Memorial Day Sammie Spread
Servings: the world’s your oyster! Go as big or little as you’d like, but this tends to work best when you’re feeding several people so you can buy a variety of ingredients.
Notes:
Did the unofficial start of summer creep up on you? Because, girl us too. We blinked and our baby was four months old, our first baby was almost 3, and it was practically June - nearly our 40th birthday and almost half of the year gone by.
But, have no fear if you don’t have a holiday meal plan, because boy-oh-boy do we have an easy spread, that will please everyone: a choose your own adventure sammie situation.
This spread works for either a last minute picnic, or entertaining. Once you’re familiar with this format, it can be applied to many different meals and occasions. For example, I’ve done a hot dog/sausage version to great success, many, many times (add tots for a showstopper). And, this is essentially the same deal as assembling a cheese/grazing board, as well. Over time, you’ll gather a condiment and accoutrement collection, so shopping for this will become a cinch.
If you’re staying home, go ahead and arrange this spread on a cutting board, but otherwise a rimmed baking sheet (yet another moment for the sheet pan!) is a perfect, travel friendly vehicle. If transporting, wrap your sheet pan tightly in foil (this is no time to for saran wrap, that sticky, tricky b), then lay your platter flat on the floor of the backseat of your car.
Because each person selects their plate, this set-up lends itself to satisfying many different eaters: vegans and vegetarians can skip the meat but still have plenty of options, picky kiddos can just have bread, while people with celiacs or who otherwise avoid wheat can skip the bun.
Though it varies widely based on the occasion, the season, our pantry and our mood, our shopping list is below. And, no instructions for this “recipe” - just artfully arrange. This is a great project for your clean-handed kiddos!
Essential Components:
Good bread: obviously. Get a nice, thick, neutral flavored bread like sour dough, kaiser rolls, fancy white bread, Italian loaf, etc.
Protein: We prefer smoked turkey, and think all cured meat tastes best thinly sliced, which exposed the meat’s flavor and also extends its serving. You can order thinly sliced meat at the deli counter, and some types can can also be found packaged. To expand this spread, grab a nice roast beef, a lil salami or prosciutto, perhaps some morty-d - maybe even an alternative deli meat.
Cheese: You need a quality and flexible - flavor-wise and physically - sliced cheese. We generally opt for something middle of the road - say a baby Swiss or young cheddar.
Lettuce: You need a nice, crispy lettuce. This can be shredded iceberg (shredduce which be bought prepped), or whole leaves like butter or romaine.
Sliced tomato: Get out of here with those halved cherry tomatoes. Find a nice, thick slicing tomato (heirloom for some interest and color), use your serrated knife to cut it into horizontal slices, and sprinkle with a little salt and olive oil.
Thin sliced cucumber: You didn’t know you need it on your sandwich til you had it.
Non negotiable condiments: mayo, mustard and ketchup:
Ketchup because even the pickiest, whiniest kid will eat bread with ketchup and be happy with it.
Mayo is the glue that holds all sandwiches together.
Mustard zests everything up, and adds interest and dimension.
Optional:
Some combo of the below is nice and you likely have at least some lying around your fridge:
Thin sliced onion or shallot: can be prepped on your mandolin, and is a good way to fill out the board, but people don’t always eat it.
Avocado: a ripe avocado is always appreciated, but there’s so much else going on it won’t be missed.
Sprouts: again, a nice extra but won’t be missed.
Pickles or kraut: adds a nice like crunch and takes a spread from basic to pro-biotic.
Olives: for garnish and snacking.
Accompaniments:
Chips: you always need two kinds of crunch: a basic one everyone - including the kids will love - and an interesting conversation- starter chip. Say, a ruffled cheddar or something fancy.
Mayo-based salads: The easiest and most impressive thing in the world to do is to gussy up store-bought salads. We especially like to do this with potato salad, and adding things dilutes the mayo, which supermarkets go too heavy on. Buy some plain potato salad, add any of the following: chopped dill, chives, shallot, celery, green beans, hard-boiled egg, grainy mustard, acv, etc. - and you’ve gone from a sad salad to a snappy salad.
Cookies: Especially at lunchtime, nothing beats a cookie plate. Also, we urge you to scour your local markets for cookies, because recently our best lil treats have come from #farmersmarketfinds: nicole’s bakery and bit, which are both women-owned, small cottage business, which allow people to have small, flexible, side hustle business while getting off the ground.
Fruit platter: it’s berry szn, people. Lop the top off some strawberries, toss with some blueberries and a teensy bit (like a tbsp) of citrus juice, and a sprinkle of vanilla, and a pinch of salt. Fold with a spatula and let sit, then serve with good - store bought or not - whipped cream. If you want to get fancy, cube some store-bought butter loaf.
Popsicles: Stash the little push up ones in the ice, along with the bevvies. They keep drinks cool!