Recipes aren't really my beat, but this year I invented a sandwich. If you're not into preparing a complicated Thanksgiving dinner, and if you dig sandwiches, this might be a delicious substitute. I call it the "Turkey Sandwich We Can Believe In," or "The Obama" for short. Not because of any metaphor having to do with the ingredients, but because I invented this on election night.
You'll need the following items:
• Sliced cracked peppercorn turkey. Boar's Head is pretty good.
• Sliced sour dough bread. Your local grocery store bakery should carry it, but Pepperidge Farm sour dough is a good substitute.
• Sliced Swiss cheese.
• Sliced organic tomato. Medium sized.
• Claussen Kosher Sandwich Slices (Pickles).
• Dijon mustard.
• A George Foreman Grill, or toaster oven.
1) Preheat your Foreman Grill to 425 degrees, and lay out your sour dough bread slices. Start by adding two layers of the cracked peppercorn turkey. Two layers should be roughly four to six strips.
2) On top of the turkey, add two squares of Swiss cheese. If you love cheese, add more, but melted Swiss tends to get all stringy and out of control. So two slices are good enough for me.
3) Next, cut two slices of tomato. Keep them thin. Once you toast this thing, a thick slice of hot tomato will sear the flesh from your mouth. Place the two slices side-by-side on top of the Swiss layer with a little space between slices.
4) Add two sandwich-sliced pickles on top of the tomato slices, but place them horizontally across the width of the sandwich -- like bridge spans connecting the tomato slices.
5) And finally, just liberally smear the empty slice of bread with a crapload of Dijon mustard. I really like mustard, so I tend to go crazy. However, a moderate amount of mustard will do if you're not interested in obliterating your sinuses.
6) Smash the mustard side down on top of the ingredient side. A little bit of mustard should ooze out of the sides.
7) Shove the whole thing into your Foreman Grill. Or if you don't have one of these miracles of gastrological technology, just grill it in any sandwich press or toaster oven or on the stove like a grilled cheese sandwich. Just make sure to toast the top and bottom until golden brown. In the Foreman Grill, it usually takes around seven minutes. But I generally let it go until I hear the sizzling sound of the cheese and mustard making contact with the cooking surface.
8) Remove the sandwich and cut it down the middle -- between the tomatoes, but severing the pickle bridges.
9) Enjoy!
Like I wrote before, watch out for the hot tomatoes. In terms of complimentary beverages, this sandwich goes extraordinarily well with your favorite lager. I drink Samuel Adams Boston Lager (Jim Koch contributes to Democrats) almost exclusively. You can also serve this with a good bowl of chili. I dig vegetarian three-bean chili with sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese.
If you decide to try the "Turkey Sandwich We Can Believe It" let me know how you like it. Happy Thanksgiving!
Order my new book: One Nation Under Fear, with a foreword by Arianna Huffington. Also available in stores.