I don’t know about at your house, but at the Frugal Upstate household, sandwiches are a frugal life staple. There are many very frugal and healthy sandwich options. PB&J, Tuna, Grilled Cheese, Chicken or Ham Salad (made with leftovers of course) or even Hummus. I send sandwiches in for the kiddos lunch most days during the school year and now that summer is here we eat them even more for lunches both at home and for outings.
Several weeks ago I was invited out to the Oscar Mayer HQ in Madison, Wisconsin for the “State of the Sandwich Summit”.
Sandwiches! Now isn’t that just the perfect event for me to attend? After all I pack my kids lunches regularly, advise people to take a lunch to work instead of eating out, and even occasionally make sandwiches as a quick, easy & cool summer dinner. Eating the same old kinds of sandwiches day after day can get old. . . Sometimes you need to change things up. An entire trip dedicated to sandwiches seemed like the perfect way to get out of a sandwich rut.
In honor of the event we were each asked to create an original sandwich recipe which would then be filmed on site in the gorgeous Oscar Mayer Test Kitchens. I’m a woman with lots of ideas, so of course I came up with two fantastic ideas. What to do, what to do? I couldn’t decide, so I went with both!
Here you can see my Spa Inspired Turkey Pear sandwich and my Dynamite Turkey Roll. I’m so tickled by how well the video turned out! Bam! Emeril watch out!
You can see the other 9 sandwich videos on the Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh YouTube channel.
So what did I learn at “The State of the Sandwich Summit?”
#1-These people take their sandwiches very seriously. You would not believe the amount of research there is between what people eat, when and why.
#2-Joe Frangnito, Senior Brand Manager for Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh looks a lot like Richard Gere (no, really). Oh, and he really knows a lot about luncheon meats! Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh meats are packaged right after they are cooked-so they are actually fresher than that chunk o meat that’s been sitting in the Deli case for who knows how long, being handled by who knows how many people. . . actually it’s a bit icky if you think about it too long.
#3-The color of roast beef fades when exposed to light. It still tastes fine, it just doesn’t look as good. Who knew?
#4-People like to pack a lunch because they feel it gives them a sense of control over what they are eating. This is so true! I always eat way too much when I eat out-too big a portion and too much fat. When I pack I not only save money, I know exactly what I am eating!
#5-Reasons people don’t pack a lunch-they aren’t organized, they don’t want to spend the time, they are bored by the same old things or they want to be able to socialize by eating out. I can see all those issues effecting folks-and once you know about the reasons you can figure out ways to work around them in your own home. Of course the one we concentrated on at the Summit is making sandwiches more exciting!
#6-Chefs don’t actually measure things, which makes it hard for you to replicate the really awesomely delicious looking sandwiches they prepared for you, or the totally decadent “sandwich” chocolate torte. (Yes, Chef John-Li, Director of the Oscar Mayer Culinary Center of Excellence, I’m talking about you!)
#7-20% of all sandwiches are eaten at dinner. Interesting-I only do that occasionally to beat the summer heat. Maybe I should consider sandwiches for dinner more often.
#8-A little bit of a sweet preserve, like apricot, on a Ham & Brie sandwich is TO DIE FOR. I never would have thought to try it.
#9-The Weinermobile is so uncool that it actually turns the corner and becomes TOTALLY retro cool. But I missed out on getting a whistle 
To get the full flavor of the Oscar Mayer Sandwich Summit, check out my whrrl slideshow/stories (day one and day two)! It’s almost like you were there. . .You will see many notes and pictures that go with the points above. And don’t worry-you don’t have to download anything to your computer.
So-What’s the state of the sandwich in your house? Are they an old standby or avoided like the plague? Do you ever uses sandwiches as a dinner? What’s your favorite way to break up the sandwich monotony?
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Jenn, Thank you for the great sandwich recipes. I’d been trying to think of something new yet easy for a road trip lunch. These will be perfect! Thank you for sharing.
Awesome video, Jenn! I could *so* see you on Food Network!
The state of my sandwich is sad! I don’t even have any bread in the house (not to say that I don’t consume lots of carbs, though). I tend to bring leftovers for lunch at work, so bread usually goes bad pretty quickly in my kitchen. My boyfriend, though, goes through about 2 large loaves of bread in about 8 days! Crazy! He loves his sandwiches, but often forgoes the more healthy ingredients like lettuce and tomato because he doesn’t know how to store them properly. We’re combining households soon, though, so I have a feeling I’ll be keeping lettuce in the house and he’ll be making me yummy sandwiches!
Jen – This video is great. I especially like the California roll inspired sandwich. I’ve been buying my lunch the last few weeks, and I know I have to get back on track, primarily for health reasons. Thanks for the quick and easy ideas.
In our house, sandwiches aren’t just for lunch. They’re on the menu for dinner on a somewhat regular basis — especially in the summer when it’s too hot to cook. We try to mix it up and make wraps and interesting flavor combos. In the winter, we regularly do grilled panini style sandwiches — so yummy with soup on a cold winter night. A summer panini favorite has fresh tomatoes, basil (or homemade pesto if I’ve made some), and mozzarella cheese. We’ve found sandwiches to be a great frugal way to use up leftover meat and stretch it a bit farther or even go meatless sometimes — even more frugal!
My 5 year old will eat sandwiches and try any sandwich he sees somebody else eating. He is very adventurous. My 8 year old avoids sandwiches at all costs EXCEPT for the grilled cheese sandwich. Unfortunately this makes lunch packing much more difficult as we have tried many unsuccessful ways to keep a grilled cheese sandwich warm until lunch in her lunch box. Sandwiches are so great. My husband is a vegetarian and I have found some wonderful meatless sandwich recipes. My favorite is one that you make on a thick wheat bread. Inside the bread you spread hummus and olive tapenade and put shredded carrot and sliced cucumber as well. So good!
so nice to hear all the great sandwich ideas!
I really had to revamp my opinion of the sandwich. When I became diabetic I gave up bread entirely for a number of years–now, however, I’ve found some really great whole grain breads that make it possible for me to have sandwiches again without the guilt.
I like your spa-inspired sandwich, though I think I would use fresh pear slices for crispness.
Recently I’ve been enjoying shredded brisket sandwiches with a spread of mayo mixed with that jellied beef drippings. YUM. With veggies or not, it’s hitting the spot for me right now!
On a business trip to Geneva one time I had the most delicious brie and tomato sandwich, made simply on a mini baguette. Normally I don’t even like brie, but this was just divine.
loved this! xo