Hungry Sam - Hungry Sam

THAT's the basil.

This sandwich features thyme-rubbed fresh turkey breast with Boar's Head aged swiss, spinach, avocado, tomato, and stone-ground mustard on some totally mundane whole wheat bread. Although everything but the bread would have otherwise constituted an excellent sandwich, what pumps this sandwich up into the realm of exciting new hotness is the addition of fresh basil leaves.

The herb infused every other element of the sandwich with fresh, spicy goodness. Plus, since I'm actively growing this basil (I've managed to avoid killing my plants so far) I feel super awesome and self-reliant -- a fun illusion.

The basil (which indeed, I fear, nary a Hungry Sam sandwich will again omit) was not my idea -- Jen's mom made us sandwiches with fresh basil for our recent drive out to Annapolis for a wedding. Her sandwiches were better than my lunch today, in that they were constructed atop superb and nutty sunflower-seed encrusted whole grain bread -- but I managed to emulate the effect.

I seriously cannot think of another sandwich I'm likely to make that couldn't be improved with fresh basil. Tuna melts -- with fresh basil! Grilled cheese -- with fresh basil! Croque Monsieur -- with fresh basil!

The possibilities are endless.

Also, quick point on that wedding -- there was a PAELLA BAR. Like, they provided the rice/spice/tomato-base, then mussels, shrimps, sausage and chicken for folks to add. BRILLIANT.