Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

Myron Heuer Column 6/15/98



There are several methods of nourishing ourselves, but
obviously, the sandwich is most popular.

Two pieces of bread, with something in between is the way
of life for most of us at most meals. It’s quick, convenient and usually
nutritious. Without a doubt, the most popular sandwich is the one with a
slab of ground beef between two slices of bread or a bun. This is, of course,
the ever popular hamburger. Add a slice of cheese, it’s a cheeseburger.

The whole fast food industry is built around a sandwich.
There are many sandwich fillings. Perhaps the most popular sandwich made
at home is the peanut butter and jelly, or peanut butter alone or jelly
alone.

Sandwiches were fairly new 100 years ago. I found the following
in a 100 year-old newspaper:

“Fashion has approved of the sandwich . . . probably
because it is so English. Both white and fine-ground brown peanuts are
used, and the sandwich is either rolled or tied with a ribbon or cut in
some fancy shape. Here are a few of the most popular sandwiches of the moment:

Peanut sandwiches are perhaps the newest kind of sandwiches.
Spread the thin slices of white bread with mayonnaise dressing and cover
well with ground peanuts that have been well-roasted. Serve with sherry.
They are delicious.

Raisin sandwiches are quite the thing to serve with lemonade
or sweet punch, and are made by cutting large raisins in half with a sharp
scissors and removing the seeds. Lay the fruit closely together between
thin buttered white bread and moisten with a suspicion of brandy or sherry,
but not enough to reach the bread and make it soggy. Cut the bread in fancy
shapes.

Between thin slices of white bread, buttered, place nasturtium
leaves, well-covered with mayonnaise dressing. These are to be served with
game, and must be eaten soon after made, as the leaves soon wither.”

Sounds interesting, doesn’t it? I wouldn’t mind trying
the peanut sandwich, but hold the mayo. The raisin sandwich sounds good,
too. Must have been before they developed the seedless raisin. And could
the peanut sandwich have caused the invention of peanut butter? I’ll pass
on the nasturtium sandwich. Eating flowers is not for me.

I think most of us would prefer a Big Mac, or a Whopper
with fries on the side, with a soft drink.

The sandwich has come a long way in the last 100 years.
It’s the big favorite of the 20th century.


I’ve always wondered: why don’t sheep shrink when it rains?

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