If you reach this page before the sandwich is complete, come back again and see where I go with this. I wouldn't ask you to do something I can't do. In fact, for fun, I'm doing all the homework in advance to try and provide proper models for you! See Chapter 10 in your textbook for more on "how to."
HOW TO MAKE
A BACON, LETTUCE AND TOMATO (BLT) SANDWICH
Equipment Needed
Toaster; stove; frying pan; grease shield or flat cover; fork (for the adept, chopsticks); spatula; butter knife; cutting knife; cutting board; suitable serving dish; paper towels &/or napkins.
Ingredients
Sliced bread (your choice of regular, whole wheat, etc.); Mayonnaise (or your taste in condiments); lettuce; tomato; bacon.
A well-made BLT is a joy to behold and a pleasure to eat! While tastes vary as to bread or condiments, these instructions aim to make a standard BLT with superior results.
Frying the Bacon
1. Separate 4 to 5 strips of lean bacon and place them flat in a large frying pan.
Be
careful to keep them separate and flat so that they don't curl or stick together
when frying.
2. Place a grease shield or cover over the pan while cooking which you will lift off to turn the bacon as it fries.
3. Turn the stove to medium-high setting.
Caution!
Bacon fat can splatter and burn. Be careful not to let the hot fat touch you or
the cooking surface. Beware of burns or flash fire!
4. Allow the bacon to fry until is crisp. Check and turn it frequently to avoid burning. Press it with the spatula if it begins to curl.
If you are good at chopsticks, here's the time to put your skill to use.
Chopsticks are the best device for turning bacon! Better by far than your
spatula or a fork, both of which can let your bacon slip away or scratch a
teflon frying pan!
5. Remove the crisp bacon and place it on a paper towel or napkin to blot any excess grease.
Preparing the Lettuce
1. Peel off at least enough lettuce to cover each of two slices of bread.
2. Wash the lettuce thoroughly in cold water.
3. Flatten the lettuce leaves as you blot all excess water off them with a paper towel.
Preparing the Toast
1. Select two large slices of bread.
No one likes the end slices but if you are running out of bread and are forced
to eat them, consider using your sharp knife to remove the layer on the crusted
side!
2. Place them in the toaster set on medium and monitor their toasting to assure they are not too browned.
3. Remove lightly browned toast and place it flat on serving plate.
4. Open the mayonnaise and use a butter knife to apply a thin, even layer of mayonnaise to the face-up side of each slice of toast.
While tastes can vary, too much mayonnaise is a terrible thing. It is
recommended you use only a small amount (a tablespoon per slice) on your toast.
Preparing your tomato
1. Wash the tomato under cold water.
2. Blot it dry with a paper towel.
3. Hold it on a cutting board and using a sharp knife, slice as many large slices as will be needed to cover one slice of toast. Slices should be no more than 1/2 inch thick.
The
less mushy the tomato slices the better. Try to use larger, crisper circles of
slices.
Assembling the Sandwich
1. Place a flattened lettuce slice over one slice of mayonnaised toast.
2. Place the strips of crisp fried bacon evenly to cover one slice of toast.
It's
okay to let the bacon hang out over the edges of the bread but consider the
direction you will be slicing your sandwich when you arrange your bacon on the
toast. Try not to break the crisp slices as you arrange and later cut them. Four
slices of bacon should cover the bread. The fifth slice, if you made one, can be
placed as a "garnish" at the side of the completed sandwich.
3. Place tomato slices atop the bacon, again taking care to arrange them evenly.
4. Place a second flattened lettuce slice atop the tomato.
5. Turn the second slice of toast so that the mayonnaise faces down and place it atop the lettuce.
6. Press down on the entire sandwich gently with a flattened hand to compact the sandwich.
The
object is to make a sandwich that will not fall apart when it is raised to the
mouth to be eaten. Some people place a long toothpick into the sandwich to hold
ingredients in place. A well-arranged set of ingredients and a gentle pat should
be enough to assure a solid sandwich.
7. Slice your sandwich into two halves. You may cut into two rectangles or take the more creative path and cut as two triangles!
Now it is time to enjoy your creation. Grasping a half of your sandwich with both hands, take a medium-sized bite. Chew slowly. Savor your good work!