I received the funniest comment from a reader the other day. It made me laugh and then worry. It read:
“Hi Lorraine, off-topic – saw you and Mr. NQN at the shops today. I was much too shy to say hello, but I did spy a jar of glucose syrup in your trolley. Can’t wait to see what you’ll be making with it! Cheers, K”.
The first thing I thought of was “Oh dear, what was I wearing? I hope I was dressed appropriately” and then “I hope there was nothing embarrassing in my shopping trolley!” Thankfully if I did reader Kat was too polite to say anything about my casual attire or possibly odd trolley occupant and simply mentioned the glucose syrup.
She might have also seen in my trolley a most unusually cut loaf of bread. Minutes before I had gone to a bakery to ask for bread sliced lengthways. They looked at me slightly skeptically and asked me if I was sure and then confirmed what I wanted done. Now there is a reason why people don’t get bread sliced lengthways and put into bags. It falls apart within the bag and so I wrestled with this loaf of bread that kept threatening to come unhinged before ceremoniously placing it in the upper trolley compartment. It was probably good that she hadn’t seen me then.
I was going to do my second attempt at making these sandwiches. The first time was a couple of week’s before and they only had half loaves which turned out to be too small. I found the recipe for these in Serge Dansereau’s new book “French Kitchen” under Ham Mousse Rolls or Rouleaux a la mousse de jambon (doesn’t it sound much more sophisticated in French?) and fell in love with the look of them. They are of course just like a regular sandwich but with more filling and more “oooh ahhh” value and I also think that these are the perfect picnic sandwich!
So tell me Dear Reader, do you get dressed up to go to the supermarket?
Spiral Sandwiches
Adapted from “French Kitchen” by Serge Dansereau $59.99 by Harper Collins
- 1 fresh, large loaf of white or brown bread, sliced thinly lengthways so that you get a long slice
- 500grams/1 pound smoked ham or tuna or pink salmon-if you use tuna or salmon, I’d suggest substituting the butter or cream cheese with mayonnaise
- 100grams/3.5 ozs butter or cream cheese, softened
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- a jar of cornichons (small gherkins)
Buyer’s tip: Baker’s Delight will slice your bread lengthways
1. Prepare the fillings. This works best when the bread is very fresh and not dried out. In a food processor, blend the ham or tuna with half of the cream cheese or butter. Set aside. In a bowl mix the remaining softened butter or cream cheese with the mustard.
Spreading the rolled bread with mustard and cream cheese mixture
Spreading with the ham mousse and placing cornichons
2. Cut off the crusts from your bread. Take a rolling pin and gently roll the bread until it is thin and evenly rolled. Spread the bread with the mustard butter/cream cheese and then spread it quite thickly with the ham mix-you want to be able to see the pretty pink colour when you slice it up. Place two cornichons (the fatter ones are best) at one end and roll up the bread. Slice into pieces and serve!
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83 Comments | Add your own
Very easy and very fancy! They’d be perfect on a high tea tray!
They look adorable Lorraine! Funny that you ask, cos I did once see a couple wearing PYJAMAS in the supermarket! Some people really don’t seem to care what they wear to go to the supermarket. I don’t dress up, but at least I check on the mirror that I look ‘decent’, and that I’ve at least changed out of my PJ’s! ;-D
Those are so cute! There’s nothing like fresh bread, no matter how it’s sliced!
Oooh I do like the look of these. Great idea!
Very interesting way to serve bread!
These are so cute, I am already imagining so many different filling types! I can’t imagine anyone “getting dressed” to go to the shops. Although I do remember my nan had a “ladies” handbook which said that a lady should always dress as if she is expecting company when she shops.
Eh so cute! This would make a good bento box sandwich!
See there in lies the dilemma – when you aren’t dressed “up” and are looking not your best – that is when you run into someone. Take the effort and look nice – you see no one! You will have to start travelling in cognito now Lorraine – now that you’re to be a published author!!
oh my – I would never have thought of getting it sliced lengthways!! And how did you go cutting it into the ‘wheels’? Normally it looks really rough when I try to do it?!
