The other evening, I was less than excited about making dinner. But I had some thick slices of deli pastrami I had purchased while we were on our trailer trip that really needed to be used. So, Reuben sandwiches immediately came to mind.

So, I mentioned to Mr. C. what I planned to make, but that there were 2 essential ingredients that I didn’t have on hand – rye bread and sauerkraut. He immediately went for his car keys and told me he’d be right back. (The man loves Reuben sandwiches as much as I do.) As he was leaving, I casually mentioned that potato chips might be nice too. So, of course some Tim’s thick cut potato chips also came back with him from the grocery store. That left the sauce. Because it’s the creamy ketchup horseradish sauce that truly makes the sandwich special.  

I usually make my Thousand Island Dressing (recipe found under Reuben Sandwich) when making a Reuben. But as I stated above, I was feeling less than enthusiastic about spending time in my kitchen. (We were just back from being a month on the road and I was still putting things away and doing load after load of laundry). So, although my Thousand Island recipe is not difficult to make, I simply wasn’t in the mood to chop even 1 ingredient, much less 3. So, I took the liberty of trimming down my existing recipe. And the sauce was perfect for the sandwich. (And coincidentally, more of a Russian dressing that is usually associated with Rueben sandwiches.)  

So, next time you make a Reuben sandwich or need a dipping sauce for baked potato wedges or to slather on a hamburger patty, may I suggest you give this recipe a try. Easy to throw together and totally yummy.

Well, that’s it for today. We are going to a JazzVox home concert this evening to hear Ann Hampton Callaway, a fantastic jazz singer, songwriter, and actress. (FYI – she wrote and sang the theme song for the TV show “The Nanny”.) Anyway, I’m excited. How Nich Anderson can persuade some of the best jazz singers and accompanists from around the world to perform in private homes in our area is beyond my comprehension. Having had the pleasure of hosting 109 of the concerts and helping with the food in other people’s homes multiple times since 2008, I am still blown away by the quality of each performance. Want to know more? Search under “JazzVox” and read all about it.

I truly believe music is one way to stay sane in this crazy world. That and reading good books, eating good food, having good friends, and doing good deeds, etc. We as individuals can make a difference. Never forget that. Even a simple smile directed at a stranger can possibly lift that person’s spirit. At the very least, it can’t hurt. And what has it cost you? Not a cent. And don’t forget to always say thank you.

The other day, a young man and I reached a closed door at the same time. He held the door open for me and I smiled at him and said, “thank you very much”. He magically grew 2 inches in just that nanosecond.

And as always, peace and love to all.

¾ c. mayonnaise

¼ c. ketchup, or more to taste

1 tsp. Dijon mustard

1 T. creamy prepared horseradish, or more to taste

dash hot sauce (I use Frank’s RedHot)

2 T. dill pickle relish 

tiny pinch kosher salt

freshly ground black pepper

Combine all ingredients. Store in fridge until needed.