BLT - The Perfect Bacon, Lettuce & Tomato Sandwich
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The Perfect BLT - How d'you like yours?
Here then, I present to you the astounding, the ever-surprising, the taste-bud tingling, the hunger-satisfying (but I could always manage another one) the chewy but succulent, the crispy but comforting.... the scrumptious and very, very yummy BLT!
Photo courtesy of SheriWetherell under the Creative Commons license.
Contents at a Glance
The basics of BLT construction
Start building your perfect BLT
Take a trip to your nearest bakery, boulangerie, bäckerei, panificio, bageri, panadería, or supermarket.
Or, bake your own.
Quick Artisan Bread
Cuisinart CBK-200 2-Pound Convection Automatic Bread Maker
Amazon Price: $97.99 (as of 02/16/2012)
List Price: $235.00
Fresh Bread doesn't get any fresher - or easier - than this! Cuisinart offers expert engneering in smooth brushed stainless to deliver a sensational-looking Convection Bread Maker that automatically adjusts speed and timing, and circulates air while baking. Exclusive Low Carb, Cluten-Free, and Artisan Dough settings are just 3 of 16 preset menu options available with the touch of a button. Cuisinart adds 3 crust colors and 3 loaf sizes, to give bread lovers a choice of over 100 bread, dough, cake - and even jam - combinations!
* Programmable bread machine with convection fan adjusts speed and timing for foolproof results
* 16 preset menu options including Low Carb, Gluten-Free, and Artisan Dough settings
* 3 crust colors and 3 loaf sizes; over 100 bread, dough, sweet cake, and jam combinations
* Audible tone indicates when to add mix-ins; 12-hour delay-start timer; power-failure backup
* Measures 18 by 12-1/5 by 14-7/8 inches; 3-year limited warranty
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Next, the bacon!
Photo courtesy of shawnzam
Now I don't know what you call your cuts of bacon in the USA but in the UK the most usual are streaky bacon (as shown in the photo), thin fatty and crisps to perfection, back bacon, the leaner 'eye' of the cut, gammon, thick, juicy and lean. You can then choose unsmoked, smoked, sweet-cured, dry-cured, organic and several other variations. Someone will have to educate me as to how Americans prefer their bacon.
BLT Related Pages
Pick your tomato!
From The British Tomato Growers AssociationClassic tomatoes.
These are the familiar, round variety and are the most popular type of tomato. They are good for salads, grilling, baking or frying and used as a cooking ingredient for soups and sauces. classic tomatoes
Cherry and cocktail tomatoes.
These are much smaller than the traditional classic tomato. Cherry tomatoes are the smallest and cocktail tomatoes slightly larger. Both are very sweet and have a concentrated flavour. Most cherry tomatoes are red, but golden, orange and yellow varieties are also available. Cherry tomatoes are delicious eaten whole and raw, or cooked. Cocktail tomatoes can be halved for salads, or skewered whole for grilling. Currently almost all cocktail varieties are sold 'on the vine'. cherry tomatoes
Plum and baby plum tomatoes.
These have a distinctive oval shape. Their flesh is firm and they have less liquid in the centre. They are the natural choice for pizzas and pasta dishes and their fleshy texture makes them ideal for the barbecue. The smallest, baby plum types are sometimes called miniplum and slightly larger ones midiplum. plum tomatoes
Beef tomatoes.
These are larger than the traditional round tomato. Their size and shape make them excellent for stuffing and baking whole. There is a range of beef tomatoes available, varying in their shape and texture. beef tomato
Vine or Truss tomatoes.
These may be of any of the types mentioned above but are marketed still attached to the fruiting stem.
Photo courtesy of turtlemom4bacon
Slice your tomato!
Norpro Easy Tomato and Fruit Slicer
Amazon Price: $11.15 (as of 02/16/2012)
Florida Grandma says, "This is the best thing I have ever bought for the kitchen. It is easy to use and easy to clean. Plus it takes up very little counter space. After cutting myself with regular knives making salads this is a blessing. I am extremely pleased with this product."
So listen to Florida Grandma and get yourself one of these little beauties.
