So long and thanks for all the Shuffles!
Well, folks, we knew this day would come: the Sandwich Shuffle officially ends at midnight, but don’t throw in your dancing shoes just yet! We’ll soon be crowning our very own League of Extraordinary Sandwiches — the winner of the popular vote will take home $5,000, while the first and second prizes ($2,000 and $1,000, respectively) will be decided purely on the basis of deliciousness. Not an easy task, considering the fact that we received over 30,000 mouth-watering entries featuring almost every possible combination of protein, bread, cheese, produce, and spread, from carnivore lovers’ roast beef and hot pepper jack to gluten-free vegetable medleys and even inspired reboots of ye olde PB&J.
We’d like to extend an enormous thank you to everyone who participated! We’ve been absolutely overwhelmed by your enthusiastic sandwich-cheffery — and this week, we just couldn’t resist taste-testing a few of your creations.
(Special thanks to our Beaumont friends Mona, Jessica, and Chris for kindly supplying their time, thoughts, and taste buds.)
First up, a tasty vegetarian number courtesy of Kimberly from Fort Myers, Florida, consisting of red pepper hummus on artisan nine-grain bread with grilled zucchini, onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, artichokes, and organic field greens.
“The red pepper hummus is my favorite,” Mona says. “It’s the good kind of messy.” Add fresh bell peppers, avocado, or basil pesto if you’re feeling saucy.
Next we have a grilled veggie sandwich on sourdough, with spinach, tomatoes, onions, swiss cheese, shredded asiago, and basil pesto, thanks to Christy from Hereford, Texas.
“I’m not a vegetarian, but I don’t eat a lot of meat — and I prefer meatless sandwiches,” Jessica says. “The Shuffle showed me just how many interesting veggie options there are.” Enjoy the original on sourdough or switch it up with a wheat wrap or herb focaccia.
Lastly, Megan from Addison, Texas put together this savory smoked turkey sandwich on a buttery croissant with bacon, tomatoes, cheddar, lettuce, and mayonnaise. Simple, classic, and delicious — this little number begs you to take it to a summer picnic in the park.
Operation Taste Test success! “I hope people have enjoyed shuffling ingredients and finding their new favorite sandwich as much as we’ve enjoyed reading the recipes and trying them out!” says Mona.
With hundreds of thousands of possible combinations, the sky’s the limit. Which sandwich are you going to try next?
