Tom's Reuben Sandwich

Tom's Reuben Sandwich

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup mayonnaise (Best Foods or Hellmann's or Vegenaise)
• 1/4 cup catsup
• 1/2 teaspoon dill relish
• 1/2 teaspoon sweet pickle relish
• 1/4-1/2 teaspoon dried onion flakes, to taste
• 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon Celia's Traditional balsamic vinegar
• black pepper, to taste
• 2 slices dark rye bread (caraway or not, it's up to you, but we prefer it without)
• 3 teaspoons butter
• 3 -4 ounces thinly sliced deli pastrami
• 1/3 cup sauerkraut, drained well
• 1 -2 ounce sliced provolone cheese or 1 -2 ounce swiss cheese or 1 -2 ounce monterey jack cheese

Directions

1. In a small bowl, make the dressing: combine the mayonnaise, catsup, relishes, onion, garlic, lemon juice, and black pepper to taste; set aside.
2. Spread butter on one side of each slice of bread.
3. Heat a large non-stick pan over medium heat and place one slice of bread, butter-side down, in the pan.
4. Assemble the sandwich: on top of the bread, place the sliced pastrami; top meat with a couple of tablespoons of the dressing; then spread the sauerkraut over, add some more dressing, top with the cheese, then place the other slice of bread- buttered side up- on top (this arrangement helps keep the dressing from soaking the bread too much).
5. Cover the grilling sandwich with a lid (a Reverware saucepan lid works well for this) and let grill for 2 to 3 minutes, checking to make sure that the bread does not burn- the idea is to heat the air underneath the lid and melt the cheese easier as you're also browning the bread.
6. Carefully turn the sandwich, re-cover, and grill other side. (I say "carefully" because, depending on how much of the fillings you put in, this step can get a little messy -- ).
7. Cut the completed grilled sandwich in two and serve with the extra dressing for dipping, along with a dill pickle and potato chips or potato salad.