Just to remind you what you are headed for - the perfect BLT!
Photo courtesy of 8bitjoystick
Let us love a lettuce
Love your own at AllPosters.com
There are many, many different varieties of lettuce, too many to list but here are the main four types:
Crisphead lettuce, the ubiquitous iceberg, forms a tight head under the right conditions and has very crisp leaves. Batavia or Batavian is a crisphead developed in France, which is curlier and softer.
Butterhead or bibb lettuces produce loose, gently folded heads with delicate leaves. Good for getting to sleep at night... but you knew that, didn't you?
Romaine or cos (after the island of Kos) types form a long, loose head with broad, upright leaves.
Leaf types do not form a head, but stay as an open rosette. The leaves may be rounded or elongated, flat or curled. Individual leaves can be cut off as needed, even as the plant is growing. These vary in texture from soft to crisp and from pale green to dark red in colour. Known as "cutting", "bunching," or "curled" lettuce.
BLT decisions to be made
So you have to decide what form your BLT is going to take. Are you going for fresh bread? Toasted? Sliced? A baguette? White or wholemeal? Or something quite novel - a BLT croissant?Have you a favourite cut of bacon? Why not try it a different way? How about a tasty slice of gammon? Or cold roasted or boiled ham?
Tomatoes? Always go for the tastiest. There's nothing worse than an indifferent tomato. Look for vine-ripened or the sweetest plums. Maybe try a new yellow variety.
Lettuce is essential and adds that welcome cool crispness. I have to go with the boring tasting iceberg myself but only because the bacon and tomato have such strong flavours.
Now... do you add mayo or maybe a little mustard? If you're in the UK try putting some music in your sandwich with a little Reggae Reggae Sauce.
Butter? Well I'd have to have it but your mileage may vary. Ever tried making butter? It is as easy as the hippy hippy shake - click right here to see how.
How about me? I hear the low-carbers wail. Easy. Cut your bacon into lardons (small pieces), fry with onions, garlic, chopped bell pepper, add a little butter, serve on a bed of the prettiest lettuce with some succulent plum tomatoes. Add mayo.
Made your choices? Good. I think we can agree that there is NO definitive BLT - it's all a matter of taste.
Photo courtesy of disavian
Photo courtesy of Kanko
Haier HPG1400BSS Professional Panini Maker
Amazon Price: $50.00 (as of 02/16/2012)
Peachy says, "I bought this grill at our local grocery store on special. I've wanted a panini maker for a long time and researched the one's out there. Either I rejected them because of the reviews or they didn't have all the features I wanted and the price was high.
The Haier 1400BSS doesn't have all the bells and whistles I wanted (removeable plates, interchangeable plates, temp control on both sides, etc.), but it does grill evenly on both sides and makes wonderful sandwiches. For the price, this is an excellent grill.
Bored with BLT? Try a different sandwich
Bacon Onion Sandwich (BOT)
Ditch the green stuff!
If lettuce isn't your thing, you can get plenty of veggie goodness from onions (red, spring, mild Spanish or green), bell pepper, radish or any salad-y type vegetable. Go for crunch.Photo courtesy of robad0b
Mayo? Mustard? Tell us how you like yours...
Maybe you had your favourite BLT at a restaurant, a diner or a street cafe? Maybe your other half makes the best obe ever? Please share your magical memories of your favourite BLT - we really do want to know!
Photo courtesy of Rick
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Hope
Feb 5, 2012 @ 6:56 pm | delete
- Love BLTs! and your lens about them!
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jksterling
Jan 26, 2012 @ 9:38 am | delete
- You have my mouth watering. Thank you.
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Dave
Nov 15, 2010 @ 1:37 pm | delete
- Sart with toasted sourdough. A little Hellman's/Best Foods mayo (Definitely not Miracle Whip-type stuff for me. To sweet and icky.) Then romaine lettuce--the crunchy bits near the stem as well as some nice dark green leafyness. Add two or three slices of what the author calls "streaky" bacon (smoked) and done so it's neither fall-apart crisp nor flacid and soft. Occasionally I'll put on a bit of smoked turkey and avocado, but that's a Club Sandwich. Then. the tomato. If it's from the grocery store don't bother. Get one off the vine if you can. Then black pepper and a little bit of seasoned salt. Holy mackerel. i'm hungry now.
