International Sandwich Day (November 3rd)

Today is International Sandwich Day! 
The sandwich has been around for centuries. It is yummy, portable comfort food that delights young and old. There are endless varieties only limited by your imagination. 
In Japan, sandwiches are available everywhere. Even in vending machines! They are beautifully packaged, miniature works of art of bread, cheese, meat, seafood and even fruit! I think they are adorable and the perfect size. (My Mr. Cham thinks they belong in a dollhouse.)

On an episode of Only in Japan, congenial host/producer/ writer John Daub

introduces us to Japanese sandwiches.

This entire episode and all episodes of Only in Japan are available on YouTube. If you are planning a trip to Japan (WE ARE!!!!!!!🎎), they are an invaluable source of information. And if you are not, they are very entertaining as well. Thank you, John! (We had a huge spike of visitors from Japan today 11-7-2018. We are only in the planning stages, but we're excited too !!!😁)

Here are a few of our favorites sandwiches:

The Classic Grilled Cheese
Your choice of cheese and bread.

                                                 France's Croque Monsieur
                                 Grilled cheese with ham.

 Monte Cristo
Ham and cheese, dipped into eggs and milk and fried. Dusted with powdered sugar, served with fresh fruit, jam and french fries. The love child of French Toast and the powdered sugar doughnut.

 The Cheeseburger
Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun.😋

 The Patty Melt
The more sophisticated brother of the cheeseburger
served on grilled rye bread with optional caramelized onions.

                                                            Club Sandwich
Ham, cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise on toast.

 Peanut Butter and Jelly

                                       Peanut Butter and Banana

(Toast the bread and grill the sandwich
and enjoy one of Mr. Elvis Presley's favorites.)

                                         Louisiana Poor Boy
                                         Meat or seafood "dressed" with
                                                       mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato                                                            on a roll.

Vietnamese Banh Mi 
Pork and pickled vegetables on a baguette.

                                                 Tuna Fish
                                         Add cheese and grill to make a tuna melt.

French Dip
Thinly sliced roast beef on a
roll and served with au jus.

                           Turkey
                                     Thanksgiving between two slices of bread.

Lox and Cream Cheese
served on a bagel with onion and tomato, sometimes capers.

The Dagwood
Inspired by the 1930's comic strip by Chic Young.

The BLONDIE (and Dagwood) series of films of the '30's and '40's
starred Arthur Lake and Penny Singleton as The Bumstead family, including their son "Baby Dumpling" and their dog Daisy.

                                                                       At the Universal                                                         Studios themed                                       restaurant, you can try one for yourself.

What is YOUR favorite sandwich?🌷😉 (Please forgive the chaos. This was one of our rare "collaborations").

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MEN MAKE DINNER DAY !!! (Yes, it's a real holiday and it was yesterday.)

                                 RAMEN !!!

I've been asked if I'm only allowed in the kitchen once a year and the answer is ...NO. My Tess surrenders her domain a couple times a week when I am home and not "gallivanting" (her word, not mine). I prefer to call it WORKING !!! 😉

BOOOOO !!!!!!! (DID I SCARE YOU ???)

                        Halloween is right around the corner !!! It's probably my favorite holiday, although I like most of them and Tess and I like to celebrate pretty much anything. But Halloween is the one that she gladly turns over to me every year. 

                        I do the decorations, pick the costumes, buy the candy, make dinner and pick the playlist of movies and shows that we'll watch after the kids are stuffed with treats and are all tucked in and snoring (or is that me ?😏)

    I'm giving out the good stuff !!!

                           A few weeks ago, I brought up the subject of costumes. Even though I pick who we're going to be, I still like to get Tess' input. Especially after what happened the first year we were a couple.
I chose Han Solo and Princess Leia from Return of the Jedi. She loved the idea until I said that I had picked Leia's costume from Jaba's palace. She was silent, which is never a good thing.
Me: What's wrong ? 
Tess: It's a little bit...revealing. 
Me: You'll be beautiful.
Tess: Are we going somewhere or staying home ?
Me: Staying home.
Tess: Then why do I need a costume ?
Me: To give out candy to trick or treaters.
Tess : The parents will complain.
Me: The dads won't !
Tess : You are terrible.
Me: I know. 

So this year, I knew exactly who we should be.
Me: Two people from Westeros !
Tess: Which two people ?
Me: No one in particular.
Tess: You want me to be Cersei, don't you?
Me: Ugh, no.
Tess: Then who?
Me: It doesn't matter. When we went to the Renaissance Faire we weren't anybody in particular. Isn't that what makes it fun ?
Tess: You made the picture of Daenerys and Jorah.
Me: I did that for you.
Tess: I love it.
Me: We can be them if you want to.
Tess: Whatever you want. I want you to be happy.
Me: I want to be Tyrion.
Tess: (giggling) You are too tall and you do not have a beard !
Me: I could grow a beard.
Tess: In two weeks ?
Me: Probably. Alright, Maester Aemon.
Tess: You are too young.
Me: The Mountain?

Tess: You will scare the kids.
Me: You should be Sansa.
Tess: Because I have red hair ?
Me: Well...You could be Ygritte.
Tess: No ! She was mean and untidy and she killed that little boy's father and shot Jon Snow full of arrows !
Me: Yup. Lady Melisandre ?
Tess : No. She killed that poor little guyirl !

If
Me: Sweetie, pretty much everybody on there has killed somebody. It's just a tv show.
Tess: I know, but.....Alright, Sansa.
Me: She killed Baelish. Tess: Arya did that. Besides, he deserved it.
Me: Yeah. Sansa has pretty clothes. You liked that one with the fur, and it's going to be cold that night.

