Thursday, September 6, 2012

Up Your Sandwich Game!

 Unbeknownst to me, August was National Sandwich Month.  So while you may have missed your opportunity to celebrate your favorite lunchbox component (this year!), you are still probably going to eat a sandwich every now and again.  So why not try something different?  Check out one of our many sandwich recipe books!:

Funky Lunch by Mark Northeast.
Call No.: 641.84 NOR
Find it in the catalog!

Want to make all the other kids jealous of your child's lunch? Check out this book.  This is less of a recipe book, and more of a food craft book.  You can find how to make a sandwich that looks like a rooster, a piano, or even the Loch Ness monster.

Adorable Sandwiches:  Chomp, chomp! (Caterpillar sandwich, p. 13), Make it snappy! (crocodile sandwich, p.21), Nessy (p.39), and Take Things Slowly (snail sandwich, p. 77).

Lunchbox Horror!:  Clowning around (p.65).

Grilled Cheese, Please! by Laura Werlin
Call No.: 641.84 WER
Find it in the catalog!

Bread and cheese are probably my two favorite types of food ever, so I'm definitely a fan of grilled cheese sandwiches.  This book has tips for grilled cheese perfection and loads of different recipes.

Looks yummy:  Smoky Kim-Cheese (Kimchi, gouda, and ham on baguette, p. 34), Camembert and Comte with Mushrooms (p. 65), and the Cubano (p. 87).

Insanewiches by Adrian Fiorino
Call No.: 641.84 FIO
Find it in the catalog!

Like Funky Lunch, this is more of an art book than a sandwich book.  There are lots of sandwiches that resemble objects or people (the Hulk hoagie, p. 82), or are just plain weird.  I don't think I'd attempt to make anything in here.  However, it is an incredibly fun book to flip through.

Adorable Sandwiches:  Eggo-ticons (p. 30), One Tough Cookie (p.90), the Cordless Mousewich with USB Cheesestick (p. 152), the 'Stachewich (p. 154), Flatbread Fred (p. 162) and the Curious Carrot Cake Sandwich (p. 212).

Eww...:  The Quadruple Down (four fried chicken breasts layered with bacon, cheese and special sauce between, p. 110), The Sumo Sandwich (p.116), Banana Split Trickwich (p. 122), and The Bananconator (bananas, chocolate and bacon, p. 150).

Panini Express by Daniel Leader and Lauren Chattman
Call No.: 641.84 LEA
Find it in the catalog!

Do you still have a panini maker lying around your house from when paninis were all the rage several years ago?  You're in luck.  While panini's may no longer be the "it" sandwich, they are still pretty yummy.  Even if you tossed the panini grill ages ago, you can make one stove top (just use another frying pan as a press).

Looks good:  Grilled asparagus, taleggio and prosciutto (p. 56), Manchego, chorizo and caramelized onions (p. 70), Fresh salmon croque madame (p. 108), and Shrimp, avocado, and mango salsa quesadillas (p. 116).

The Big New York Sandwich Book by Sarah Reistad-Long and Jean Tang.
Call No.: 641.84 REI
Find it in the catalog!

This book compiles 99 sandwich recipes from NYC chefs and restaurants.  Even hardcore foodies will find something new to try!

Looks yummy:  Smoked brisket with cheese and smoked chili jam (p. 124), Baguette bahn mi with daikon pickle (p. 176), Adobo pulled pork bun (p. 184),  and Chilorio tortas (p. 196).

Roadfood Sandwiches by Jane and Micheal Stearn
Call No.: 641.84 STE
Find it in the catalog!

Whether you are looking for a new (or retro) sandwich recipe, or a place to stop on your next road trip, this book will help you find something delicious.  Jane and Michael Stern have compiled sandwich recipes from across the United States and you can definitely spot the regional flare.

Looks good!:  Carnitas  from Roque's Carnitas Wagon in Sante Fe, NM (p. 34), Crab Bruschetta from Bread and Ink Cafe in Portland, OR (p. 55), Diana's Different Drummer (Brisket on Rye) from Zingerman's Deli in Ann Arbor, MI (p. 66), and Smoked Salmon Spread from Smoke House Restaurant in Forks, WA (p.212).

'Wichcraft by Tom Colicchio
Call No. 641.84 COL
Find it in the catalog!

Last but not least, 'Wichcraft is definitely my favorite sandwich book of the bunch.  By Top Chef host Tom Colicchio, this book is full of enviable looking sandwiches and gorgeous photographs.  Don't look at it on an empty stomach!

Looks good!:  Pretty much everything, but especially: Chopped chickpeas with roasted peppers, black olives, lemon confit, and parsley (p. 59), Roasted shrimp salad with tomatoes and olives (p. 75), and Fried squid po-boy with avocado and black chile oil (p. 110).