Brown bag secrets
"Waste not, want not" was good enough for my grandparents, it's even a better thought process now with the economy being like it is.
We try to make sure all leftovers in our house are used.
My husband and my brother-in-law take them to work all the time, and I get some when there's enough to go around.
But, there wasn't enough the other day.
And, after getting over some weird stomach bug recently, I really wasn't in the mood for anything but a little comfort food: A really good roast beef sandwich with provolone cheese on wheat bread. It's my favorite. If made with fresh ingredients, it doesn't need anything else.
Brazil doesn't have an Arby's restaurant, and I'm not wasting gas to drive there no matter how good it sounds.
After stating my culinary dilemma to my husband, he let me in on a little secret.
Apparently there's a "brown bag" lunch in town where the sandwiches are almost an inch thick with your choice of lunchmeat, cheese and bread and then you can pick a side salad or bag of chips for less than $6.
"Really good service too," he said. "They make it on the spot."
I checked my wallet, $7.
So, I drove to and parked behind Jack's Fine Foods, 117 East National Ave. (Who knew, right? But my husband swore I would love it. He knows I'm a picky when it comes to my favorite sandwich.) Yes, the construction along US 40 meant I'd have to walk a little bit, but a fresh roast beef sandwich is worth it.
Also, I believe people should shop locally if possible. It just makes sense to do so. Supporting local business owners means our town benefits, and I benefit from not having to put wear and tear on my automobile or my wallet to get what I want or need.
Right then, I needed to find a good roast beef sandwich.
I was greeted with a smile, which is also important. A smile just makes the day seem so much brighter and go by faster when people are pleasant. Helps digestion too.
Within seven minutes I had my sandwich -- fresh sliced and handmade per my request -- and a generous side order of vinegar-base coleslaw for less than $6. (Recently waited in a drive-thru line longer for a drink than I did for my lunch.)
Although I asked for a mayonnaise packet, the sandwich didn't need it. Only wheat bread, meat and cheese and it was beautiful. And my husband was right; it was a mountain of a meal. Cutting the sandwich in half, I ate my lunch in two sittings.
What a wonderful luxury to have during the day.
I think the iconic cartoon character Dagwood Bumstead would have finished eating it by stating his famous paraphrased line, "Beauty is in the stomach of the beholder."
Honestly, after such a delicious lunch and snack, I'm ready for a nap. No recipe for anyone today, just a little secret between me and my fellow sandwich lovers!
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