Oh – and my normal supermarket attire would be workout clothes or tracksuit pants oops
Nope I dont dress up for the supermarket.
Ah a savoury “swiss roll” – but a much easier one to achieve! This is wonderfully creative, you never fail to amaze me.
What a great idea! They’re adorable, perfect for a picnic or appetizers.
)
Yum cute spiral sandwiches I have never thought of asking the baker to slice them lengthways, great idea.
Interesting use of carbs in this recipe. Getting the most out of your daily loaf!
It’s normally tracksuit bottoms and my springbok rugby shirt when I go to the supermarket, and Frank wears his Wallabies one, so everyone always looks at us!
Those sandwiches look really fun, great for an at-home high tea!
these look yummy so creative too :O)
Love the little sandwiches. I must try these.
These sandwiches look much more fun than the triangular ones!
I do most my food shopping online but if I do go to the supermarket I do it on lunch brakes, so l don’t dress for the supermarket but did work. 
They present so nicely and sound so simple to make. Yum!
I never get dressed up to go to the supermarket. It makes me shop even faster so I don’t run into anyone looking like a dag!
Great sandwiches! I do try to look OK when I go to the supermarket because I know thatv i will always run into someone I konw if I look crummy.
What a good picnic idea.
So much butter though (prob coz I don’t eat butter). I’m sure the same would work with a squeeze of dill mayo maybe?
I am usually extremely casual *think denim shorts, a loose fitting cotton tee and thongs* when it comes to grocery shopping. It is Saturday morning after all lol
Your sandwiches look great! Fun, and tasty too! No, I do not dress up to go grocery shopping:)
ooh. Thanks for the recipe. I am holding a tea party for my friends in December. This will be a hit!
PS-Congrats on the book deal.
Very high tea! I don’t dress up necessarily but will not wear trackies or leggings to the supermarket unless I’ve just been at a dance class – you have to earn being that daggy with exercise!
Yum, they look delicious!
Oh yum!
and PS, congrats on the upcoming book!
x
These look like bread sushi rolls – I’d probably eat them like that, too! Yes – I do love my food …
As for dressing for the supermarket, I’m a generously proportioned woman (my husband says voluptuous) and I like to look attractive without going over the top. So for me, nice jeans and shoes/boots and a linen shirt or in summer 3/4 pants, jazzy sandals (with pretty toenails) and a flowing shirt in cotton, silk or linen.
Is that too much???
I saw a girl at the supermarket in a tailored jacket with printed flannelette pjs underneath and ug boots, messy hair but her face was made up, and I thought she looked really cool. Wish I had the guts to get out of the house in my pjs!
*laughs* Oh heavens no, particularly if I’m just going to the Coles across the road! I like to think I’m perfeting “hobo-chick” on those occasions
I doubt you ever look anything less than goddess-like though! 
*perfecting
I seldom “dress up” for the supermarket, but try to look a bit tidy. Of curse, on the very rare occasion that I wear my uggies to the shops, I always manage to run into the more impeccably dressed women that I know!
These look delicious, I’ve actually made these before with 100′s & 1000′s for kids birthday party
Burnside Village in Adelaide has a reputation for well dressed clientele. I have been known to buck the trend, particularly on weekends. There is a limit to how low I will go though!!
Hahaha what a funny story! Your very own being-recognised-in-public experience! And I laughed inside when I imagined how you were describing the people at Baker’s Delight checking that you really wanted your bread loaf sliced lengthways!
Lorraine, this is brilliant going to make this for lunch tomorrow but bigger slices. Gherkins and ham – OMG yummmmy
We have a saying – there are no ugly women in this world, just lazy ones. Everyone can look good but not everyone has the discipline to keep it up. I don’t dress up to go to the supermarket…have long given up the hope to meet Mr.Right there. This is an interesting way to make a sandwich! I should try it sometimes.
