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Sandwiches Unit Study and Badge Resources

Sandwiches Unit Study and Badge Resources

Dagwood sandwiches, Po’ Boys, Subs and more…who doesn’t love a good sandwich?! But what is a sandwich exactly? Where did they come from? How can you safely transport them? How do other cultures make them? Use the resources below to earn your Sandwiches badge. Other badges you may wish to earn alongside include badges like Baking (bake your own bread!), Garnishes or Food Presentation (make sure your sandwiches are pretty!), Food Safety, or even Culture by Country to see the role sandwiches play in other cultures.

What is a Sandwich?

According to Merriam Webster Dictionary a sandwich is:

  • a: two or more slices of bread or a split roll having a filling in between
  • b: one slice of bread covered with food

Read through our blog post, “What Defines a Sandwich? – 7 Different Types of Sandwiches.” There is a lot of debate over just what classifies something as a sandwich. Believe it or not, if you are in the food industry, what classifies as a sandwich has real world legal implications. In some states sandwiches are taxed in certain ways. There are food safety rules that apply to sandwiches as well. And even zoning and contractual agreements based on what is, or is not, a sandwich. Open-faced meat sandwiches, where the ratio of meat to bread and other ingredients is more than half, are regulated by the USDA. But closed sandwiches, with two slices of bread, are regulated by the FDA because the ratio of meat to other ingredients is less than 50 percent. Confusing right?

To Do: Make at least 3 different types of sandwich from the following 7 categories: regular, open face, grilled, stacked, wrap, pinwheel, and non-traditional sandwiches like ice cream sandwiches.

Fulfills an optional requirement

The History of Sandwiches

The history of the sandwich is not as simple as most would have you believe. Named for the Earl of Sandwich who made the concept popular in the 1700’s, the humble sandwich has been around for over a thousand years. PBS has a great article entitled, “Discover the History of the Sandwich” that delves into the history of the sandwich. Learn about the origins of the concept behind a sandwich as well as how it became a popular staple.

The history of the sandwich is much more complex than a single article can portray. For a more in-depth analysis of the history of this fabulous food, visit the FoodTimeline.org website. Here are a few highlights.

  • 110 BC – The first form of sandwich, the Korech or “Hillel sandwich” eaten during Jewish Passover consisting of bitter herbs between two slices of unleavened bread.
  • 1762 – The sandwich is made popular by John Montagu, the Fourth Earl of Sandwich during a poker game.
  • 1773 – the word sandwich is first used in a recipe book (in Charlotte Mason’s cookbook titled The Lady’s assistant for regulating and supplying her table: Being a Complete System of Cookery, Containing One Hundred and Fifty Select Bills of Fare. )
  • 1816 – sandwiches are first included in an American cookbook and included a variety of fillings such as cheese, fruit, shellfish, nuts and mushrooms..
  • 1928 – Gustav Papendick found a way to slice as well as package bread leading to sandwiches becoming a popular lunch choice.
  • 1943 -sliced bread is banned as a wartime conservation effort
  • 1952 – August is declared national sandwich month
  • 1965 – The first Subway sandwich shop opens in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
  • 1981 – The November 3 is declared National Sandwich Day
  • 2011 – Guiness World Record for longest sandwich – 2,411 feet 5 inches made in Beirut, Lebanon

To Do: Use the printables below to create a sandwich out of your timeline events. Cut out each sandwich ingredient, shuffle them up and then see if you can assemble your sandwich in the correct order.

Fulfills level 2 requirement 2

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches

Did you know Americans consume somewhere around 300 million sandwiches daily and nearly half of American love to eat peanut butter and jelly. It has been an American staple for years.

To Do: Learn to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches without getting the outside of the sandwich messy. Make sure to clean up afterwards. What are some ways to keep crumbs out of your peanut butter and jelly? Why does your family store bread, peanut butter, and jelly the way they do? Make one sandwich with two slices of bread and make another open faced with just one slice. Which do you like better? Which is easier to pack and to eat? Try using different smooth spreads like honey, Nutella or flavored cream cheese in place of either peanut butter or jelly. Try adding fruit like bananas or strawberries to your sandwich. Which is your favorite?

