1001 Sandwiches

In 1928, Florence Cowles wrote a book entitled 500 Sandwiches. Over the next twenty years, the book was reprinted many times. 500 Sandwiches became 700 Sandwiches and finally 1001 Sandwiches. In fact, there is one edition of this book that was bound with the 500 sandwich recipes but with the 700 sandwich title. In case you are wondering, who counts the recipes in the books, each type of sandwich had a “head count” as it were. So one can add up the sandwich numbers without actually counting the "Tomato Soup Sandwich" or the "Cheese and Pea Sandwich."

Thank god, because I would surly lose count of the pimiento sandwiches alone. Who knew there was so much one could do with pimientos, or peanut butter, or liver. There are the traditional "Ham and Cheese Sandwich" and the not so traditional "Ham and Beet Sandwich", or the "Ham and Banana Sandwich" or the "Deviled Ham and Jam Sandwich."

There are nearly three hundred pages of sandwiches and there is not a single page that won’t leave you with peculiarly queasy look as you read.

Mrs. Cowles suggests that everyone keep a…”variety of sandwich “makings” always on your emergency shelf; or better still, keep a special sandwich shelf for them.” Because is you have a good selection of ingredients, “you can meet calmly and sandwich emergency which may arise.”

Since we are in the Lenten season, here is sandwich for that very occasion.

Lenten Sandwich II

6 hard-cooked eggs
1 cup English walnuts
3 tablespoons chopped sweet pickle
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon prepared mustard
1/2 cup vinegar

Grind together the nuts and egg whites. Ass pickle. Mash the egg yolks and add the seasoning. Mix all together and spread on leaf lettuce between white bread.

Yes, this is the second Lenten sandwich in the book. Remember there are 1001 sandwiches in 1001 Sandwiches, so pretty much every occasion is covered. There is no “sandwich emergency” you can’t tackle as long as your emergency sandwich shelf is stocked.