300 Sandwiches by Stephanie Smith:
“Some people say this young lady is setting women back fifty years; she’s becoming a Stepford wife…How do you react?”
I told Matt (Lauer) that E does most of the cooking at home, and then I hit him with the kicker. “If he wasnt the kind of guy that was worth one sandwich, I wouldn’t be making three hundred sandwiches”.
I have to admit that when I ordered the book I hadn’t even heard of the blog, I heard sandwiches and love story and clicked “add to cart”.
I’m a sucker for a good sandwich.
Plot synopsis: 300 Sandwiches is the story of Stephanie and E’s epic journey of bread and betrothal, with a whole loaf of recipes to boot. For Stephanie, a novice in the kitchen, making a sandwich—or even 300—for E wasn’t just about getting a ring; it was her way of saying “I love you” while gaining confidence as a chef. It was about how many breakfast sandwiches they could eat together on future Sunday mornings, how many s’mores might follow family snowboarding trips, how many silly fights would end in makeup sandwiches. Suddenly, she saw a lifetime of happiness between those two slices of bread.
Not everyone agreed. The media dubbed E “the Internet’s Worst Boyfriend”; bloggers attacked the loving couple for setting back the cause of women’s rights; opinions about their romance echoed from as far away as Japan. Soon, Stephanie found her cooking and her relationship under the harsh glare of the spotlight
I loved it. Part love story about Stephanie and E’s journey to wedded bliss, and part cookbook. Recipes and little notes about how each sandwich played into their relationship, fill the pages. Like reality tv meets the food network, we are given an intimate look at this couple and the food they are making. We watch them fight, make up, make an effort. We watch them grow in the kitchen and out of it. And when E finally proposes, we (and when I say we I mean me) cry because we feel like we have been as much a part of their journey as the sandwiches themselves.
And the sandwiches? Oh, the sandwiches. French Toast PB&J, Pheasant Sliders, Roasted Chicken, Tomatoes and Basil on Country Bread, Lamb Burgers with Feta, Fried Banana-Strawberry Shortcakes. Seriously, my belly is growling right now! And considering Stephanie was nervous about making her first Turkey and Swiss sandwich, she blows my mind with the creations she has come up with.
I chose to make one off the ‘Forbidden Sandwich’ list.
Broccoli Grilled Cheese . Whaaaat?!
Broccoli sauteed with olive oil and garlic combined with shredded cheese (I used a combination white and yellow cheddar) and mayo. Grilled to crispy, buttery, cheesy perfection. It was good. I mean really, really good.
BROCCOLI GRILLED CHEESE
Makes 1 sandwich (or double the recipe for 2)
Ingredients:
1 cup broccoli, chopped into pieces
2 slices bread (I used regular ol’ country white bread)
1 tbsp mayonnaise
1 clove garlic, smashed
1 tsp butter
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup cheese of your choosing
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
- Saute the chopped broccoli in a medium saucepan with the olive oil and garlic until the broccoli is tender, stirring frequently about 3-5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and place in bowl with mayonnaise and shredded cheese.
- Stir together.
- Spread butter on one side of both slices of bread. With the butter side down facing plate, spread broccoli cheese mixture on one side of one slice.
- Top with the other slice, butter side up, and toast in pan until bread is golden brown.
This book will leave your hearts full and your stomaches hungry. I highly suggest getting your copy now!
- 1 cup broccoli, chopped into pieces
- 2 slices bread (I used brownberry oatnut)
- 1 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 clove garlic, smashed
- 1 tsp butter
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup cheese of your choosing (I used shredded yellow and white cheddar)
- salt and pepper to taste
- Sautee the chopped broccoli in a medium saucepan with the olive oil and garlic until the broccoli is tender, stirring frequently about 3-5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and place in bowl with mayonnaise and shredded cheese. Stir together.
- Spread butter on one side of both slices of bread. With the butter side down facing plate, spread broccoli cheese mixture on one side of one slice.
- Top with the other slice, butter side up, and toast in pan until bread is golden brown.
- Makes one sandwich.
