Hey y’all, it’s Matt here blogging while Kath’s at work. Not too much rambunctious bear play going on today so I thought I’d talk about one of my favorite topics – sandwiches.
Besides being a funny sounding word, sandwiches may be my favorite category of food. They’re partly the reason I taught myself how to bake bread. I consider myself quite skilled in the witchcraft and wizardry of sandwich making, and I’ll show you how I do it with very few ingredients.
Here’s the sparse selection:
I did have a nice boule of sourdough, however.
You can probably imagine that, as a baker, I definitely feel the bread is the most important aspect of a sandwich. Besides picking something with some flavor, you MUST toast your bread. The best tool for this is a broiler.
I cut off a couple slices and broiled them on high on the bottom rack of the oven.
Broiling on the lowest rack gives you the most control (and the most room for error… heh heh). These probably got about 3-4 minutes per side.
It’s just enough to get some Maillard browning reactions, but not so much that you’ll shred your gums when you eat.
Next on the MUST-list is a moist condiment. Mustard and mayo are obvious choices, or you can get fancy with avocado, pimento cheese, or even some lightly drizzled olive oil. I went with mustard and a Laughing Cow wedge.
When it’s time to put the main ingredients on, the secret is to layer them. Fold your pieces of lettuce up, and roll your meats. Besides getting some extra chew out of it, you’ll just plain make your sandwich look bigger, and when your food LOOKS better, it tastes better.
Don’t forget you can add some flavor dimension by sprinkling some herbs and spices on – today I went with a thick grate of black pepper, but dill is always awesome on a sandwich.
Serve with some fruits and veggies so your wife is pleased at your nutrient intake!
And eating with friends makes everything better!
Now I’m off to a homebrew competition! Let’s hope me and the bears can take home some medals!
Freya @ Brit Chick Runs says
Haha HELLO Matt!!
Good luck in the competition 🙂
And thankyou for the sandwich tutorial – I normally don’t like sandwhiches – maybe it’s cos I never toast them?? I think I know where I’ve been going wrong all this time…
ari says
matt, you should blog more often.
Jenny says
AGREED!!!
Mastering Public Health says
3rd — a guy’s perspective is always interesting.
Food Makes Fun Fuel says
Matt, you have sandwiches down to an art! I wish I could tolerate gluten just to try those. I’d love it if you brought your blog back!
Jenny says
this is so cute 😀
Cynthia (It All Changes) says
Indeed the good break makes the sandwich 🙂
Good luck Matt (and the bears) 🙂
Jen says
What type of beer did you enter?
Coco @ Opera Girl Cooks says
Beautiful sandwich, Matt! Thanks for sharing your tips!
Meg says
You and Kath are awesome 😀
Yay for bread!
maggie says
Awesome entry! Thanks for sharing your knowledge of sandwich making with us. I’ve never tried toasting bread for a sandwich and that seems like such a simple, straightfoward part of making a sandwhich.
Oh and my 2 year old thought it was funny that you have a bear friend sitting on your shoulder and is now walking around holding one on his..lol
Stacey@http://stacey-healthylife.blogspot.com/ says
Too cute. Nice job Matt and thanks for the sandwich making class. I love GH’s sandwich’s so I totally trust you.
Kilee says
That sandwich looks really good! I could use one right now. Good luck at the competition!
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
Nice dagwood, Matt! I had no doubt you know how to make a good sandwich. Ok, I have some questions about home brew…do you talk about your technique?
Nicole says
Love the post and hope to hear your blogging voice in the near future. Good luck on the competition!
haily says
awww… kath… he is so endearing 🙂
Jil @ Peace, Love & Munchies says
Matt, that sandwich looks awesome – and I agree with the broiling…so much more room for error…haha
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
Matt, you’re amazing… no wonder Kath married you!!! 😉
Seriously though, fabulous sandwich action there! I totally agree that it’s the bread that either makes or breaks every sandwich.
Jessica @ The Process of Healing says
YUM!! That’s one amazing looking sandwich! Sandwiches are HIGHLY underrated, in my opinion 🙂
theemptynutjar says
I think one of the best sandwich combos is 2 whole eggs with avocado, veggies and hummus…your creation looks great too.
mal says
o matt, so cute. loved this post. gonna go make myself a yummy sandwhich now for lunch!
Annie@stronghealthyfit says
Cute post, Matt! Good luck w/ the competition.
Wei-Wei says
Ooh – such a great post! What about a little panini lesson, too? With OR without a panini maker. 😉
Sarah R says
Wonderful post. Always love hearing from the husband, and I love the comment about nutrient intakes 😀 Good luck at the homebrew contest!
