A club sandwich is a delicious, easy-to-make sandwich that can serve as lunch or dinner. If you are wondering how to make a club sandwich, simply follow the steps outlined on this page. Club sandwiches are a favorite at diners throughout the United States. The basics of a club sandwich consist of turkey, bacon, mayonnaise and toasted bread; however, there are many variations for club sandwiches. This page contains instructions on how to make the classic version, but be creative when making a club sandwich; feel free to add all your own favorite ingredients.

The history of the club sandwich is a bit murky and so no one knows for sure when it was first developed, but it is often credited to the Saratoga Club-House in Saratoga Springs, New York. This infamous Club, (where only gentlemen from out of town were allowed to enter, no women or local citizens were permitted to enter the club), also gets credit for inventing potato chips. In 1894, Richard Canfield became the owner of this club.http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/Sandwiches/ClubSandwich.htm

These ingredients provide the fixings for 4 sandwiches:

• White bread, 12 slices toasted
• 8 leaves of romaine lettuce, sliced in half crosswise
• Tomatoes, 16 slices (preferably vine-ripened)
• Salt and pepper
• Turkey, sliced and roasted, 16 ounces
• Bacon, 16 slices, cooked until crisp
• Mayonnaise, 3/4 cup
• 16 toothpicks, frill picks or plastic cocktail skewers

Once you have all the necessary ingredients, you can start putting together your club sandwich:

1. Place 3 slices of bread in a row.
2. Spread 1 tablespoon of mayo on each slice of bread.
3. Place 2 pieces of lettuce on the first slice of bread, then cover with 2 tomato slices and season with salt and pepper.
4. Stack 2 pieces of bacon on top of the tomatoes, then top with 1/8 of your sliced turkey.
5. Add more salt and pepper if you want.
6. Layer the second slice of bread in exactly the same way.
7. Place the toppings laden second slice of bread on top of the first slice of bread and its toppings.
8. Top everything with the third slice of bread, mayonnaise-spread side down.
9. Keep your sandwich together by pushing a toothpick or frill pick through the all the sandwich's layers, one in each corner for a total of 4 toothpicks.
10. Slice diagonally into 4 triangle-shaped pieces.

While the classic sandwich remains pretty constant, there are variations you can make with your club sandwich.

1. Add a slice of cheese on top of the turkey.
2. Add in onions, peppers, mustard or any other condiments you might enjoy.