Combination sandwiches and Christmas Eve go hand and hand at our house.
For as long as I can remember the savory smell of bacon and fried eggs wafting through the house was a sure sign that Christmas morning was almost here. Before church on Christmas Eve we all gather in the kitchen as a pot of tomato soup simmers happily on the stove to help my mom arrange the assembly line of goodies for the famous combination sandwiches…
Chet’s combination sandwiches.
Chet was my dad’s dad, “Papa” to my sister and me. He was a handsome, gentle man who was happiest when quietly tinkering away in the basement building some sort of model or working on a carpentry project. He may have even played around with his beloved Red Rider B-B gun down there a time or two as well.
But a cook he was not.
Interestingly enough, when my dad was just a wee little lad, he began making these delicious sandwiches before church on Christmas Eve. Nobody is quite sure just how or why he decided to tinker with food rather than a model airplane, but nevertheless, we sure are thankful that he did! These delicious little gems were a cherished tradition as I grew up and now my kids are savoring the sandwiches and the tradition as well!
They also make a perfect breakfast sandwich or a tasty lunchtime treat! You probably have all of these already hanging around in your fridge! These are the simple ingredients…
Bacon, mayo, sweet pickles, Swiss cheese, eggs and bread. Papa always used soft white bread and after some experimenting, we all agree that it tastes the best!
Now let’s get started!
First you’ll want to get the bacon…
and fry it up in a pan.
Baaaaaa naa naa naaaaaaa…
(please tell me you know that song?)
Then melt some butter…
and fry up an egg…
I like my eggs cooked through, but you do what you like best.
Next grab some sweet pickles,
and cut them lengthwise, the thinner the better.
You are now ready for the assembly line to begin! There is an order that we like to follow to ensure the most satisfaction in every bite!
First, spread some mayo on two pieces of bread,
grab a handful of sweet pickles and arrange them all over one of the mayo slathered slices…
then the hot egg right outta the skillet,
and THEN the Swiss cheese. This will allow the Swiss cheese to slightly melt and become one with the egg.
Um yum.
And then finally the bacon.
That you fried up in a pan…
Baaaaaa naa naa naaaaaaa…
(Sorry I just can’t help myself)
And there you have Chet’s combination sandwiches!
For me they are the perfect combination of a little nostalgia, many of my favorite ingredients and a the magic of Christmas Eve any time of year!
Hope that you enjoy them as well!
Wenderly
These look delicious! I recently fell in love with sweet pickles this year, and I know I will definitely be trying this sandwich!
Oh Wendy, you made me smile big time with this post. You know I love a good Grandpa story. My relationship with my own ‘Gaga’ was one that I treasure. Our Christmas Eve tradition was to listen to the original LP of the Chipmunks Christmas album – on vinyl! So that’s how my Christmas Eve gets started. I could see these sandwiches becoming a lunch time treat though. I love egg and bacon sandwiches anyway, but I love your twist on them.
Beautiful!! Those dishes are amazing…and your egg is perfect! Seriously. I never make perfect eggs. ANd i LOVE that pic of your dad!! I think he WAS a cook! 😉
Blessings-
Amanda
“That you fried up in a pan…
Baaaaaa naa naa naaaaaaa…” HaHa!
These look so delicious! I love this tradition in your family! (My grandfather was “Papa,” too.) 😉
yummy! i think these would be good any eve of the year!
Are you kidding me? I just ate dinner and I could eat this right now! This is definitely going on my to make list. I love the story that goes along with the recipe of your Papa. Brings back sweet memories of my Grandpa’s fried bacon sandwiches we devoured every Sunday after church when I was a kid. Thanks.
yum yum. photos are as yummy as the story, recipe and lovely memories.
These look absolutely lovely! I might have to make some of these for lunch tomorrow.
Such a nice memory and tradition, Wendy. It reminds me of the Dagwood sandwiches! I need to show this to the hubs and kid because I think they’d both love it.
That looks so delicious! Love anything with a fried egg on top 😀
I’m with Amanda – that is one PERFECT looking egg!! I could really go for that right now, along with the bacon that you fried up in a pan, hee hee!
Ah these are a few of my favorite things and to put them into a sandwich…YUM ; ) I must admit I do also enjoy a fried bologna and egg sammie too!
First time here!
Great post! Now I’m hungry – Looks delicious!
We have a few traditional dishes we enjoy this season!
Oh my goodness…. that is the most bizarre, yet delicious looking sandwich! Looks soooo good.
I know Kristen! It does sound bizarre! But *trust me* the combo is delish! 🙂
Love the story behind the sandwich. I have to say the combo kinda throws me off, but based on the looks and what your saying its gotta be delish!
The pork, swiss and pickles remind me of a Cuban sandwich…the egg makes it extra good. Thanks for this post!
Looks great! As an upcoming author of a 400 Recipe Sandwich Cookbook, I am always looking for great sandwich recipes
These sandwiches look decadent & wonderful! What is not to love about eggs & smoky bacon. Beautiful!
Here’s an odd one, but tasty. Take one large slice of white Calabrese bread, cut in two, and toast. On one slice, place some Smuckers” no sugar added” orange marmalade.
Then top that off with a couple of slices of Old Cheddar cheese, ( about
30 grams total ). Assemble the sandwich, and presto a weird but tasty
combo.