Life is short: eat dessert (sandwiches) first!

Every meal- even snacks and tea time- can involve a sandwich.  (Did I just imply that snacks are a meal? Did I? Aren't they?)

Take dessert, for example.  You have ice cream sandwiches (coming in a future post!), and you have this, my creation:

On a recent late summer day, some foodie friends and I cooked up a delicious lunch (including grilled salmon YUM) to celebrate our anniversaries of moving to DC.  I picked up from Whole Foods an "all butter pound cake," and I had some strawberries and Cool Whip on hand.  I layered the three to make a strawberry shortcake sandwich- what's not to love!?  Summer desserts almost require fresh fruit and cream (or cream-esque), if you ask me.

This would work with any pound cake and lots of different fruits, if you want to adventure from the classic combo.  It's so easy to make, a beautiful presentation, and absolutely delicious!

Moms know stuff about sandwiches.

My brother and I grew up in Tallahassee, FL, a lovely place sandwiched in between the Georgia peaches and Gulf coast beaches.

He lives in NYC, I live in DC, and we both LOVE to escape to our childhood home and especially to the Gulf.

One very memorable trip, after two flights for brotherpants (and one for me, but still), we were starving when we landed at the beach.  I mean, STARVING.

Luckily, our mom, being the way she is (i.e. the BEST) and knowing the way WE are (i.e. always HUNGRY- what? like there is a lot of really good food where we live?) had packed us something to eat.  She was prepared for us, as evidenced when she opened the cooler to reveal 4 nice sized sub sandwiches- all smaller parts of a whole- wrapped in Saran wrap. 

Little did we know, under the Saran wrap was a legendary sandwich that we would never stop talking about; it would become a family tradition.

By now you are probably wondering what was so great about this sandwich. 

Here are the deets for Mom's Roast Beef Sub:

-French Bread Loaf split horizontally (fresh Publix bakery sub rolls are best. Florida peeps you KNOW what I am talking about!)

-Olive Oil, AppleCider Vinegar, S&P - slather generously on bread and on each ingredient layer

-1 lb thinly sliced deli roast beef

-8 oz sliced swiss cheese or cheese of  your choice

-tomato slices to cover one layer in sandwich

-Spinach leaves - as many as you can smash into sandwich

-Cut into sub sections and wrap each section tightly in plastic wrap.

Even better the next day! (according to Mom- brother and I never let them last that long!)

There is something about these sandwiches that is perfect for roadtrips and beach days.  They are simple and satisfying, cold and comforting, fresh and phenomenal.

Now every time we go home, we request "the sandwiches."  It's pretty awesome.