Every once in awhile, when I’m down in the dumps, I indulge in a favorite childhood delicacy known as a fried bologna sandwich. My fried bologna sandwich is pretty simple and doesn’t really need a family recipe or a family cookbook to prepare:

Fry a slice of bologna.
Add the fried bologna to a slice of bread.
Fold the bread in half (No mayo, mustard, pickles, lettuce, tomato required).
Eat the fried bologna sandwich.

Bologna is probably one of the most maligned and disrespected of all the sausages, it seems. Granted that some bologna producers seem to go overboard with the fillers (all within USDA standards of course). Perhaps its reputation as a government-provided food for the poor and prisoners contributes to a less-than-desirable image. Or, maybe bologna’s high salt and fat content have put it out of favor in these more health conscious times.

That being said, a simple fried bologna sandwich is still a compelling part of the past, and for some, the present.  I hear that Hardee’s fast food restaurant chain has introduced a fried bologna biscuit sandwich as a breakfast item (with egg and cheese). How’s that for artery clogging?

No thanks. Leave me with my simple fried bologna sandwich.  Years ago, our bologna was beef bologna. We didn’t have turkey, chicken, pork or mixed meats in our bologna to confuse us. My favorite bologna for a fried bologna sandwich still is garlic bologna from the deli. Sliced on the thick side, it is heavenly when fried to a crispy brown around the edges (after being properly slit to prevent curling).

Fortunately for me, I’m a pretty happy person and don’t need to indulge in my favorite childhood fried bologna sandwich very often. Even if it is warm, tasty and very easy on the pocketbook.

Happy Cookbooking,

Matilda