Crabby's "Shrek Sandwich"

By RoketJSquerl

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• Salt & Pepper to taste
• 2 Loaves of crusty, soft-centered bread. Crusty is important. A bakery loaf of Italian Bread works well, though I've done it with Ciabatta, Country Wheat, and a French Round.
• 1/2 pound Sliced Ham
• 1/2 pound Sliced Turkey
• 1/2 pound Sliced Corned Beef from the Brisket
• 1/2 pound Sliced Pastrami
• 8 slices of Provolone Cheese
• 8 slices Muenster Cheese
• 1 (12 oz.) jar of roasted red peppers
• 2 TBSP Hot Pepper Relish
• Plastic Wrap

Preparation

Step 1

In a medium bowl combine the balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste, roughly 2 teaspoons pepper (alot on purpose) and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. The point here is to make a balsamic vinaigrette. Now, take your two loaves of bread and slice them in half horizontally. That's right horizontally. We are going to make one huge sandwich out of a single loaf of bread. Separate the two halves, then very carefully, remove the soft inner portion of the loaf. You are trying to create a hollow into which we will stuff the meats, cheeses and condiments. The key here is to leave some of the soft inner part. If you go all the way to the crust the vinaigrette won't get absorbed. Step 1. Spread a quarter of the vinaigrette onto each of the four bread halves that you have created. Next, layer some cheese, in this case 4 slices of Provolone, onto the bread. Now place a layer of each type of meat on top of the cheese. You are half way done. At this point you should have half of your meats and cheeses remaining. At the middle level, put on a layer of roasted red peppers and some of the hot pepper relish. If there is a drizzle of vinaigrette left, add it here. Now recreate the layering that you did the first time, finishing with a final layer of cheese (If I started with Provolone then I like to mix it up and finish with the Muenster). Put the top of the bread loaf onto the sandwich and lightly press down. Now the interesting part. Lay out sheets of plastic wrap approximately three feet long and six inches wider than the loaf of bread. Place the loaf at one end of the plastic wrap and while pressing firmly on the sandwich roll the loaf into the plastic wrap. The key here is to keep the pressure up and let the plastic wrap hold the sandwich tight. If you've done this part correctly you should have a solid loaf of bread neatly wrapped in plastic. Put the sandwich in the refrigerator and place a weight on top. A gallon of milk does a good job, though if you have a brick lying around that would work too. Leave it in the fridge overnight. The point of this pressing is to meld the flavors and distribute the vinaigrette and brine from the peppers and relish throughout the sandwich. The next day, remove from the refrigerator, slice and serve. Prepare yourself for the adulation. The oily vinegary layers are key to the success of this sandwich. It's OK to add mustard, but what will keep your guests raving is the virtual salad dressing that is formed by pressing all these flavors together. There it is, "The Sandwich". Easy, no cooking, but some assembly required. Try one for your next outing, you will not be sorry.