What do you think you could subsitute the cornichons for? I’m constantly running into people at the supermarket so I tend to make a bit of an effort… unless it’s 9 at night and I’m running down to pick up lollies.
I love this idea, thanks for the Baker’s delight tip.
I can’t wait to make them.
I’d substitute asparagas maybe
Absolutly
Dashing into the supermarket for a quick ‘must pick up’ doesn’t always get the ‘dressed for the occasion’ outfit.., but coffee with the gang on the otherhand requires a bit more thought I’ve gotta say.., its my thing.
Love the sandwiches, nice idea.
I remember my mother made similar sandwiches when I was younger. These were usually served when her friends came over. She used to fill the sandwiches with a mix of cheese, pimentos, hard-boiled eggs, and crisp bacon bits.
Haha, I can just see the queues at Bakers’ Delight now all wanting to get their bread sliced lengthways, I’m certainly going to!
I make sandwiches like this for my kids obento. Cut them a bit fatter wrap them in plastic wrap and they look like lollies!!
… and shopping, I never wear my daggys!! Need to have some self respect
Take a look at that woohoo! I love it, and love that they sliced the bread length ways! These are novel and whimsical Lorraine! BTW, what a sweet comment from the resder!
Cute presentation
They look tasty – very much perfect for picnics.
As for the supermarket question – I always leave the house dressed up ….you’ll NEVER catch me in trackies past the wheelie bins in my apartment building!
Geez you’re a thinker, I would have not thought to ask them to slice it up like this and would have been wrestling with the bread at home trying to get nice even long slices (and no doubt failing miserably).
I rarely look good at the supermarket, but I’m not a soon-to-be-published-author so it’s not so important
Cute little sandwiches! I think I would have to plan tea to serve them. We’re mostly jeans and t shirt people round these here parts. xoxo Mum
If you could look glamorous on our farm in the pouring rain, I’m sure you look fab while doing the super marketing.
Oh and we made fairy bread with bread cut like that the other day for a party. We called it fairy sushi. the kidlets loved it.
Ha! Dressed up for Woolies? I usually run in there covered with flour and with italian meringue stuck in my hair like ‘Something about Mary’. My daughter works there and the staff ask her what I’m making the next day. My cheffy uniform is comfy like PJs so I always wear that. On my occaisional day off I do go to an effort even if just grocerying though, just to make myself feel special!
I always dress fairly nicely (eg wear the ‘good’ tracky dacks, a clean T-shirt and a little make-up) if I’m doing a planned shop plus chores, bank etc. But if it’s a spur of the moment thing – on the way home from school or the gym – I go as I am. Of course that is always when I run into someone I know. Sigh. I love circle sammies. It used to be the only way I could get Mr 9 to eat bread. (He has wised up to me these days!) I find it works well with a moist creamy egg filling, soft cheese and carrot, and/or even vegemite or jam. Have never thought to ask for bread sliced lengthwise though!
How very cute and dainty! I think they should be eaten with a pinky in the air! Lulz.
Honestly, my idea of dressing up for the market is putting clothes on to begin with. I don’t have any needs or reasons to dress up at this juncture of my life so… when I go to market, it’s generally jeans, t-shirt or hoodie and my favorite slip on Uggs. Call me lazy – at least I get the job done just as effectively.
I don’t know how you manage to turn such basic ingredients into such beauty, but i’m glad you do.
Looks like a version of swiss roll…..
Shopping in a super market is in jeans and T-Shirt if ever or else most of it can be handled on the phone…
Cheers,
The Variable, Crazy Over Desserts – Nachiketa
Catch me on facebook @ Crazy Over Desserts
Ooohhhh lovely. Perfect for a women’s bring something to share lunch I have to go too next Monday! Have to try it out then.
Hehehe I love your giant slice of length-way bread… you could make HUGE sandwiches out of that! The idea of a rolled sandwich is cool though, sort of a savoury swiss roll
I can’t be bothered dressing for the supermarket these days (old age does that to you). I remember the good ol days when I’d go in HEELS. WTF.