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Freaknoodles
Oct 11, 2010 @ 7:13 pm | delete
- I've been a vegetarian for about 17 years, but I've often thought that if I ever eat meat again, I'm going to start with bacon. Yummy lens!
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Susan52
May 4, 2010 @ 2:36 pm | delete
- Definitely mayo. You have made my taste buds water with sheer delight, and when you mentioned the aroma of a great BLT, I really could smell it! Oh, my. I had dinner all planned, but now I have this irresistible longing for a wonderful BLT and I'm starving!
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purplelady
Apr 23, 2010 @ 11:24 am | delete
- I have not had my breakfast yet and I was not planning on fixing a BLT; but the pictures on here were just too appetizing. BLTs it is! Updating my bacon lens and will add your bacon lens to the featured lens sidebar widget. 5 BLTs and a featured lens.
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StevenCousley
Jan 14, 2010 @ 6:21 am | delete
- I love your work. Nice lens with brilliant use of images. Now I'll have to lensroll it on some of my bread lenses to give the readers some more inspiration. :)
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arncyn
Jan 6, 2010 @ 10:24 am | delete
- Yet another delicious lens from you, Bev! You have made me hungry on two occasions today, LOL. Beautifully done, as always! (:
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BFuniv.com
Nov 15, 2009 @ 3:00 pm | delete
- Make mine thick with lots of everything on toasted sourdough bread. some fresh picked avocado can be nice, even a bit of turkey clubhouse style is good if there is enough crispy bacon.
My mouth is watering, time to quit Squidooing and buy a BLT. You've made me too hungry to wait and shop for ingredients.
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CleanerLife
Oct 30, 2009 @ 6:35 pm | delete
- Great Lens, made me hungry! I must have at least one BLT made from the fresh tomatoes we get from the garden each year, usually more than one!
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Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day: The Discovery That Revolutionizes Home Baking
Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day: The Discovery That Revolutionizes Home Baking
Amazon Price: $13.97 (as of 02/16/2012)
There's nothing like the smell of freshly baked bread to fill a kitchen with warmth, eager appetites, and endless praise for the baker who took on such a time-consuming task. Now, you can fill your kitchen with the irresistible aromas of a French bakery every day with just five minutes of active preparation time, and Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day will show you how.Coauthors Jeff Hertzberg and Zoë François prove that bread baking can be easier than a trip to the bakery. Their method is quick and simple, bringing forth scrumptious perfection in each loaf. Delectable creations will emerge straight from your own oven as warm, indulgent masterpieces that you can finally make for yourself. In exchange for a mere five minutes of your time, your breads will rival those of the finest bakers in the world.With nearly 100 recipes to put this ingenious technique to use, Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day will open the eyes of any potential baker who has sworn off homemade bread as simply too much work. Crusty baguettes, mouth-watering pizzas, hearty sandwich loaves, and even buttery pastries can easily become part of your own personal menu, and this innovative book will teach you everything you need to know.
Colossal Bacon Sampler
Colossal Bacon Sampler
Amazon Price: $68.00 (as of 02/16/2012)
A sampler of all seven different Sliced Bacon products. This sampler will let you try a different bacon each morning for a week. Seven good reasons not to skip breakfast! Sampler contains: one 8 oz. package of Country Ham Bacon, one 12 oz. Canadian Style Bacon, and one 1 lb. each of: Country Bacon (Dry Cured), Old Fashioned Country Bacon, Pepper-Coated City Bacon, City Bacon (Moist Cured), Canadian Bacon - Pepper-Coated and thickly sliced.
Bacon Sampler
Bacon Sampler
Amazon Price: $39.95 (as of 02/16/2012)
Pre-Sliced for your serving convenience. Sure to please everyone in your family. Sampler includes three completely different types of bacon. Assortment includes: 1 lb. of Original Country Cured Bacon, 12 oz. Canadian Style Bacon, and one 8 oz. pkg. Country Ham Bacon.
