Turkey Club Platter

   

When the children were growing up, during the time we lived in New Brunswick, we often drove across the border into Houlton Maine where we would go shopping.  This was really exciting for me because they had a Wal Mart there and Wal Mart hadn't yet made its way into Canada. I have always loved grocery shopping in the US.

 

We would leave our home early in the morning and not get back home until the evening.  This meant that we also used to go to the Elmwood Diner in Houlton for a hearty lunch.  This diner was exactly what you would expect for a small town diner.  The walls were covered with their dining specials handwritten out on paper place-mats.  The place was always super busy and the food was always super good.  I don't think it is in operation any longer, sadly.

 

Every time we went my ex husband would order their Turkey Club Platter, which involved a turkey club sandwich, fries and coleslaw.  I think you could get any kind of potato you wanted with it actually. He always wanted the fries.

 

I used to get either fish and chips, or a roast turkey dinner.  Those are my two favourite things when dining out, and nobody does them better than diners do.

 

I decided to recreate that dining experience today for Todd.  He has been working really hard in the garden and I thought he would enjoy the treat. 

 

I don't know many people who wouldn't enjoy a club sandwich . . .  its like a double decker sandwich on 3 slices of mayo spread toasted bread . . .

 

with layers of sliced cooked turkey, sliced ripe tomatoes, cheese  . . .

 

lettuce, crisp streaky bacon, sliced ham and more cheese  . . . 

 

I even made some coleslaw to go with it, only today I made a vinaigrette coleslaw.  That way the leftovers could be kept easily in the refrigerator, and I thought there was enough mayo in the meal with just the sandwich.

 

A coleslaw vinaigrette makes a nice change every now and again.  I will confess I am not fond of the coleslaw over here in the UK.  Its too gloopy and overloaded with mayo.  They don't do it well in my opinion.  There is such a thing as TOO much of a good thing, and they way over do the dressing.

 

Speaking of overdoing it  . . .  boy can you tell we are senior citizens now . . .  one sandwich would have fed the two of us amply  . . .

 

Neither of us could get through a whole thing.  The most we managed was half a sandwich each and we never touched the pan fries.  (Not to worry, I have an idea for those for tomorrow, watch this space.)

  

In any case this little taste of home put a smile on my face today and pleased Todd to no end!

Turkey Club Sandwich

Yield: 2

Author: Marie Rayner

A favourite Diner restaurant special.  Served with home fries and a coleslaw on the side, it always goes down a real treat!

ingredients:

• 6 slices of sandwich bread, toasted
• 4 TBS real mayonnaise
• 4 ounces sliced deli turkey
• 4 ounces sliced deli ham
• 4 slices Jarlsberg cheese or your favourite cheese
• 6 slices cooked streaky bacon
• 2 tomatoes thinly sliced
• shredded lettuce

For the coleslaw vinaigrette

• 1/4 head of white cabbage, thinly sliced
• 1 1/2 medium carrots, peeled
• 2 spring onions, finely chopped
• 1 tsp grainy Dijon mustard
• 1/2 tsp celery salt
• 1 TBS fine white sugar
• 80 ml apple cider vinegar
• 1 TBS vegetable oil
• 1/4 tsp celery salt
• 1 tsp dry parsley flakes
• freshly ground black pepper

instructions:

How to cook Turkey Club Sandwich

1. First make the coleslaw.  Combine all of the vegetables in a bowl.  Whisk together the vinegar, oil, sugar, mustard and seasonings.  Heat in the microwave on high for about 30 seconds.  Whisk to melt the sugar.  Pour over the vegetables in the bowl and toss together.  Set aside to macerate while you make the sandwiches.
2. Arrange two slices of the toasted bread on a cutting board.  Spread with some of the mayonnaise.  Top each with 1/2 of the sliced turkey and 4 slices of tomato. (You can season the tomato with salt and pepper if you wish.)  Top each with another slice of toast, which you have spread with some of the mayonnaise on both sides.  Divide the shredded lettuce between the two and top each with 3 slices of streaky bacon.  Divide the ham between the two and then top with a final slice of cheese.  Spread one side of the remaining toast with the remainder of the mayonnaise and place mayonnaise side down on top of each sandwich.  Press down lightly. Cut into quarters.  You may need to secure each quarter together with a tooth pick.
3. Place sandwiches onto each of two dinner platters/plates.  Serve with a side of the coleslaw and some pan fried potatoes if you wish.  (Potato chips are also very good.)

Created using The Recipes Generator

 

Something happens to you when you get older.  You just can't eat like you used to.  I can remember when it was nothing to polish off one of these and a piece of pie to boot!  Not anymore, that's for sure.  I leave that kind of eating to the younger generation these days!