The Dagwood is
surely a contender for one of the most outrageous sandwiches of all time and
should be assembled with caution by a fully consenting adult. It is named after
Dagwood Bumstead, a character in the comic strip “Blondie,” who was known for
constructing skyscrapers with multiple layers of bread, meats, cheese, and
garnishes. Apparently his kitchen capabilities stretched only to layering up
the various leftovers foraged from his refrigerator.
It’s really just a case of throwing caution to the
wind and piling up your favorite ingredients. The sandwich is then skewered
with a long stick topped with two stuffed green olives. You may need a few
friends to help you eat it. If you don’t, then you have my full admiration.
Makes 1
INGREDIENTS
4 slices light rye bread
Yellow (American-style) mustard
Mayonnaise
2 slices Swiss cheese
4 slices cooked ham
3 slices tomato
2 dill pickles, sliced lengthwise
1 scallion
(spring onion), thinly sliced
2 slices smoked
or regular Cheddar cheese (or use sharp Provolone or Monterey Jack, if you
prefer) 4 slices salami
3 slices
pastrami
1 cold cooked chicken breast, sliced
Iceberg lettuce, shredded
A long wooden or metal skewer and 2
stuffed green olives, to garnish
Lay out the 4 slices of bread
and spread 2 with mustard and 2 with mayo. Then it’s just a case of layering
everything up. Start with a slice of Swiss cheese on 1 slice of bread, then
maybe some ham, a slice of tomato, a dill pickle, and some scallion (spring
onion), before adding the next slice of bread and then continuing with all the
remaining fillings and the remaining bread slices, until your beautiful monster
has been perfected.
Skewer the whole thing right down through the
middle, and crown the skewer with the 2 stuffed olives.
Take
a deep breath, and do what you have to do.
