Jughead Sandwich for Sundays

What is a Jughead Sandwich? C’mon who doesn’t know about a Jughead Sandwich! I have had my good fortune to know a few Jugheads in life. Loved making these sandwiches and eating them for breakfast/brunch. Have you ever had a bad hangover, and you needed to rustle up something quick later?

Jughead Sandwich for Breakfast?

Well, sometimes you are all by yourself for breakfast. These are good times to go out for a walk and try something new. Like I recently tried Ginger coffee. I can’t remember the last time I had a coffee date outside with life and myself. Or with a few others for that matter.

What’s so great about Ginger coffee? Nothing. It’s just a new flavour and something different to kickstart another new year. It’s a new year already? Yeah, it is for some.

We all like to try that and freshly brewed filter coffee is a thing. Something difficult to explain to tea lovers.

Inspiration for bread lovers

My first experience of a good crusty bread was perhaps having a banh mi sandwich. Somehow it still remains one of my favorites though I did try various other dishes in Vietnam. I can’t do the 6 tones in Vietnamese, sorry. I gave up trying to learn Mandarin as well. But hey, kudos to those who tried and succeeded! My French classes ended with a heart break over the French teacher in college. Seemed we all loved him. And I can’t remember the lessons as well anymore.

My colleagues in Vietnam were kind enough to show me around and help me in a city where sometimes language maybe a problem for some. I may have also offended local sensibilities through my ignorance, but they were all quite nice to me.

I used Google translate app, but it still may not work in certain markets and places. And if you wish for a totally authentic experience, street food is the best way to go about it.

American Idle soldiers loved my stories and wanted to visit. These soldiers of fortune make a lot of noise over nothing at times. But it’s ok. Helps those who have hearing problems. Earbuds are not available in some places. But plenty of handkerchiefs exist.

I did my bit for Jughead Sandwich

Alas, despite multiple rounds of going around, someone was still not happy with so much of work to be done to eat a sandwich! It wasn’t just a sandwich; it was a whole lot of other experiences as well. Some precious memories made and stored for rainy days and Mondays.

Like how they use chicken liver pate as a spread or paste for the sandwich. I don’t like chicken liver as much as goat liver. But some people do like it. I humored them too.

Some differences do exist between North, Central and South Vietnamese cuisine. I am not getting into that right now! That’s a completely different chapter worth exploring. Students are already jumping at the task at hand. 🙂

But someone still didn’t get the point. Why try so hard when you can simply sit at home, eat and drink? This was what I was told repeatedly.

So, point is well taken. I said, let me make some Jughead Sandwich at home.

What is needed for Jughead Sandwich

I think some bread would be good. I went out with a basket to get a new baguette. Loaf for loafers is not new. First there was some issue with it not being gluten free.

Then I got to sourdough which someone said is better. I learnt to bake that as well. But somehow even that was not good enough.

I tried different gluten free flour mixes which may be better for tender guts, but the grrreat greedy gut still had the guts to say – this is not what I want. I tried Aloo parathas too- what are parathas?

Mekong Delta awaits Mr. King Kong. Kindly visit for your fight with Godzilla. The Zilla Parishad exams were over long time ago.

Jughead Sandwich was the problem?

I am not sure what was the problem TBH. So, leaving the problems aside, we get to the real thing. How about we make some Jughead Sandwich?

I recommend 5 Slices of bread. With stuff inside. What is that stuff? Anything goes. Plenty of meat, veggies, some egg, dips, lettuce and what have you.

Today it’s a good way to clean out the fridge. There are different fridge cleanout methods. I have shared this one earlier which is favored by some. I am cleaning it out with my own version of Jughead Sandwich.

Recipe development at a Snail’s pace

Snails reminds me of a few interesting dishes I tried in Vietnam. I may have tried hundreds to be honest. One of my favorite kinds of cuisine. There was a silkworm salad which I eyed. But I never tried.

What I did try was Snails. I have fond memories of trying them earlier in Paris as well. I think they are yummy.

But don’t take my word for it. Do try them. There maybe differences of opinion here.

I have a thing against progress at a Snail’s pace. Bamboo cutting takes time. Someone is constructing a hut in some jungle it seems for some protection from a tiger. So, it’s a good idea to eat a few of these snails while you wait for the Jughead Sandwich.

He’s never going to retrace or trace any steps. That’s the unfortunate truth of dealing with stubborn mules.

What happened to Jughead?

Jughead was busy imbibing Jugs of heads. (Yeah, right!) By heads I mean beer heads. Not bear heads. So, this stupid story about the death of a grizzly bear in Montana or wherever is not really v exciting. And then there was a great deal about freckles and blackheads. Zzzz….

