Mind the gap...week

Well, here we are in post-Christmas/Hanukkah and pre-New Year’s Eve. Last week kicked off with the regular sandwiches and ended with the first of the year end review videos. Also had a chance to do a collab with the one and only . If you don’t follow her you absolutely should. She makes amazing foods with interesting flavor combos.

Oh, and last week there were chips. There were spicy chips.

2025 was a pretty remarkable year for Sandwiches of History. Sure, there were the sandwiches but I also did the bulk of my Sandwiches of History: LIVE! shows too. Plans for 2026, so far, a bit more sedate. I am giving a talk at the Rancho Mirage Writers Festival in January and doing a 2-night Sandwiches of History dinner outside of Madison, Wisconsin in late April (more details on that later). Other than that, and a proposed second cookbook (pitch in process), and planning for a hands-on, experiential tour for that, pretty quiet…for now. Lol

The Sandwiches O’ Last Week 🥪

Monday, December 22, 2025
Bettina’s Sandwich (1918)
A Thousand Ways To Please A Husband

Tea Sandwich Rating: 6.5
Plus ups: Smoked paprika
Plussed up rating: 7

This was a lovely little bight. Creamy, slightly tangy cream cheese mixed with a little diced dill pickles for that pickley pop, olives, for a little brininess, and salad dressing (which in 1918 was just a cooked dressing that was at once tangy, sweet, and salty). The smoked paprika plus up just made it slightly more sophisticated.

It Should you make it? Yep

In case you missed it:
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Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Don Adams Health Sandwich (1967)
Singers and Swingers In The Kitchen

Sandwich rating: none (but really a 3)
Plus up: none

Oh, Don. This was work up until the addition of raw green bell peppers. Yes, I do like the addition of mayo to the peanut butter, raisins, and celery here as it just adds richness while making more spreadable. But that pepper was a monkeywrench. So, I asked for your ideas on how to plus up. Look for the revisit in the coming weeks!

Should you make it? Not as-is

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Wednesday, December 24, 2025
Holiday Sandwich (1955)
Good Food From America (UK)

Tea Sandwich Rating: 6.5
Plus up: Ground cumin
Plussed up rating: 7

Sure, pushing avocado through a sieve was silly. I can only assume it being super creamy was schmancy back in 1955. Also, it was interesting that this recipe was for an “American” sandwich from a cookbook published in the UK. It was adorable in that it tried to emulate a Christmas tree (imho) and was kinda tasty. Once again, the plus up was designed to kind of add another dimension of flavor and it did.

Should you make this? Sure, maybe skip the sieve.

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Thursday, December 25, 2025
Christmas Sandwich (1928)
Moora Herald and Midlands Districts Advocate newspaper

Treat Rating: 5
Plus up: Re-arranging the ingredients
Plussed up rating: 7

I have to say, Christmas in 1928 in Western Australia was a bit different than any I had growing up. The original amounted to a raisin sandwich. And while I have no problem with raisins in general, not really keen on making a double decker sandwich of them. So, I did something I rarely do, plus it up by re-arranging the original ingredients (and adding a tad more of one of them). Having each bite include the crystalized pineapple and candied orange peel made for a much tastier expereince.

Should you make this? Eh, if you want.

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Friday, December 26, 2025
Walnut Sandwich w/Guest Star Holly (1916
From House To House A Book Of Odd Recipes From Many Homes

Original Tea Sandwich Rating: Barry 6.5 | Holly 6
Barry plus up: Mustard
Holly plus up: Fig miso
Plussed up ratings:
Barry - mustard 7 | fig miso 9
Holly - mustard 8 | fig miso 9

Fun fact, I was doing my morning 6 mile walk while in San Diego for the holidays. Lo and behold, as I walked by a coffee shop there was Holly Haines from It’s Holly. I’ve followed her for quite a while and everything cooks and bakes not only look gorgeous but sounds amazing flavor-wise too. So we decided right then to see if we could film a collab while we were both in the same place. The original sandwich was fine, walnuts and cheese mixed into butter. My first inclination was to give it the Grilled Cheese Treatment™. But I wanted something to punch through so I plussed it up with mustard. Holly did what Holly does and brought a unique yet fantastic dimension to the sandwich with something I’d never even heard of - fig miso. Amazing!

You should seriously follow Holly on Instagram (where she’s most active), YouTube, Facebook, or Substack. Also, fun fact, she runs socials for The Bittman Project too!

Should you make this? Yeah, why no?

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Saturday, December 26, 2025
Top 5 Sandwiches of 2025 from Olden Tymee Cookbooks

The first of five recap videos every year. This one focused entirely on the ones made from old cookbooks. I know some took offense to me including a recipe from 1974 but, in my defense, that was over 50 years ago. Anywho, these were the tasty ones that rose to the top.

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Sunday, December 28, 2025
Top International Sandwiches of 2025
International Sandwich Sunday

Just because it’s recap season, doesn’t mean we don’t have International Sandwich Sunday. In fact, despite this being a “Top 5,” I had to sneak in a sixth sandwich! Not all international sandwiches are home runs but most are and for good reason.

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The Potato Chips O’ Last Week - Spicy Week! 🥔

These were uncharacteristically good for Lay’s. Not only did the chips seem a bit thicker but they nailed the flavor. Somthing Lay’s here in the US of A doesn’t always do.

I don’t think I’ve ever reviewed a potato chip where I tasted the potatoes first, then had the flavor kick in. And kick in with great flavor at that.

These plantain chips were tasty if not thinner than most. But come on, Tajín and plantains? Yes please.

The requisite goofy dancing and sandwich but with 5s across the board. Woot!

Thanks for reading. Tune in next week when I round out the recap series then get back into the sandwiching. And some recap vids for In The Chips with Barry. Two of which are absurd, one slightly informative.

Cheers,
Barry