ask me to buy another turkey at Costco).

You may think me silly for cooking an entire turkey just to make sandwiches, but after you taste this combination you'll be running to Costco too. With crispy prosciutto, tangy gorgonzola (Italian blue cheese), zesty arugula, and crunchy toasted rye bread, this is a gourmet sandwich that takes only minutes to make. Served with a cup of vegetable soup or a side salad, it makes a satisfying and simple dinner as well.

Since we're talking about sandwiches, I'll leave exact measurements up to you. You could also try this with leftover baked ham.

Turkey and Proscuitto Sandwich with Gorgonzola and Arugula
Print recipe only here.

Here's what I did:

Cut thick slices of rye bread, drizzle with olive oil, and place under the broiler for 5-6 minutes, or until golden brown.

Meanwhile, heat turkey in a skillet on the stove top for several minutes, until warmed through. Place proscuitto slices in a hot skillet for about 1 minute until slightly crispy.

Spread some mayonnaise on the toast, top with some crumbled gorgonzola, add a few leaves of fresh arugula or wild dandelion greens, then the warmed meat and prosciutto. Eat immediately.

Jeff suggests having it with a cold lager.


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