Tess: It is cold now. Are we going out or staying in ?
Me: Staying in ! I'll put another log on the fire. Call Miss Belle and tell her that you're going to be Sansa, but who am I going to be ?
Tess: That is up to you, but no one bad. Sansa has had enough bad men in her life.
Me: True.
Tess: I had better take your measurements.

Me: Why ?
Tess : So that everything fits.She has not made anything for you in a year and your clothes are too tight.
Me: They are not !
Tess: Look what you are wearing right this minute.
Me: What ? It's comfortable !

Tess : It does not look comfortable. Your jeans are not leaving anything to the imagination, and your shirt is too short.
Me: (laughing) Do you like my socks ? Hey, why don't you throw out all of my clothes and buy me new ones ?
She looked delighted.
Tess : May I ?!!!!!!!
Me :NOOOOOOOOOOO !!!
Tess : Oh my ears ! 
(a few minutes passed, but my Tess doesn't give up easily.) 
Tess :Your suits fit you fine. It is your casual clothes that do not.
Me : Leave them alone and don't pout !!! Now, go and get my belt.
Tess : Don't type that ! They will not know that you are kidding.
Me: Maybe I'm not. Where are you going ?
Tess : To get your belt. I deserve it. Lizzy says that I have made you obese.

Me: When did she say that ?
Tess : The day that we met.
Me: And you still made friends with her ???
Tess: Yes. Her English was not very good then. That was three years ago. She would never say that now.
Me: Do YOU think I'm obese ?
Tess : Goodness, no !......But your clothes are too tight.
Me: Are you putting me on another one of your crazy diets?
Tess : No, but let me give your clothes to charity and go shopping for new ones.....My treat !
Me: No. I hate to shop.
Tess: Now, who is pouting ? Let me take your measurements and then I will go shopping online and you can approve everything before I check out. You are so handsome, but you would be better off going out in your birthday suit than some of the things you wear.
Me : Hey ! There's an idea !
Tess : NOOOOOO !
Me: Why not ?
Tess: Because you would cause a riot ! You have enough women throwing themselves at you now !
😏😕😝😨😬😎
Me : Jealous ???
Tess : Should I be ?
Me: Nope.

Tess : Then I can go shopping for you ?
Me : No. It reminds me of school shopping.
Tess : I never had to do that.
Me: I know ! Lucky.

Tess : I like shopping online. I can take my time and my feet do not hurt.
Me : Call Miss Belle and get her started on the costumes.
Tess : Have you decided who you want to be ?
Me : The Hound.
Tess : Not with your face.
Me :What's wrong with my face ?
Tess :Absolutely nothing. That is the point. Still, it is not his fault and he was kind to Sansa.

(Tess is standing on a chair in this picture !😁)

Me : O.k. No make up. Yay ! I don't have to shave or get a haircut and he wears bitchin' boots !
Tess : I wish you would not say that.
Me : What ? Bitchin' ?
Tess : Yes. It does not become you.
Me : ( I made a face at her) Make the call ! 
Tess : I still need your measurements.
Me : After lunch.

Tess : I could make a nice salad.
Me : You're fired!😡 Pack your bags.
Tess : Soba ?
Me : You can stay.



Lunch was delicious and I let her take my measurements after we ate.
Then, I looked at the tablet where she was writing the numbers down.
Me : I AM obese !!!
Tess :Oh, you are not.
Me : We better go on a diet.
Tess: Why me ?
Me : It's all your fault !

I HAVE A CONFESSION TO MAKE.

         I, AM A COFFEEHOLIC !!! There. I finally said it.
                 (What did you think I was going to say ???😕)

I drink coffee in my sleep. I mostly favor a deep, rich brew made from freshly ground                    beans, but I love diner coffee too. The aroma, the taste, the feel of the cup in my hands. Love it.
Almost as much or possibly more than a GUINNESS, but it's a close race.

In honor of  INTERNATIONAL COFFEE DAY(which was yesterday. I forgot, even though my sweetie served me coffee and coffee-infused deliciousness ALL DAY LONG !!!) I passed out happy as a clam not long after dessert and forgot to post this. Does it matter that I'm a day late ? I don't think so. Maybe you passed out too and didn't visit us yesterday (although the huge spike in views around noon says differently. What were you looking for ???). In that case, we compiled a little list of coffee oohs and ahhs for you. ENJOY !!!
CAFE AU LAIT (FRANCE): Equal parts of fresh brewed coffee and steamed milk.

 IRISH COFFEE : Hot coffee,
Irish Whiskey, Sugar and whipped cream.

 MOROCCAN COFFEE : Dark coffee fragrant with cloves, cardamom, black pepper,cinnamon and nutmeg.Served with dates and sugar cubes.





TURKISH COFFEE: Made in a special brass or copper pot known as a cezve, finely ground roasted coffee beans are brewed with the grounds.Strong and rich.

GREEK COFFEE: VERY strong but also sweet.Made in a briki and served in a demitasse cup.

MEXICAN COFFEE:(Courtesy of our friend Lizzy from Durango.
Hi Lizzy !!!😉) Simmered with a cinnamon stick and piloncillo sugar. Lizzy recommends using ORO GOLD brand coffee and serving it in a clay mug.

Serve any of these with your favorite coffee cake !😋

 and then there is COFFEE ICE CREAM !

                                                          COFFEE FLAVORED STOUT

COFFEE CANDY

                                                                               

 

AND

  Coffee Cigars ???

I'm not a smoker, but whatever floats your boat.

Have a great day !!! 😉