ehhmmm.... how do you make sandwiches (I am not joking)?

[beforesunrise]

Ok so this is totally embarrassing but i need an idiot's guide to make sandwiches. I am not british and we never ever have sandwiches at home, i mean we have toast with butter and jam etc but never sandwiches as a meal iyswim. however having dd's 3rd birthday party soon and i think the children will expect some? so can you please walk me through making some sandwiches that children will like?

what bread? crusts on or off? what fillings? cut in triangles, squares, rectangles???

please do not assume anything, i really am clueless!

thanks in advance!

White medium cut bread.
Butter one side of each slice.
Use fillings such as ham, sliced cheese, chicken, peanut butter, sliced banana.
Place this filling on the butter side of one slice.
Place the butter side of the other slice on top, and press gently.
Cut twice, digonally, making 4 small triangles. DOn't remove crusts, this is generally only done for royalty or brats.

repeat as necessary

oh thanks, that sounds suitably foolproof...

Ruby- what is the good stuff???

When I have used cookie cutters to cut out the sandwiches for parties they have always been eaten .

Take 2 slices of sliced bread. Spreada thin layer of butter or margerine on both.

On eone piece put some filling (either a slice of ham or cheese or jam would be good for 3yo's). Lay the other slice of bread on top - butter side down.

I personally would cut this into 4 triangles and leave the crusts on - bu tonly cos it looks nice if you lay them on a plate with teh crusts down and points up so people can see the fillings.

Cover with cling film until you are ready to serve or the bread will dry out.

I would allow probaly 2 rounds of bread per child....and expect some leftovers.

Definately start with nice bread (or rolls, pita bread...)

For little children try getting mini rolls (M&S do nice ones) and filling with something basic - grated cheese, ham, egg & cress, boiled egg, jam ... Or M&S brioche fingers (buttered are very very nice).

Better to have jelly, squirty cream and 100s&1000s.

Good stuff = crisps, chocolate fingers, sausage rolls, cake, biscuits

cookie cutters to cut out sandwiches???!!! see that's what I meant... OMG have major party anxiety!

Well I would cater so that, following coldtits' instructions, you have 2 triangles per child (in other words, one slice of bread each - half what SlightlyMadScotland said )

What would you give to children in the country you come from? I find that sandwiches are considered the boring food they must have before tucking into the crisps and biscuits and cakes, and often it can be hard to make children eat sandwiches so I have made pizza before and cut it into bite size pieces. Maybe your culture has something these British children would prefer?

The 'good stiff' is the type of food the mothers pretend they don't let the kids have at home - chocolate, crisps, sunny delight...

Also have a bowl of small apples, tangerined, bananas... for them to nibble on too.

Packs of 'Goodies' brand (Baby Organix??) 'crisps' and biscuits are good too and they can also be popped into party bags.

Individually wrapped cheese: chedddar or baby bel.

Tescos do the big bags of lollypops and sweeties (love hearts, refreshers, drumbstick lollies, fizzers...) quite cheaply.

Fairy cakes

Lakeland have sandwich cutters that cut out 2 dinosaurs per slice of bread - really cute!

other fillings they like are chicken lunch meat, jam preferably red, and tinned tuna which goes on better if you mush it up first in a bowl with a little mayo. Some vegetarians have these I noticed, they get sick of cheese.

Peanut butter would have been a problem at all our parties (we are on year 8 of this) as there were at least 2 best mates with bad allergy who came without fail-and 3 is a bit young to expect them to avoid it off their own bat. Even if they do, the other non-allergic kids get it on their hands/faces and distribute to allergic one accidentally etc. It's a pain for you when one starts to be sick, or has to have an emergency hose down for skin (both have happened more than once).

Ignore the cookie cutter bit. That is not usual (or particularly sane) behaviour .

If you use cutters to cut out sandwiches, you are always left with a hideous amount of waste. Just cut them into triangles and leave the crusts on and enjoy watching which children eat the crusts and which do not (will be brats or royalty according to coldtits! )

Don't put anything in the sandwiches that you can't get out of the carpet when trampled in!

Definately have coffee for the mums!
It sounds like fun - can we come too??

ah I like the cookie cutter idea, can always feed the excess to DH aka dustbin. Think I will do that next week!

i think i will stick to my culture and offer pizza, that's a good idea the sandwiches are just stressing me out

and yes ruby i know about party bags and planning for that

thanks everyone!

Pizza is good. We went to a party recently where the children made their own pizzas (pre bought bases, passata and various toppings in little bowls). They definitely seemed to eat more that way and the mess wasn't too bad

Genuine Italian pizza - those 3 year olds won't know what has hit them - lucky things!

Honestly, the sandwich is way overrated, especially as a party food.

I love a good sandwich. Crusty bread, butter, cheese, pickle... with a nice cuppa -drool (can we have a 'drool' smiley please?) 8>{}

"party sandwiches" in our house are made with one slice of white bread and one slice of brown bread

Oh yes the sandwich excess always gets eaten by me and DH. No waste in our house .