The Perfect BLT

By 2:30 p.m. my stomach grumbled loudly as I looked for someplace to grab a bite. I finally found a diner full of customers and the BLT on the menu almost immediately caught my eye. My daughters called to say Happy Mother's Day as I waited for my sandwich, allowing me to forget my hunger for a few moments. When it arrived, I knew I'd made the right choice.

Creamy mayonnaise slathered thick-cut bacon, juicy tomato slices and fresh romaine piled high between three slices of toasted bread. It's no wonder they needed a toothpick to hold this club sandwich together. Paired with fries, it was a daunting amount of food. As I bit into my second triangle I mourned the fact that, because I would be traveling throughout the day, I had no way to refrigerate and save the portion I couldn't finish. Such are the challenges of road trips!

BLTs always make me think of summer, and somehow send me back to Mom's blue and white kitchen with the antique corner china cabinet, where five of us crowded around the table to share this quick dinner on hot evenings. Although I don't remember toasted bread in our sandwiches my husband does and his also included a slice of American cheese.

What's in your ultimate BLT?

Perfect Egg Salad

How do you make a perfect egg salad? For me, the simpler the better. I'm not one for adding sweet pickle relish, onions, bacon, or other 'large' ingredients. Using the right seasoning, tho', can make a big difference in, not only the flavor, but the need for salt and pepper. Here's what I use to make:

Perfect Egg Salad
Makes filling for 3-4 sandwiches

6 large brown, organic eggs (or any large eggs)
1/4 cup low-fat mayonnaise (+ one tablespoon)
1 large stalk of celery, diced in 1/4" pieces
1 1/2 teaspoons dried dill weed

On a Midwestern winter day with a near-record-breaking temperature of 68 degrees, beautiful blue skies and open windows, egg salad sandwiches made a great dinner last evening. I started with six large, brown, organic eggs.

Next, place them in a 1 1/2 quart saucepan, add a generous shake of salt, just cover them with water and add a cover. Bring the water to a boil and then turn to simmer for 25 minutes (VOE-white eggs may be ready in as little as 20 minutes).

Drain the pan thoroughly and rinse/cool eggs under cold water, for 5 minutes or more, until each egg cracks easily against the side of your sink or bowl, and the shell can be removed without the egg white tearing away. As eggs cool, chop one large celery stalk into 1/4-inch pieces. (VOE - as you can see, one of my eggs didn't cooperate during shelling.)

Place eggs in a large bowl, cut into 1/4-1/2 inch pieces and then stir in celery pieces.

Add 1/4 cup mayo and stir together thoroughly, adding 1 more tablespoon to taste, if desired. Add dill weed and stir together again. Chill 15-20 minutes before serving.

For added flavor serve your salad on an onion bun, as we did, or perhaps a great rye or pumpernickel bread, with a few lettuce leaves and some fresh vegies on the side.

Now, tell me about your favorite egg salad...