Celebrating PB&J Day

By Diane Forrest

When my son first started surfing around on the Internet, he found this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ekIzGfJkBs

He thought it was wonderful, and watched it over and over.  Its one of those tunes that stick in your head, and now every time I think about Peanut Butter and Jelly…this song starts to play in my head.

There are just some things that naturally got together like bacon and eggs, mashed potatoes and gravy, chicken and dumplings and peanut butter and jelly.  Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are a staple for young kids growing up.  My uncle who recently turned 75 continues to eat a pb and j sandwich for lunch nearly every day.  My father and aunt still kid him about that, and when he moved to San Antonio, he took some Spanish classes to learn how to speak the language, and he found a gift for my dad, a paper napkin holder with the words, crema de mani y jalea, which means peanut butter and jelly.

When I was in school, my brother decided he liked his peanut butter and jelly mixed together and then spread on the bread.  I didn't like it that way, preferred mine with the peanut butter on one side, and the jelly on the other, but I had to suffer with it mixed until he got tired of it, which seemed to last forever!

According to punchbowl.com, the average American consumes 1,500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches by the age of 18? The combination of sweet jelly and salty peanut butter has been a staple in school lunchboxes for over fifty years.

According to one story, American soldiers invented the peanut butter and jelly sandwich during World War II. They decided to combine their bread, jelly, and peanut butter rations into a fabulous new treat. When the soldiers returned home after the war, peanut butter and jelly sales soared.

Unfortunately, I recently read that a child took a PB & J sandwich to school and it was taken away from him.  Apparently kids are prohibited from bringing foods containing peanut butter because there are some students who have allergies.  Well, at least they can still enjoy this delicious treat at home.

Today is National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day, so why not remember your younger days and fix a nice PB & J, some chocolate milk, and some Cheetos.  What is your favorite type of peanut butter and jelly?  Let us know in the comment section below.

Sandwich Generation Month

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By Terry Orr

This is an annual commemoration and celebration of the dedication, patience and caring of adults who are part of the sandwich generation – those caring for their children as well as their own aging parents.

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The annual recognition of Sandwich Generation Month is every July, with organizations and communities throughout the United States holding events to raise awareness of and provide support for members of the sandwich generation.  This time can be very stressful for those who are part of it. Every day presents new challenges for the Sandwich Generation and these people work very hard to ensure the safety and care of their loved ones.

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Steve Worrall recommends the following steps:

Determine How You’ll Pay for Long-Term Care - Nursing home and assisted living facilities can cost up to $8,000 a month and Medicare will not pick up the tab.

Get The Legal Authority Now to Manage Their Affairs and Maintain Control - If your parents do not have powers of attorney or health care directives that allow you to communicate with doctors, access medical records and manage their financial affairs, it’s a good idea to create them now while mom or dad is still in good health.

Document Their End-of-Life Wishes - Thousands of families each year are torn apart trying to decide what their loved one “would have wanted” in serious medical situations.

Get Organized to Avoid Last Minute Scrambling - Gather your parent’s important information now to avoid any confusion and delays in the event of a medical emergency. Important documents to collect include insurance information, front and back of all ID cards including driver’s license, prescription cards and military ID cards, prior medical history, names and numbers of doctors, copies of their living will, health care directives and a list of current medication and doses.

(Written by Attorney Steve Worrall. For a copy of his Guide, “Surviving the ‘Sandwiched’ Years: How to Protect Your Parent’s Assets, Honor Their Wishes & Provide Long-Term Care . . . Without Losing Money – Or Your Mind!”, please visit www.GeorgiaSandwichGeneration.com.)

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Links:

http://www.sandwichgenerationmonth.com/

http://www.michigan.gov/snyder/0,4668,7-277-57577_59874-281604--,00.html

http://lifefoneblog.com/2011/07/06/sandwich-generation-month/

http://www.eastcobber.com/july-is-national-sandwich-generation-month-4-ways-to-help-aging-parents-plan-for-long-term-care%E2%80%8F/

http://theboomermagazine.com/magazine/caregivers-corner/259-nine-tips-for-the-sandwich-generation.html

National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Month

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By Chef Diane

When my husband was having dental problems, one of his favorite things to eat was grilled cheese sandwiches.  That’s because they were hot, soft, and delicious.  I made so many that I perfected the skill.  I heat up my flat skillet; butter the bread, using white bread and real butter.  I put one slice on the skillet, then place one slice of American cheese, either Kraft or Borden's, then top off with another buttered slice of bread.  I leave it on the skillet on low, to let the bread turn golden brown before flipping it over to brown the other side.  You don't want to cook it too high, the bread will brown, but the cheese won't melt.  In just a few minutes you will have a perfect grilled cheese sandwich.

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I didn't know at the time that there was a whole month dedicated to the Grilled Cheese Sandwich.  So, I set about trying to learn more about this tastey treat.  The grilled cheese sandwich has been around since the 1920's.  Cheese sandwiches have been around longer, but once you heat them up it really raises the bar.  My extensive research lead me to this site: http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/40-amazing-grilled-cheese-sandwich-recipes with 40 amazing grilled cheese sandwich recipes, and seeing as there is a whole month to celebrate the sandwich, here are some new ways to try it.

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There are thousands of combinations you can use; the different cheeses, different types of bread and even the use of condiments all change the taste and flavor.  There is even a grilled cheese academy where an annual contest is held for the best grilled cheese recipe.  To learn more about it click here:  http://grilledcheeseacademy.com/.

