A Hero for Dad
With Father's Day coming up on June 18th how about making dad a Hero Sandwich. After all that's what he is! This is something the kids can prepare themselves with just a bit of help from mom. Kids can go shopping with mom for all the ingredients for the perfect Hero sandwich.
Here's a list:
- thick and strong bread or a long bun (or if you want to make your own bread- yeast, flour, shortening)
- condiments - mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, relish
- Romaine or head lettuce
- Avocado
- Spanish, or Red or Spring onion.
- Roma, or Beefsteak or plump field tomatoes
- last nights left over roast or any combination of sliced luncheon meats.
- Cheese - any combination of Cheddar, Swiss, Havarti, Monterrey Jack
- lemon and lime optional
Utensils:
- cutting board
- knife for spreading
- paring knives
- lettuce spinner
- fork
- cheese cutter
Bread
Go to the bakery and ask for a big rye or multi grain bread or get those long buns. The bread should be thick and strong, you don't want a soggy sandwich.
Better still why not make the bread? Here's a fairly easy bread roll recipe, just follow the instruction in my dinner roll recipe but instead of dividing the dough up into four make one long bun that you slice in the middle. You will have to start the night before.
Condiments and Pickles
There's mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, pizza sauce in a bottle and relish. You can also mix mayonnaise up with just a bit of mustard and chop dill pickles up fine to make your own condiment. Check out the different kinds of pickles, some are more sour than others, just think about what kind your dad would like.
Lettuce
The best kinds of lettuces for a sandwich are romaine, or head lettuce, both wonderfully fresh this time of year. You need a thick, crisp lettuce. Use the outer leafy green parts, wash and spin dry in a lettuce spinner. If you want to prepare the lettuce the night before, store the leafs wrapped in paper towels and in a plastic bag.
Tomatoes
The small flat Roma and the big thick Beefeaters tomatoes are both perfect for sandwiches but a plump field tomato will do. Adults and older children should help younger ones cut tomatoes. Always chop tomatoes with a sharp big knife, sprinkle salt, pepper or if you like dill weed on top.
Avocado
Make sure you buy the round green kinds, it shouldn't be too soft or too hard, just firm. Peel them and scoop out the core. Mash up the avocado in a bowl. You may want to mix it with just a bit of lemon juice just before you use it.
Onions
You may need some help peeling and cutting an onion. Spanish or red onions are perfect. If dad doesn't like the sharp taste of a red onion then chop one up the night before and put it in a plastic container with the juice of one lime. If you don't like crying and chopping onions and can't get anyone else to do it you might use spring onions and just cut them with scissors.
Tips for cutting onions:
- do it by the sink and keep the water running
- keep onions in the fridge
- don't touch your eyes!
- wear goggles
Meat
There are so many kinds of luncheon hams, beef, cured turkey or chicken you can use in a sandwich or better still use left over roast, ham or chicken. Remember use up left over meat the next day. So tell mom to make roast beef the night before and use that for the sandwich. Get someone older to cut the roast thin.
Cheese
Go to the deli section for cheese. Cheddar, Swiss, Havarti, and Monterrey Jack are best, soft cheese don't work. Dad would probably love more than one kind of cheese. Sometimes you can buy sliced cheese, if not use a cheese cutter.
Serve
Assemble it all.
If you want to make it look professional, cut it on a diagonal but get an adult or teen to do this.
Serve with a dill pickle on top, if you like and with your card. Many dads like flowers.
Here's another idea for older kids, give dad a
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