The Proper Turkey Sandwich

Not really a recipe, more a set of strong opinions. The turkey sandwich on the evening of the 25th is the best meal of Christmas, and there is a right way to build one.

Ingredients

• 4 thick slices of good white bread, or fresh soda bread
• Cold turkey, sliced thickly, not shredded
• Cold stuffing, crumbled
• Real butter, softened
• Mayonnaise
• Cranberry sauce
• Cold ham, if you have it
• Salt and coarse black pepper

Method

1. Step 1

   Butter the bread, both slices

   Softened butter on both slices, right to the edges. This is the step people skip, and it is the one that keeps the bread from going soggy under the mayonnaise and cranberry.

2. Step 2

   Slice the turkey thickly

   Carve thick slices rather than shredding. Thin turkey dries out and disappears into the bread. Season the meat itself with salt and coarse pepper.

3. Step 3

   Build in the right order

   Mayonnaise on the bottom slice, then turkey, then a pinch of salt, then crumbled stuffing, then ham if you have it, then cranberry on the top slice. Keeping the wet things against the buttered bread is the whole trick.

4. Step 4

   Press and rest

   Press down firmly with your palm and leave it for two minutes before cutting. It sounds fussy. It holds together properly.