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Grilled cheese sandwiches are a great comfort food.  I like eating them with tomato soup, and to celebrate National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Month I plan to have it once or twice this month.  If you have a special way to fix them, let us know in the comment section.  If you have never made one, why not try this recipe from allrecipes.com and let us know what you think.

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Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Ingredients:

• 4 slices white bread
• 3 tablespoons butter, divided
• 2 slices Cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat skillet over medium heat.
2. Generously butter one side of a slice of bread.
3. Place bread butter-side-down onto skillet bottom and add 1 slice of cheese.
4. Butter a second slice of bread on one side and place butter-side-up on top of sandwich.
5. Grill until lightly browned and flip over; continue grilling until cheese is melted.
6. Repeat with remaining 2 slices of bread, butter and slice of cheese.

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National Sandwich Day

By Diane Forrest,

My first year in college was a very exciting one.  It was my first time away from home, meeting new people, learning new things, having alot of adventures, and participating in all types of school activities.  One of the activities that stand’s out is the day they made the state's longest sandwich.  It was a big deal on campus, and everyone turned out to watch them build it...then we all ate it.  Made me think of Dagwood Bumstead from the comic strip Blondie, and his big sandwiches, I always wondered how he ever got them in his mouth.

In the 18th Century, John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, was credited with the first sandwich.  He would like to play Cribbage, a card game, and wanted to be able to eat without getting his hands greasy from the meat.  So he asked that his meat be placed between two slices of bread.  Initially perceived as food men shared while gaming and drinking at night, the sandwich slowly began appearing in polite society as a late-night meal.  The sandwich then began to sweep across the world during the 19th century, when the rise of an industrial society and the working classes made fast, portable, and inexpensive meals essential.

Sandwiches are now a staple in every home.  We take them in our school lunches, eat them at parties and even while playing cards!  I would take peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in my school lunch, tuna fish or grilled cheese sandwiches on the weekends, and bologna sandwiches when I would go fishing.  When I would visit my grandparents on the Mississippi Coast, we would get this wonderful thing called a shrimp poboy.

Subway has made quite a splash across the country.  There, you can go in, pick your favorite type of bread, have it loaded with meats, cheeses, all types of vegetables and dressing, and have a meal fit for the Earl of Sandwich.  With their fresh ingredients and low fat and inexpensive price, they make for a great meal.

There are many ways to have a sandwich these days; you can have hot, cold, tiny bite sized finger sandwiches, or huge foot long ones.  So today, as we celebrate the 4th Earl of Sandwich why not grab one for lunch?

National Bologna Day

By Diane Forrest

My Bologna has a first name

Its O-s-c-a-r

My Bologna has a second name

It’s M-a-y-e-r

Oh I love to eat it every day

and if you ask me why

I'll say

Cause Oscar Mayer has a way

with B-o-l-o-g-n-a

How's that?

I remember when I was a young girl going fishing with my daddy.  The best part of the trip, besides catching the fish, was eating the lunch we packed.  We would get the thick sliced bologna with the red strip around the edges, white bread and mayonnaise.  Never has anything tasted so good, sitting in a boat, on the lake, a pole in the water, and a bologna sandwich.

There is a song by Alan Jackson called I still like Bologna, you can watch it here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0mjcMgRmyE

It talks about the digital world and how things can be complicated at times, but sometimes the simple things, like bologna sandwiches are better, and can't be replaced by modern technology.

Bologna is an American sausage, fashioned after the Itallian Mortadella which was named after the city Bologna.  Mortadella is made from a finely hashed/ground pork sausage containing visible cubes of lard.  American regulations state that it must be finely ground so that there is no visible pieces of any portion.  Bologna can alternatively be made out of chicken, turkey, beef, pork, venison or soy protein.

So today, on National Bologna Day, why not fix yourself a bologna sandwich and remember the days of your youth.

National Fluffernutter Day

By Diane Forrest,

When I think of Marshmallow Cream the first thing I think of is the Sta-Puft Marshmallow man blowing up all over the Ghostbusters.  Then I think of the delicious fudge I make during the holidays.  Recently I made some brownies that use marshmallow cream and I have to say they were amazing!  That about covers my experience with marshmallow cream.  Today, I have learned about something new.  Something called Fluffernutter.  What this is, is a sandwich made with marshmallow cream, also called fluff, and peanut butter.  I am learning about it, because today is National Fluffernutter Day.

The fluffernutter is a particular favorite in the Northeastern states.  In fact, Massachusetts has proposed making it the official state sandwich.

A fluffernutter is made by spreading peanut butter on a slice of white bread, then spreading an equal amount of some kind of marshmallow (small, large or cream) on another slice, and finally combining them together to form a sandwich. Variations of the recipe include wheat bread instead of white, and the addition of bananas, honey, or other ingredients that are compatible with peanut butter, or the addition of chips (potato chips, corn chips, etc.) inside of the sandwich instead of on the side.

In June 2006, Massachusetts state senator Jarrett Barrios gained national attention when he proposed legislation restricting the serving of fluffernutter sandwiches in public schools. The proposal was criticized as an example of trivial and overly intrusive legislation, while Barrios' supporters pointed to concerns over the problem of childhood obesity.

So if you have never tried one of these sandwiches, why not have one today, on National Fluffernutter Day.