{tomorrow}

tomorrow is the big day!

i'm on my way home to pick up some bread and turkey and cheese (i know, not exactly the most innovative love sandwiches in the world) BUT..Love Sandwiches non-the-less!

tomorrow i'll be wandering the south loop handing out sandwiches, and if anyone would care to join me drop me a line!

Riley and I really want to stress that you shouldn't feel pressured to push yourself too thin tomorrow. Whether it's simply packing yourself a bag lunch and making an extra sandwich to give to someone you see throughout your day, or making 10 sandwiches and hitting the town, both are awesome and I know that it will be appreciated. Recently my friend Oney also pointed out, if you do happen to be giving out multiple sandwiches, perhaps consider making them with non-perishable products (sans meat and cheese). This means that if you are giving one person more than one sandwich perhaps it will last them until the next meal.

Ultimately, I think me and Riley hope that tomorrow can be the first of many successful Fridays where we go out into our cities and actively make a difference. We are encouraging you to not make it about money, make it about simple, delicious, Sandwich Love.

Also, part of the reason we started this blog was to create a forum where we can share ideas and experiences about Sandwich Love Day. So, if you are giving out sandwiches tomorrow, please leave a comment either here or on the facebook group and let us know how your Sandwich Love Day went! we are really interested in hearing your stories. 

so. be safe and have a awesome sandwich love day!

-coop and riley

Lemon Garlic Chicken with Chipotle Mayo Sandwich

As a college student who not only LOVES food, but rarely has the income to buy fine italian pasta over Top Ramen, I find ways to make the meals that I enjoy without costing myself an arm and a leg, and I also appreciate a free meal whenever I can get it. Something to keep in mind when creating your sandwiches is that you're making food for complete strangers, not for you and your friends. With this in mind, you want to make something that is flavorful, but also something that most people would enjoy. It becomes very easy to make a sandwich that is very bland and uninteresting. This recipe is for the same sandwich which

I made that first winter night I hit the streets. The classic and flavorful combination of fresh squeezed lemon juice and garlic make for a tantalizing, tenderizing marinade. You've got the nice crunch of fresh lettuce and the smooth richness of the mayonnaise to cut the acidity of the lemon, while the subtle hints of chipotle pepper add a bit of spice and a nice smokey quality that compliments the chicken. All wrapped up in a nice baguette and you've got yourself one pleasant sandwich. For me, it's really the flavor combination of the smokey chipotle infused mayonnaise with the tangy chicken that makes this a killer sandwich. Now a days regular store bought mayo seems pretty bland when compared to some of it's spinoff brothers. These more exciting brethren range anywhere from Saffron Mayonnaise to Wasabi Mayonnaise, and most  of them are extremely easy to make at home. The

way I see it is that condiments like these are the sauce of the sandwich. To reference a book I recently started reading titled "The Saucier's Apprentice" by Raymond Sokolov, and (sorry, it's from the seventies) a slightly sexist analogy from its introduction,"...a great meal without a sauce is like a beautiful woman without clothes. It can provoke and satisfy the appetite, but it lacks the coating of civilization that would arouse our fullest interest." So, with that on your mind, try this recipe out and don't be afraid to make any sorts of annotations and suggestions.

 

Lemon Garlic Chicken with Chipotle Mayo

[Makes About 15 Sandwiches]

- 5 Baguettes (or any other long loaf you prefer)

- 1 lb thinly sliced cheese ( any type that you prefer, I like to use sharp chedder)

- salt and pepper

 

Chipotle Mayo

- 15oz container of Hellmann's Mayonnaise (or whatever type you prefer)

- One can of Chipotle Peppers en Adobo, de-seeded and pureed (about 1/4 cups worth)

 

Lemon Garlic Chicken

- 8 lemons

- 6 cloves of Garlic, finely diced

- 1/2 cup Olive Oil

- 5 large Chicken Breasts

 

 

To make the chipotle mayo, simply empty contents of mayo jar into a bowl and fold in the pureed chipotles till fully incorporated. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and keep refrigerated. Leftover mayo can be put back into original

mayo container and refrigerated for later use.

