Kicking Sandwich Night Up a Notch

Because even a simple dinner deserves a little magic.

Some nights, all you want is a good sandwich—and recently, we turned just a sandwich into something a little extraordinary… twice.

Night 1: The Garden-Fried Eggplant Sandwich

We started with a fresh eggplant from the garden (or market—no judgment), sliced it thin, and gave it the VIP treatment. Dipped in a savory batter of egg and parmesan cheese, then pan-fried until golden and crisp, each piece of eggplant became the star.

To build the sandwich, we sliced a French bread loaf and toasted it with a brush of olive oil and a splash of red wine vinegar. While it was still warm, we melted slices of fresh mozzarella right onto the bread—because gooey cheese makes everything better.

But the real flavor explosion came from the homemade topenade. We tossed olives, fresh basil, juicy summer tomatoes, olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, and a sprinkle of lemon pepper into the food processor and gave it a whirl. The result? A bright, briny, herby spread that tied the whole thing together.

Every bite had the perfect mix of crisp, creamy, tangy, and savory. The kind of sandwich you eat slow so you can savor it all the way to the last crumb.

Night 2: BLT with a Dippy Egg (and a Side of Happy Gilmore Nostalgia)

We were feeling cozy the next night and settled in to watch the new Happy Gilmore 2. I’ll admit—we were a little nervous. Sequels that come 30 years later don’t always hit the mark, but this one? Chef’s kiss. Classic Adam Sandler vibes, a few surprise moments, and definitely a fun watch.

Inspired by the movie and a fun tidbit we saw online about Adam Sandler loving BLTs with a dippy egg, we had to give it a try. (Yes, I said “dippy egg”—you can tell I’m from Pittsburgh, right?)

We went for it: crispy bacon (but not burnt), crunchy lettuce, and thick-sliced summer tomatoes that tasted like sunshine. We toasted another French loaf, brushed again with olive oil and red wine vinegar, and slathered one side with mayo.

Then came the final touch: the dippy egg. Warm, golden, and perfectly runny, it melted right into the layers and made each bite feel a little indulgent. It was everything I love about a BLT, just turned up a notch.

The Takeaway?

Sometimes the best meals are the ones that don’t take hours to make but still feel like something special. A little twist here, a homemade spread there, and you’ve got yourself a memorable dinner—and maybe even a new favorite.

And for the record? The BLT with a dippy egg is officially staying in our sandwich rotation. Just like Happy Gilmore 2 is staying in the rewatch pile.