Winter Sandwich Wrapup

I'm not going to spend a ton of time on this, mainly because there are no pictures, and blog posts about sandwiches with no pictures is sort of a worthless endeavor. Unless you're like really good at imagining how things taste in your mind. If you're good at that, this post is right up your alley.

After spending such a large amount of my money, effort, and time brainstorming and constructing different sandwiches last summer, I felt it was time to take a vacation from the whole sandwich thing -- I was still completely open to eating them, mind you -- I just wasn't going to be putting the same effort into it as I had been for the 10 weeks or so leading up to my century ride. The rest of the summer, and even into the fall, was sort of defined as a sandwich-free era of my life. I was happy to rock the PB&J.

Then in early winter I got antsy. I decided that I needed something a little bit more interesting than peanut butter and jelly, and so I decided to zero in on some sandwiches that I felt could be 'go-to sandwiches.' The following sandwiches aren't the best that I've ever had. Nor are they the easiest. They are the sandwiches that fall into that middle-of-the-road spot. Not too expensive, not too bad, not too difficult. The question I always ask myself is this: I've just finished mowing the lawn for the past hour in the middle of the summer. Along with some Fritos and iced tea, what sort of sandwich will really hit the spot? I don't want to spend a ton of time with this, but I want to enjoy it. These are the three sandwiches that answer that question in the best way possible. As always, these are all items purchased at my local Wegmans.

Sandwich #1:
Ham, Swiss Cheese, 2 Pickles, Mayo on Whole Grain White Bread
Ham's the most underrated of the 'Big 3' deli meats (ham, turkey, roast beef), I'm convinced. Swiss cheese may be the most underrated of the most common deli cheeses as well. If this sandwich was an athlete it would be Jeremy Lin -- Overshadowed ingredients who never get their due, finally coming together to prove the world of sandwich lovers wrong for ever doubting them.

Sandwich #2:
Cajun Turkey, Sharp Provolone, Guacamole, Toasted Whole Grain White Bread
This is a more basic version of a sandwich I created last summer. It's possible this is my favorite of the top 3. Guacamole needs to be a more commonly utilized sandwich condiment, I'm saying it right now. This combination of ingredients is the perfect summer sandwich. Surprisingly hearty.

Sandwich #3(A & B):
Roast Beef, Swiss Cheese, Roasted Red Peppers, Mayo on Whole Grain White
Roast Beef, Provolone Cheese, Hot Pepper Relish, Babaganouj, on Whole Grain White
Until just before lunchtime on Monday this week, the first sandwich listed was sandwich #3. Now I'm almost 100% sure I've changed my mind. Babaganouj is something I had never had until Sunday when I was perusing free samples at Wegmans, and promptly made an impulse buy. This makes the sandwich. In the same style of guacamole, this is a spread that should be getting more sandwich play as a rule. The hot pepper relish is something I'm sure to use more of this sandwich season.

So there you have it -- These 3 sandwiches have been getting the most run this winter. I look forward to rocking out new sandwich combinations this summer. It all starts March 5th, which is the first week that I'll be commuting on bike every day of the week.

Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.

It starts.

March 1st rarely comes and goes with any real significance to most people. There's usually some recognition of the day in much the same way that there's some recognition of EVERY new month beginning, but whatever day of the week March 1st tends to fall on (in 2012, it's a Thursday), it's usually just another one of those days.

For myself, however, March 1st brings with it the promise of and excitement of a new biking season. It brings the challenge of another, faster century ride. It brings new and intriguing sandwich creations. March 1st is the beginning of the summer, in it's essence. When considering the best days of the year, I don't have to go very far down the list to March 1st.

That is the day that I have pegged as the 'end of excuses' day. Starting March 1st I bike to work everyday, regardless of temperature or fatigue, ultimately to build up my endurance for the May 19th CASA River Century. This is the second year I will be putting my biking to the ultimate (at least for me) test with a 100+ mile bike ride, and it all starts on March 1st. This year is not about a culmination of work to finish 100 miles. This year is about making good time in that 100 miles. My intention is to also ride in the Seagull Century in October, with potentially (we'll see) a century ride in the middle of the two. So yea, March 1st is a pretty big-time day for me, as it's the beginning of what should prove to be a pretty huge spring-summer-fall for me overall.

'So what's this post for?' You may be inquisitively asking yourself out loud, shortly before wondering why it is you speak to yourself while reading... There really isn't much of an answer. More just throwing out the information that this blog is up and running again. It was a really huge success last summer, especially from a sandwich standpoint, and I hope that people enjoy it as much this year as they did last year.

Next post to come? 2011-12 Winter Sandwich Wrapup Special.