August is National Sandwich Month: History, Trivia and Just Plain Fun

Dedicate the month of August to sandwiches; from peanut butter and jelly to a thick juicy club. The word sandwich actually refers to John Montagu, the fourth Earl of Sandwich in 1762. He was a free-spirit kind of guy who loved games and gambling. Since he was always in a hurry going from game to game, he never stopped for a full meal. He requested a piece of meat between two slices of bread to eat on the run. Others saw how practical this new way of eating was, and thus the sandwich was born.

The sandwich hit the United States in 1827, when Elizabeth Leslie published her cookbook that included a ham sandwich. It was immediately popular with the population of the states, giving an easy, portable meal for workers and schoolchildren alike.

By the 1900s, bakeries started selling pre-sliced bread, so that sandwiches were easy to create. Until that time, consumers would buy solid loaves - or bake their own bread at home. Bread portions were often just torn off the loaf in random shapes. Now, with perfectly sliced pieces of bread, the sandwich had come into its glory. From long ago to present day, sandwiches ARE fun. Invite your family to partake in some learning trivia and games during National Sandwich Month and throughout the year.

Favorite Sandwiches - Bet You Can't Pick Just One

Depending on where you live in this country, sandwiches take on certain names. How many kinds can you think of? A submarine sandwich is also known as a sub, hero, Po'boy, torpedo, hoagie, Italian sandwich, and borcadillo. All these names for a sandwich on a long oblong roll, filled with meats, cheese, vegetables, seasonings, and sauces -an all-American favorite sandwich for men, women, and children alike. A Dagwood, sandwich is a tall, multi-layered meal with a variety of meats, cheeses, and condiments. It is named after the comic strip character, Dagwood Bumstead in the Blondie comic series. A Gyro is a Greek sandwich consisting of lamb slices, tomato, onion, and tzatziki sauce served in Pita bread. Certain regions of Greece and other countries make their Gyros with other meats such as pork, chicken, and beef. Gyros were first introduced in the United States in Chicago around 1965 and hence spread to all parts of the country. The Reuben is a hot sandwich with layered corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing on rye bread. All of these are my favorites; it's hard to choose just one!

Peanut Butter and ?

Even the most devoted PB & J fans enjoy a little variety from time to time. Get the family thinking about how they can combine ingredients to make a super tasty sandwich. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

-Sliced bananas

-Apple butter

-Crispy bacon

-Honey or maple syrup

-Raisins, dried apple rings or apricots

-Wheat germ

-Grated carrots

-Fresh berries

"A Sailing We Will Go" Sandwiches

Choose a nautical theme with these sailboat sandwiches complete with blue corn tortilla chips on the plate (for the ocean). Mix up your favorite tuna salad. Slice off the tops of dinner rolls and hollow them out. Fill the rolls with the tuna salad or any other filling your family likes. Slice cheddar cheese into rectangles and then on a diagonal to make triangles. Insert a toothpick into each triangle to make little "sails" and add these to the top of each boat.

It's a Wrap!

The fun sensational sandwich of today is the "wrap", a burrito-like concoction. Spread your favorite meat or egg spread onto a flour tortilla. You can add some grated carrots or a leaf of lettuce. Roll the tortilla into a cigar shape and hold it together with a pierce of a toothpick.

Think of other ways to make fun sandwiches! Roll bread flat with a rolling pin, spread with filling and make a jelly-roll type sandwich, or how about using cookie cutters to make fancy bread shapes? This can make a great conversation-talk about ways to make sandwiches fit a holiday, season, or theme party.

I'm Making A Sandwich Game (Family Fun)

Have your family sit in a circle. The leader begins by saying, "I'm making a sandwich, and I need a slice of bread." The next person repeats what has been said and adds something (like mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, and so on.) Again, the next person repeats everything that has been said and adds something else. This continues until everyone has added something to the sandwich. Get creative; this game is fun and great for the memory.

The Sandwich Song

Sandwiches are beautiful, sandwiches are fine.

I eat sandwiches; I eat them all the time.

I eat them for my supper, and I eat them for my lunch.

If I had a hundred sandwiches;

I'd eat them all at once.

Written by Bob King (Listen to Lisa Sanders sing this fun song- watch out, it's a catchy tune)

So, whether you are eating a sandwich during August's National Sandwich Month or anytime of the year - think about how sandwiches came to be and all the varieties you can make - the ideas are endless!