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A sandwich can be one of the most enjoyed meals in all the land.  The sandwich fits in our society at any time and at any place.  The top of a 14,000 ft peak, the beach, in your cubicle, and countless other occasions, the sandwich is the go to food.  Our August weekend took this joy in life and tried to take it to another level in flavor.  Here are the recipes:

Elk roast beef sandwich  This one started a few days before the weekend when I took out a 3 lb elk roast from the previous fall and put it in a large freezer bag.  Also in the bag was a marinade that consisted of red wine, sea salt, pepper, crushed garlic, and some Italian seasoning. After we got together, the first thing we did was get the roast in the oven at 350° until the temp in the center of the roast was 120°.  You have to be very careful while cooking elk as it can become very dry quickly. While the roast was cooking, we sautéed some red onions and garlic in some olive oil until fork tender.  When they were just about done, we added some pepperocinis to the mix to heat them up a bit.  By now the roast was fully cooked and it was time to pull out of the oven.  We let the roast sit for about 5 minutes to rest before slicing very thin.  We layered the meat on a ciabatta role topped with the onions and added a healthy layer of gorgonzola cheese on top.  Finally we added some mayonnaise on the upper layer of the roll and served.

Meatball Sub For those wanting an outstanding meatball sandwich, look no further.  This one starts out with a pound of ground Italian sausage, a pound of ground buffalo, and a pound of ground beef.  Mix the meat up in a bowl with garlic, parmesan cheese, and red onions.  Cook these meatballs in a cast iron skillet until golden brown and move them to the sauce that we are going to make next.  Start the sauce by sautéing some garlic in oil and adding a can of fire roasted tomatoes.  Bring to a boil and add the meatballs to cook for about 30 minutes. While the balls are getting hot, slice open a baguette and start shredding some mozzarella cheese.  Once the balls are done, place them on the bread with a good helping of sauce and top with the cheese.  You will not be disappointed.  

A note about sandwiches – NEVER USE CHEAP BREAD!!!!!!!!  The bread that you choose will make or break your sandwich.  Find a good local bakery and buy your bread there or learn to make it yourself.