Guest Author - Robin Rounds Whittemore
A sandwich, to most people, is usually two or more slices of bread with some edible filling in between the slices. The filling could be meat, cheese, vegetables or a combination. Usually the sandwich also has condiments such as mustard or mayonnaise in between to keep the sandwich from being "dry". Depending on the sandwich, a pickle or tomato slices might even be called for.
When you say or think sandwich, what usually comes to mind? Possibly ham, turkey or roast beef would be the sandwiches you would think of first. Pastrami on rye is another favorite combination. How about the club sandwich with its many layers? The little mini-sandwich called a slider is becoming more popular every day. Many restaurants serve these as well as regular size sandwiches.
Hot sandwiches, such as the meatball sandwich, are also very popular. Different sauce combinations and toppings make this a winner with many people. The very same could also be said for hot dogs and hamburgers. The latter two are favorites among the younger generation as well.
The famous Philly Cheesesteak sandwich is another hot sandwich that comes to mind. There are many ways to make these sandwiches to please the palate of any diner. Peppers, onions, and different cheeses are some ways to make your own version of the Philly Cheesesteak. Sometimes the best tasting Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches are the ones you get at your own local fair.
Open face sandwiches are another way to go about sandwich fare. There are still two slices of bread with fillings, but it is almost like you are eating the sandwich inside out. Roast beef or turkey open face sandwiches with plenty of gravy and a side of soup are good fare on a cold winter day.
Another way that sandwiches could be enjoyed are some of the food inventions that had cooks thinking outside of the box. Lettuce wraps, where lettuce takes the place of bread, is one idea for a different kind of sandwich. That also brings to mind messy, but fun to eat tacos. There, you still have the two main edible outsides with filling in the middle. Just like lettuce wraps, there are many different ways of filling both of those sandwiches.
Now let's look at an ice cream sandwich. It is the same concept as a regular sandwich, although instead of bread, you are looking at two wafer thin pieces of a cake-like substance with ice cream in the middle. When you think of an ice cream sandwich, you might picture chocolate on the outside with vanilla ice cream in the middle. You can also have vanilla on the outside and chocolate or neapolitan ice cream in the middle. There are many more combinations of flavors and shapes of ice cream sandwiches.
No matter how or when you eat a sandwich, there are many combinations to choose from. Whether you make it yourself, or just grab a pre-made sandwich to go, you can have a meal or a snack; depending on the size. Breakfast, main dish, and even dessert sandwiches are available around the clock in most every city, town or kitchen.