Now, for the marinade, squeeze the lemon juice into a bowl, making sure to strain out any seeds. Finely dice the garlic and whisk into the lemon juice along with the olive oil until combined. Place your chicken into any sort of large container, as long as there is enough room to hold both the chicken and marinade. Flat, non-reactive baking pans work well because they help to more evenly distribute the marinade. Place the chicken into the container, rubbing the garlic and juices into the chicken. Cover and let sit in the refrigerator for at least two hours. I like to let my chicken marinade over night, really allowing the chicken to absorb the flavors and to let the citric acid in the lemon juice tenderize the meat. Once you feel that the chicken is done sitting, rub each piece in the remaining marinade and salt and pepper each side. Place the chicken pieces onto a broiling sheet pan or into a baking dish. Broil on high for 10-15 minutes on each side. Remove chicken from oven and let cool before cutting to retain some of the juices.

Using a serrated knife, cut the baguettes in half, but not all the way through, leaving one side connected. This just helps to keep the sandwich together when assembling. Slice the chicken once it has cooled. These cuts should not be too thin, otherwise they will just fall apart. First spread a fairly thin layer of chipotle mayo on the bottom of the baguette.  Next, lay down a single layer of chicken and then the cheese. Lastly, add a layer of lettuce, within reason, but you can never have too many greens. Words to live by. While firmly holding the baguette shut, cut into reasonably sized sandwiches. Triple wrap each sandwich with saran wrap and refrigerate until you're ready to distribute.

It's really important that you keep in mind the rules safety guidelines that we wrote about in the "Kitchen Safety" post. When distributing sandwiches it's probably going to be easiest to carry them in a duffel bag or backpacks and you should keep something cold in the bags with the sandwiches, like a bag of ice or ice packs.  Obviously this is a very specific sandwich  recipe, but it's just meant to be a starting platform. Get creative, make something delicious, and feed some souls!

The 1st is Coming.

As we get closer to May 1st, we are trying to get organized and get a bunch of people together to make this first Sandwich Love Day as big as possible!

So, we have made a facebook group so that it might be a bit easier for us to keep in contact with people interested in helping or participating, and also just so we can all vaguely know each other and facebook stalk one another! haha.

so, here's the group. if you have facebook please join up and say hello.

It's been really exciting to see people getting psyched for this project. We have already had a couple people express interest in starting up Love Sandwiches in other cities, and at Columbia a lot of people seem really eager to help make Love Sandwiches.

Unfortunately photo madness has taken Riley and I seperate directions the past week or so, so we haven't had a lot of time to discuss plans for the 1st. However, some people have mentioned interest in getting together on the 30th and having a big "sandwich making" party. i think this could be a really fun idea, and if we can find a venue other than my gross apartment i will let it be known!

Also if anyone happens to work for a Sandwich shop (jimmy johns kids i know you're out there) and are interested in donating bread,cheese,or meat please drop us a message because that would be great!

As for the 1st, if you are thinking about joining us for Love Sandwich day don't feel pressured. One of the reasons I thought this was such a great idea when  I saw Riley doing it way back in December is because it is simple! And i think it should stay simple. It can be as simple as making one extra sandwich and giving it to someone on the way to class or work, or you can make a bunch and hit the town with em! Whether it's one sandwich or ten I guarantee you that it will be appreciated. 

-coop

hope everyone is enjoying the new design as much as i am.
remember, the first Sandwich Love Day is coming up quick!

we will have more posts later this week on how you can be a part of Love Sandwich, but for now I should probably do the Art History paper I have been putting off all day...eeeek.


-Cooper

Street Safety.

We will all need help at some point or another during the span of our life and there’s a sense of humility in the idea that we’re not alone in our troubles. The best way to look at Sandwich Love Day is as an exercise in humility and equality. When the act of giving becomes about the ‘greater’ giving to the ‘lesser’, it becomes more about personal politics than equality and humanism. When approaching people on the street, you have to be just as ready for rejection as you are acceptance. Some people may not be looking for food, and my suggestion would be to accept that and move on. Of coarse it’s your prerogative, but in my opinion, this day should be about feeding people that are hungry. Money can be construed in too many different ways and can quickly become extortionary. Our goal is to feed the soul through the quickest way we know possible, the stomach and heart. Through positive energy and action we can have fun with our friends and hopefully uplift the people around us with much less energy than we thought. With this in mind, the world is not all roses and sunflowers, it’s important to keep your safety in mind when out in the streets. In this post, we will go over some issues that you may encounter while out on Love Sandwich Day and some tips to keep you safe.

THE STREETS!:

1. Don’t hand out sandwiches by yourself. By going out with at least one more person you greatly decrease your chances of being assaulted or aggressively approached. Aside from the safety factor, this day should totally be shared with some people that you care about.