Fulfills preschool requirements 1 & 2 and Level 1 requirement 1

Meat and Cheese Sandwiches

When people say the word “sandwich”, a traditional meat and cheese sandwich between two slices of bread is usually what comes to mind. Sounds simple, but the varieties are endless and each sandwich has its own unique taste. Add various condiments, fruits and vegetables each sandwich can be customized to particular tastes.

To Do: Make a meat and cheese sandwich you have never tried before. Most everyone has had a basic meat and cheese sandwich. Whether your favorite is ham and swiss or turkey with avocado, try stepping up your game and thinking outside the box. You can try one of the recipes below, or create your own based on what you find in your kitchen. What unique tasty combinations can you come up with?

 Italian Deli Sandwich – Whisk 3 TBLS olive oil, 2 TBLS white wine vinegar, 1 minced garlic clove and 1/2 teaspoon each Italian seasoning and sugar. Inside a split sub roll, drizzle all but 1 tablespoon of the vinaigrette. Fill the roll with shredded lettuce, mozzarella, pepperoni, salami, prosciutto and sliced pickled peppers; Drizzle the remainder of the vinaigrette on top.

Chicken Arugula – Spread hummus on both sides of a bread roll. Fill with a grilled chicken breast and top with jack cheese, arugula and sliced tomatoes.

Smoked Turkey with Plums –  Split a baguette and spread with Dijon mustard on one side and garlic-and-herb cheese spread (such as Boursin) on the other side. Fill with sliced smoked turkey, lettuce and sliced plums.

Fulfills Level 2 requirement 1

Salad Sandwiches and Sandwich Fillings

Salad sandwiches are true comfort food. Whether it’s egg salad, tuna salad, or chicken salad, they bring up memories of home and help keep sandwich making on a budget.

To Do: Make a salad sandwich or other spreadable filling for a quick and easy meal. Try one of the recipes below or use a favorite of your family. Food and Wine Magazine has a great article with some unique salad sandwich recipes that you many also wish to explore.

Egg Salad – Hard boil 8 eggs and cool, then peel and chop them. Mix them with 12/ cup mayonnaise, 1/2 tsp mustard, and 1/4 cup green onions. Add salt, pepper and paprika to taste.

Tuna Salad – Mix together 4 cans of tuna (drained), 1 cup mayo, 1/3 cup celery, 1/4 cup dill finely chopped dill pickles, and salt and pepper to taste.

Chicken Salad – Mix together 2 cups cooked chicken, 1/2 cup of mayonnaise, 1 Tbsp. lemon juice, 1/2 cup chopped celery, 12/ cup slivered almonds and salt and pepper to taste.

Fulfills Level 3 requirement 1

The Ever Popular Hamburger

The hamburger is one of the most popular sandwiches in America and has grown from a simple hot meat sandwich to a food canvas of creativity. Here are just a few of the wild can crazy hamburgers we have found

MUDDY PIG by Crazee Burger – Hardwood smoked bacon, nutella spread & caramelized plantains

TERIYAKI TURKEY BURGERS WITH GRILLED PINEAPPLE AND ONIONS by Recipe Runner

TACO BURGER – by Burger Artist

To Do: Make at least three variations of hamburgers by stirring ingredients into the meat, by adding interesting additions on top of the burger, or by creating a unique bun.

Fulfills optional requirements 5 & 12

Grilled Sandwiches

Grilled cheese is considered to be the most popular sandwich in America. This simple sandwich has the perfect blend of crunchy, salty, ooey gooey decadence. Simply by changing out the bread and cheese with different options this simple sandwich has hundreds of possibilities. In addition to the classic grilled cheese, there are hundred of varieties of grilled sandwiches with all sorts of fantastic ingredients stuffed inside.

To Do: Make one grilled cheese sandwich and one with a variety of fillings.

Delish has a fun slide show of their 63 Most Delish Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with links to the recipes if you need some inspiration.

MyRecipes.com provides recipes for a variety of yummy grilled sandwiches from those made in a waffle iron to a sheet pan in the over in their article “Press for Flavor: Grilled Sandwich Recipes.”

Fulfills optional requirement #4

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