Cuban Sandwich, by Kate Heyhoe
Cuban sandwich shops make these sandwiches using a sandwich iron. This
technique, adapted from the Joy of Cooking, allows home cooks to create the
same effect in an oven, using two cast iron skillets. If you have an
electric grill with two flat, heavy hinged cooking surfaces, you can use
that as well.
1 loaf Cuban bread or French bread (about 10 to 12 inches long)
Butter, softened
Whole-grain mustard
4 ounces thinly sliced ham
4 ounces thinly sliced roast pork
4 ounces thinly sliced Swiss cheese
Sliced dill pickles
Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Slice the bread lengthwise. Generously butter
one side, and spread mustard to taste on the other. Over the buttered half,
layer on the meats, cheese and pickles. Top with the mustard-coated bread.
Slice the loaf in half to make 2 sandwiches. Wrap each sandwich tightly in
aluminum foil. Place sandwiches in a large cast-iron skillet and weight them
down with another cast-iron skillet, or other heavy, oven-proof pan. Bake
until the cheese melts, about 20 minutes. Unwrap and serve (careful: they're
hot!). Serves 2.