2. Don’t carry large sums of money on you. It’s also probably a good idea not to wear flashy jewelry or clothes.

3. Again, it’s up to you, but I wouldn’t make this day about giving out money and such. Keep your focus on feeding people that are hungry.

4. Don’t be afraid to approach people. The best way to find people is to just look for panhandlers and ask them if they’re hungry or if they want a sandwich. If they say yes… give them a sandwich! At the end of the day, if you have left over sandwiches, which is very possible, find a local shelter or food depository and see if they’re accepting food donations. The Pacific Garden Mission took the sandwiches that I had left over.

5. If you can, go out during the day sometime. It’ll be safer and you’re more likely to find people on the street during a friday morning or afternoon.

6. I wouldn’t take any weapons with you, if you really feel nervous, maybe carry some mace in your pocket or something. Weapens are only going to make you more paranoid and perpetuate the stereotype that people on the street are dangerous, when most of them are really just trying to make it by, like you and me.

7. Know where you are. Explore neighborhoods that you’re already somewhat acquainted with.

8. Just use common sense. You’ll be fine as long as you trust your instincts and are open to people while also being acutely aware of your surroundings.

9. I wouldn’t suggest going into shanty towns. They are after all peoples temporary homes and some people may be protective of that space or resentful of you ‘trespassing.’

I hope that that is helpful. Feel free to post any suggestions if you feel that we’ve missed something. Oh, and HAVE FUN! ; )

Kitchen Safety.

Sanitation and safety in the kitchen is super important, especially when you’re cooking for other people. No use in helping someone if you’re going to give them food poisoning or get a staph infection, it kind of defeats the purpose. In todays post we’re going to go over a few pointers to keep in mind while preparing your sandwiches.

Kitchen Safety Tips:

1. It may seem obvious, but always wash your hands before handling any type of food products. Nobody wants this to happen: Bad Stuff.

2. Don’t handle food when you are sick.

3. Cover cuts, burns, sores, and abrasions with a tight, dry, antiseptic bandage.

4. If you have longer hair, make sure to tie it back.

5. Keep cold or frozen foods out of the refrigerator or freezer for as short a time as possible.

6. Cover food during preparation.

7. If you’re handling any type of meat, make sure to clean and disinfect the surfaces that you’re working on before and after use. This goes not only for countertops and cutting boards, but also for your hands and any tools you use (i.e. knives, bowls, etc.).

8. Keep tools specific. For example, use one knife to cut your meat and another knife to cut vegetables.

9. You’re more likely to cut yourself with a dull knife than a sharp one. It only costs $3.00 to get those old dull knives sharpened. Northwestern Cutlery is a great Chicago knife and cooking shop.

10. Properly using a knife can make cooking so much easier. If you’re interested, here is a blog with some different knife skills and techniques.

11. Probably the most important thing to remember is to keep your food out of the TEMPERATURE DANGER ZONE! Temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit (4 and 60 degrees Celsius) are where most germs thrive. When you prepare food, keep it out of the Temperature Danger Zone as much as possible. Note that the Temperature Danger Zone includes room temperature. Whenever a potentially hazardous food (fish, beef, poultry, eggs, dairy products, shellfish, pork, some beans) has been in the Temperature Danger Zone for four hours or more, it should be thrown out.

Here is the link of a very helpful sanitation thread that may help you with anything that we may have left out. But if you feel like we’ve missed anything, please, we encourage you to post it and share it with everyone. These are, hands down, some of the most important things to keep in mind, so take care and Good luck!

-Love Sandwich

Round two.

So it is safe to say Riley and myself are not and never will be technical e-geniuses (or perhaps genusi?)

We set up an entire account for Love Sandwich at wordpress.com, but neglected to check whether or not wordpress allows google analytics. Two hours and 17 tabs searching the words:

"installing google analytics to wordpress.com blog account ftp presentation server folder"

i finally find out wordpress blocks google analytics and apparently doesn't allow you to import .html designs.

So.

we have relocated, permanently, to this lovely location. Please continue to follow us here!

we've re-posted our introductions below and will put up the other two safety posts and new posts later this week!

if you have a blogger account, please "follow" us and say hi in the comments!