If I saw you in the stores, I would be running over and digging my nose into everything you put in the cart…and probably dressed worse than you so you wouldn’t have to worry about your attire.
These rolls look fascinating. Would sardines work too?
would defs go with the smoked ham version and reckon these could rock at a picnic!!
Cute sandwiches! This post really made me laugh. It got me thinking…if anyone were to recognize me shopping I’m sure they’d say “Sexy Foodie my arse!”. I usually wear trackies, a hoodie and have no makeup on. I just hope I’m inrecognizeable! People seem to think I’m a school kid when I dress like this, I get asked if I’m enjoying the school holidays, what year I’m in, or how I got the day off school!!! Still! LOL!!
Oh my … that looks like such a funnnnnn sandwich.. hahaha.. hMmm.. I want to make one now!~
I am bad with supermarkets. Hope none of my readers see me! I think they will turn and run….. kekeke
The rolled sandwich is such a delightful idea and even gone farther toasting them.They are just delectable!
That’s the most unique and artistic looking sandwich I’ve ever seen. Even the high tea restaurant I’ve been to doesn’t make sandwich this good looking. Thanks for the tips.
These look tres bon!
Always make an effort to look nice even if going down to the local supermarket. It’s just for me.
We are lucky: they sell slices of crustless bread in that format here in packages. Then again, it is hard to get other things like corn syrup, pecans, sour cream, cannes pumpkin and so much more…
So cute! And definitely good picnic fare
They are such a great idea! very different for sure!
I was raised that you always get dressed up…well not REALLY dressy but i wouldn’t DREAM of wearing trackies in public! my motto is “tracksuits and sneakers are to be worn to and from the gym and whilst exercising” that’s it!
what a cute idea… these look very delicate and pretty, perfect for a tea party.
I love these! Really cute and I’ll bet they are so yummy! Love ham mousse! And when I go into town dressed like a slob I hope I don’t run into anyone who knows me!
Happy Tuesday!
Oooh, lovely Lorraine! These sandwiches would make such a lovely addition to tea! Lol, I absolutely do not get dressed up to go to the supermarket…I’m the girl in jeans and a sweater or workout attire, and big sunglasses.
I love these sandwiches!
SSG xxx
These would be a knockout at a fancy tea, wouldn’t they? Can’t wait to try to slice a loaf on my own… a slicer is definitely in order or it would be a mess!
Sometimes I dress up if my around the house clothes are too bad to be seen out in. My youngest daughter, who is disabled, tells me each week that I need to change as people will laugh at me in my around the house tracksuit pants !
I am so surprised Lorraine that you don’t dress as glamourously for the supermarket as in your last post
Is this a sign of you being a celebrity that people don’t dare approach you?
oh and cute sandwiches
Never thought of using bread like that before =D I do wish I could go shopping in my pj’s or at least home gear but ppl might look at me weirdly.
An interesting take on sandwiches
I certainly don’t get dressed up for such things as grocery shopping – I think the local Coles staff are a little too used to seeing me rock up in the middle of night wearing thongs and paint-spattered trackies…
adorable!
Would it shock you that I get dressed up to check the letter box?
I have never worn yoga pants out of the house?
I have house clothes and outside the house clothes?
I didn’t think so, you know I am a crazy chick.
I haven’t asked for a loaf to be cut like that for years, and yes, I too would get those looks. Pin wheel sandwiches are awesome for kids parties, try using sprinkles for an unusual fairy bread amongst other fillings.
Love these sandwiches.
I have made them as a sweet using Nutella spread and as another simple savoury try Vegemite pinwheel sandwiches.
These are just too cute! I can already imagine them as part of a tea party at home!
hypnotic work, lorraine. the pickle prize in the middle is a great touch.
This would be delicious with baby
tender asparagus tips in it after
they’ve been buttered, or drenched in Hollandaise with capers. Folded into the ham mousse only to combine, the seperate flavors would really tease a playful pallet. Or simply
add as a layer over the ham stuff, plopping it here and there
randomly.
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