Lisa @ Early Morning Run says
now THAT is one great looking sandwich meal!!! Have a great weekend!
Mark says
Wow!! Now, that’s a good looking sandwich!!
Holly says
I’m sure Kath is proud of your healthy lunch – but is that a bag of chips I see in the background as well??? 🙂
Ella says
ha, good catch! Busted!! 🙂
Marina says
Thank you for the sandwich tips, they are really awesome! and it looks amazing…
I hope you’ll post more 😉 hint hint
Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter says
That was an awesome sandwich tutorial! There is so much art to a perfect sandwich and I’m glad to get some tips from a baker 🙂
Anne @ Food Loving Polar Bear says
What a sandwich! I’m always thinking that I should have more in my sandwiches but you showed me that sometimes less is more! 🙂 great post!
Layla says
More Matt posts, please!
Becca says
Hey Matt, thanks for the sandwich tips!
This a neat post, makes me hungry 🙂
Rachelle says
Cute post Matt… darn you made me want a sandwich!
I think you should start a blog about brewing. My hubby is also a brewer, so I’d love to hear about your brewing adventures and I am sure he would too 🙂
Camille says
Nice post Matt!
You are truly the King of sandwiches!
Erin (Travel, Eat, Repeat) says
Too funny! You really can’t go wrong with a good sandwich. 😀
Stacy Grows Healthy says
Good luck with the Brewing. You definitely have sandwich making down!
janetha says
mmm.. i love that herb turkey! have you tried the columbus brand low sodium herb turkey from costco? it is super good!
Liz c says
I vote for more Matt posts too!!
Kati says
Please come make me lunch 🙂 Except I already ate! Loved the sandwich tutorial!
Jenn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
Matt, it’s like we were separated at birth, LOL. I LOVE sandwiches, definitely my favorite category of food, and I LOVE bread (obviously). In fact, I would eat a bread sandwich with some lettuce and mustard given the opportunity. 😀 That sandwich looks amazing. Crusty sourdough ROCKS!
Jenn
Lana says
Thank you!
Just wondering why the broiler versus the toaster?
Emmanuelle says
Cute post! I’ll make sure to give the broiler a try 🙂
Good luck on the competition!
Laura says
I thought it might be a Matt blog at lunch- always nice to see the professional at work- but where are the bear’s honey sandwiches? Or are they marmalade bears?! Thats neglect! Thank you for solving something I was puzzling about- a ‘Lost In Translation’ moment if you will- a broiler in the U.S. = a grill in England?
I used to live about 15 miles away from Sandwich in Kent, U.K.- where the humble sandwich was born- apparently some two hundred years ago, a certain Lord Sandwich didn’t wish to stop playing cards, yet was feeling a bit peckish- thus ordered his cook to rustle up something delicious and portable- thus the sandwich was created… ahh if he had only patented it! I hope you and Kath have a lovely, relaxing summer evening- roach free! (Sorry for the mammoth comment!)
Amber K says
I absolutely hate crunchy bread as a sandwich. (Toast drizzled with peanut butter is fine to me for some reason). I never toast my sandwich bread! I could never eat at Quiznos (which is no loss in my book). Then I got irritated when Subway added the option and they were always bugging me to toast my bread. Leave my bread alone, dang it!
That being said, your sandwich looks devlishly delicious. =)
Morgan @ Life After Bagels says
this is exactly the kind of guest post my bf would get into . . . when he guest posted for me last time he did a whole section on chicken fingers
Lisa (bakebikeblog) says
LOVE LOVE LOVE that sandwich!!!!
Lindsay @ Summit Sandwiches says
Excellent tips! I’ll be sure to use them on my next sandwich undertaking. 🙂
JessicaE says
Another vote for more Matt! 😀
Callie @ OneLittleOnigiri says
Looks like you’re in good company until Kath gets home! 🙂
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
thanks matt! sandwiches are my favorite too and i’m always looking to perfect the art.
Dinah Soar says
WOW—awesome sandwich…and great tips….BTW–will definitely try the dill on a sandwich. I love rosemary, never thought about using dill. One of may favorite ways to use rosemary is to toast bread, spread with butter and strawberry jam, then sprinkle with chopped fresh rosemary. Yummo…
Hannah says
Good luck!! I love the tp about folding/rolling – I never thought of that, but it reminds me of restaurant sandwiches, so it’s obviously what the professionals do! 🙂
Hermione says
Cutest post ever! I imagine broiling is what we in Europe call grilling? Looks that way!
I love baking my own breads, I hope to master sourdough some day! Just curious Matt, have you baked Irish soda bread? Maybe it’s not known over there but you seem quite the connaisseur!