Spread the Love II: this time it's personal

Hello all. My name is Cooper and I am the other half of this proverbial Love Sandwich.
Food has been a big part of my life since I was a little kid. My father was a chef for many years and that is actually how he came to meet and eventually marry my mother (they worked together in a restaurant in Chicago). They both love cooking and I grew up luckily being able to sample a lot of different kinds of food. (my momma makes a mean hungarian goulash and my dad's Feijoada(brasilian stew) is the best thing i've ever eaten!) I, alongside with Riley, am a photo major at Columbia College in downtown Chicago. Over the past year I have moved into my first off-campus apartment, and cooking has become a bigger part of my life. As I cook more,I've been trying to figure out a way to bring my passion for food and cooking into photography.

Originally I was going to do a series called "Dinner Tonight", where I would take before and after pics of my dinner every night for a year. I was going to document where and what I was eating, who I was eating with, and ultimately how much food I wasted in a year and how much money I spent. That idea eventually fizzled for various reasons, but one winter night when I was thinking about this project I ran into Riley in downtown Chicago. It was one of the colder nights and I assumed Riley was heading home, but to my suprise I found he was walking around trying to find homeless people to give sandwiches to. I found the simple generosity of Rileys action really awesome, almost as awesome as the simple creation of a ham and cheese sandwich. That night would be stuck in my head for weeks to come.

Riley and I had a few more conversations following that night and the result is what is here before you: Love Sandwich. Please read Rileys introduction beneath me for what I will call...a more coherant outline of our plans for this blog...but to me the idea is simple:

Life should be simple. 

And for some unfortunately life isn't simple because they don't know where there next meal is coming from.

Sandwiches are simple.

They require the basic of ingredients and costs, and can be distributed easily and safely.

Life+Sandwich= gloriousness.

so may 1st will be the first of what will be many Sandwich Love Days, and our hopes is that this idea will grow and spread into your lives and the lives of both Chicagoans and people that live in other major cities.

thanks and keep reading!

  

  -Cooper

Spread the Love.

Hello! My name is Riley and although I may be a little biased having lived in and around Chicago my entire life, I freaking love this city! Yeah, it has it's problems, quite a few actually, but then I think about all of the wonderful people in it and the potential that each and every one of them hold. I also love the Chicago winters. The bitter cold and tons of snow make me feel absolutely alive! Yeah yeah yeah, I know what you're thinking, "This dude's out of his mind!" Although you're probably not far off, can you blame me? I just try to live every day appreciating all of the beautiful things around me and absorbing what the world has to offer.

Something changed for me this winter though. My love for winter remained, but the actualization hit me of the brutality of Chicago winters for lower income families and more specifically the hundreds of homeless in Chicago. My emotions quickly went from overwhelming helplessness to humanistic actualization. I'm a college kid, I have a very minimal disposable income, how could I possibly help all of the suffering people in Chicago, that may or may not make it through the next night? I couldn't possibly, there's no way. But if I put the amount of money that I spent on one weekend of drinking towards making sandwiches, I could give at least twenty people a dinner. Who knows, maybe that could give some people the energy to make it through another bitter Chicago night, or at least make it a little more tolerable. Of coarse this is a very limited and temporary solution, but none the less a solution better than just sitting on the couch.

Many of the people that I met on the streets were ecstatic, others reluctant, but nobody denied. Some people even asked for an extra for a family member. I made the sandwiches one evening and then handed them out the next day. It didn't take up much of my time and I was able to help some people while embracing my passion for cooking and food.

During this evening I ran into a friend and fellow Columbia photography student, Cooper. Cooper thought it was a fantastic idea and while hanging out recently, he brought that evening up and said that he couldn't stop thinking about it and wanted to broaden the idea. So we came up with the plan to create a blog to promote the idea. So here at Sandwich Love, our hope is to create a monthly sandwich day in which people take to the streets to personally make a difference. In later posts we will also provide recipe ideas, sanitation and safety tips, and hopefully get some interesting feedback from people that have gone out and done the same. The homeless don't only suffer during the winter and they definitely don't only reside in Chicago. If all goes well, this idea will take root in cities nation wide. Our philosophy here is that food not only fills the stomach, but it also enriches the soul and brings people together. Me and Cooper are very excited to make this a regular part of our lives, and we hope that you are just as excited to make this a part of your own.

As of now, the first ever Sandwich Love Day is planned for Friday, May 1st 2009. Expect the first friday of every month to be the regular Sandwich Love Day and make sure to keep an eye out for updates. We will be updating a lot right up until the 1st.

  Food. Love. Life.

  

  -Riley