I have a desire to make this clear that newspaper stories are getting more and more ridiculous. So, we get to the recipe quickly else budgets are going to get affected.

I have a bottle of chili oil which I am super excited to use up. It shows that it contains Sichuan Chili. 3 out of 5 chili marking. Not that spicy, I think. But some people cannot tolerate that too! (What rot). We shall still go ahead and make this sandwich.

So, we dip the bread slices first in some egg, milk and a bit of this chili oil. Fry them first and use some paper napkins to soak up the oil. People are talking about a whole lot of oil spillage all over the place.

Jughead Sandwich is for Idle people

Houston, are you listening? If not, kindly do take care of this issue. I cannot handle all the whales getting killed all over the place. Are we done with making fun of real problems in life?

No, we are not done it seems. So, we can add a layer of crispy bacon, ham, meat, chicken, cheese slice whatever is in the fridge. Do clean it out. When you do, you may find some more treasures lying in some corner unseen and unheard. Like tamarind.

Anyone tried crispy bacon on ice-cream? Interesting, isn’t it? Some people like sev bhujia, noodles and sauce on top of bread. Who am I to judge!

Mixing and matching give new flavor combinations which are perhaps interesting. I do abhor unnecessary pretensions of sophistication where none exist. I can strip down the sandwich to each and every layer of its individual part and tell you what goes into each.

Psst! A sprinkling of toasted sesame on top would have been nice. (Just saying).

Idleness is a blessing and a curse

Unfortunately, the ham, the cheese, the egg, the lettuce, the tomatoes and the bread slices were left wondering what needs to be done next in future for them. Who am I to show them the light?

To each his own fight or flight. I can only tell you, that if you have any shred of humanity within, you may want to use the muscles in your brain to reengineer your thoughts. This fight between sweet and savoury for breakfast/brunch is too much to handle. I choose all.

This may not be perhaps what your parents bought or sought for you or themselves. That which you call by any other name still remains- cottage cheese. What’s wrong with cottage cheese? Nothing. That’s what I said- again and again.

Some people are lactose intolerant. For them- just skip it and try something else. Jalebis, Laddoos and Kaju katlis are good for some and coconut milk-based desserts work quite as well for those who prefer something less sweet. I may be thinking about my missed trip to Nara. I told you multiple times to get a safety pin in the bag.

Are we going back to Safety Pin dresses or those on designer bags? So last season! (Snickers or Sneakers are better). This is going all over the place…What to do. Someone wanted to be a Route Legend and became a Root Legend instead. Counting beetroots, carrots, potatoes and sweet potatoes instead. I stopped counting or accounting.

What could be worse than Jughead Sandwich

Like plenty of greens- 14 different kinds of greens. Eaten in one day? No. I think, you can eat it over a period of time. I found a memory of this one stir-fried with lots of garlic.

It seems it is called cowslip creeper flower. Interesting. I like morning glory, kailan and kangkung too. But it tends to get stuck in between some people’s teeth. Reminds me of the number of toothpicks packed and used in life. I’m actually not talking about the empty boxes.

I have given up trying to recycle those I’m afraid. So, these greens can be put inside the sandwiches?

Yeah, why not. Another option for vegetarians. How about frying them with a batter of besan (chickpea flour) to make pakoras? Sounds divine. Why don’t you do it? I am busy eating a sandwich. 🙂

Footnote

No, I can’t do this. No, I can’t do that

No, I can’t be blamed. No, I don’t want to blame

I want everyone and everybody to remain exactly the same

Or if you change and play another game

I will not be with you, and you cannot find my name.

I have absolutely no intentions of running for fun

It’s not fun, definitely not fun for me or for anyone else I see

There’s a shadow of the moon which you can’t find

Because you have already second guessed that and want to be kind

Trust me, your kindness is worse because it reeks of ugly defeat.

I didn’t greet, I didn’t meet, I didn’t cheat

That’s all you said time and time again

And I said, go ahead. Be my guest. Give yourself a treat.

I never stopped you or anyone else from the choices you made

And today you turn around to say, it wasn’t me- he said, she said?

Silence is better for those who don’t wish to hear

But the pain, the anguish, the smiles and sorrows remain

I care, so I share. I am not an argument over a taxi, bus, train or airline fare

I am just a sandwich made of multiple layers

It does require some rye, wheat or buckwheat (I forget).

Told ya, she’s my sister not my wife…

Oops! I already used that line. Die. R.I.P.

– 5 Slices of Bread Melting Lemon Drop 03.11.2024

PUFF PUFF: NIGERIAN STREET SNACK