"The bologna sandwich or baloney sandwich is a common and inexpensive lunch choice in the United States. It is traditionally made from pre-sliced bologna sausage between slices of white bread, along with various condiments such as mustard and mayonnaise. Many variations exist, including frying the meat first and adding various garnishes such as cheese slices, cucumbers and tomatoes."
"Bologna itself is made from leftover beef, pork, turkey, and/or chicken. The meat is first finely chopped, with water, salt, seasonings, and other additives, the blend then is stuffed into casings, and then fully cooked, with or without smoke. It is very similar to a hot dog, excepting the shape."
"The bologna sandwich, if made with beef bologna, is high in saturated fat, more so if cheese is added. Saturated fat increases LDL cholesterol levels and increases the risk of heart disease. It is also high in sodium, which raises blood pressure in sensitive individuals."
"The fried bologna sandwich has been elevated to a regional specialty in the Midwest and Appalachia. It is the sandwich served at lunch counters in mom and pop markets that surround the Great Smoky Mountains. They are sometimes sold at concession stands in stadiums, like those of the Cincinnati Reds and Buffalo Sabres. It is one of the favorite foods of famous Hoosier David Letterman, whose mother made one for him on Late Night and included Dave's recipe for it in her published cookbook."
"This item, without the frills, is also called a 'jail sandwich'. The sandwich is frequently and repeatedly served as prison fare in many parts of the United States, sometimes as a way to save money or punish prisoners. The self-professed "toughest sheriff in America" Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Arizona (metropolitan Phoenix) has replaced breakfast and lunch with a plain bologna sandwich as part of his get tough approach that includes inmates wearing pink underwear and living in tents. Juvenile offenders in solitary confinement in California Youth Authority prisons are frequently served a pureed bologna sandwich mixed with an apple and milk. The mixture is drunk through a straw."
"A famous and best selling brand of pre-sliced bologna is Oscar Mayer. Its brand was made famous by the jingle that begins “My baloney has a first name, it's O-S-C-A-R...”. According to the company, about 2.19 billion Oscar Mayer bologna sandwiches are eaten every year (6 million per day)."
Favorite ways to eat a Bologna Sandwich
- Large cuts grilled on the grill with barbecue sauce, then put between barbecue bread-
- Cold right out of the pack with lettuce, tomato and mayo-
- Fried crisp on white bread with yellow mustard- served for breakfast or with a buttered baked potato for lunch-
See also
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