Ham Sandwich, sweet and savory versions

So. I finally found some good deli meat at a gourmet supermarket that a) didn’t have an unnaturally bright neon color and b) had ingredient list and nutrition facts on the package so I can check for any undesired additives. It’s sad and alarming how difficult it is to find real food these days. More than 70% of the products in any given grocery stores are processed, refined crap devoid of any nutrients and stripped of all freshness!

Okay, enough ranting. On to lunch.

It’s quite ridiculous how happy this simple lunch made me. As you’ve guessed it, I had ham sandwiches. Deli meat sandwiches, in my opinion, are poor, mistreated and underappreciated food. It’s the kind of food you just slap together for lunch when you’re in a hurry. The kind you reluctantly assemble together when there is nothing else in the fridge. The kind you say glumly, “Oh, just a turkey/ham sandwich” when a friend asks you what you had for lunch.

Well, this girl truly appreciates a good ol’ deli sandwich. So much that she searched high and low for edible ham slices just so she can make herself a sandwich at home. Deli meat sandwiches, weep no more. This post is dedicated to you.

I made two versions of sandwiches: one sweet, one savory. Here’s the ingredients in the sweet: bread slathered with strawberry jam, topped with smoked ham and a slice of cheddar cheese:

The savory: bread topped with tomato slices, ham, and another slice of cheddar cheese:

I popped both of them in the toaster oven for a few minutes so that the bread would get toasted, the cheese will melt, and the tomatoes will burst with its natural juices. Easy breezy. Done in less than 10 minutes, including oven-broil time.

I usually throw away the crusts (bad habit), but this time I had a cup of almond milk to dip the crusts in. Soup would have been nice, but I had none at the moment.

On the side I had a plate of raw vegetables:

I ended up throwing away the cucumber because it had a strange bitter taste. Yuck.

I also had a bowl of yogurt with grapefruit, mandarine orange, and cinnamon:

Oh. Guess what? I think I’m actually getting pretty sick of sweet potatoes. Amazing, right? But I’m kind of glad because now I can try other things. For afternoon snack today, instead of my usual baked sweet potatoes, I had two types of pancakes:

Jollibean peanut pancake and Mr Bean Japanese cheese pancake! On top of a Chinese dictionary (I was doing some translation work)

Check out the lovely gooey pale cheese filling!

And nothing beats the combo of fluffy pancake and peanut butter! Yum~

Anyway, I was recently tagged to list 25 Random Things about myself, so I thought it would be a fun way to give you guys a little bit more (useless) information about myself:

25 Random Things about ME

1. I almost drowned once in a shallow swimming pool while I was doing some kind of weird gymnastics move in the water. Picture a stupid little girl stuck in an awkward position with her head submerged in the water and her legs sticking out in the air. Embarrassing? Hell yeah.
2. I used to pretend to be a mermaid in the pool (Strangely, despite almost drowning 2 times, I still loved to swim)
3. I always loathed Cinderella and I always will!
4. I once freaked out and treated a guy horribly because he had the nerve to like me back
5. I want the Grinch for a pet. His furry fingers never fail to amuse me.
6. I concentrate best when studying in noisy, busy areas like McDonald’s and Starbucks.
7. I was escorted kicking and screaming out of Northwestern University to be hospitalized by two hefty policemen (ok, I wasn’t kicking and screaming per se, but the policemen part is true)
8. I used to want to be a teacher to the blind and deaf (Fortunately for the dear handicapped, I finally admitted I have neither the patience or temperance for such a job)
9. The very sight of white rice makes me want to puke.
10. I crave a good old Cabbage Patch Kids doll.
11. My childhood hobby was picking fights in the playground.
12. Guys in uniform make me swoon.
13. All guys should wear a suit and tie. Always. Even in bed.
14. I don’t understand girls obsessed with shoes and sexy lingerie.
15. What is the point of a pedicure when nobody notices them?
16. My hair used to be the only feature about me I was proud of. Now it’s 70% gone due to ED. Glamorous disease it is not.
17. I dream of pitching a tent in a library or bookstore and just…camping there.
18. I’m horrible in any sports with a ball.
19. I’m terrified of home-cooked meals prepared by others but like to eat out in restaurants (does this make sense at all?)
20. I want to hike the entire Appalachian mountains someday.
21. I had a HUGE crush on Pippin from Lord of the Rings.
22. Ever since ED, I can’t stand skinny celebrities and actresses because of the bad message they send out to other women (unless they’re just naturally skinny, but seriously, very few of them are)
23. I love making fun of the contestants in America’s Next Top Model.
24. I’m absolutely terrified of boredom.
25. My biggest fear is wasting time.

Well, now you know something about me. I’d love to know more about you guys, too, so consider yourself tagged!