So I make my own.
Sirena Tuna in Chili Oil. I mix it with crushed pineapple, salt n pepper, crushed / grated gherkins (pickles), and dollop of whole egg mayonnaise. WHOLE EGG. Not the other version. I did not even know there is another version until I chanced upon a lapsaw (bland) version and went "ik!" I marched to the nearest Coles and looked for a familiar brand. I saw the brand Best Buy but a bit pricey. I had to buy the small jars! Then Costco came to Melbourne and we stock up on the Whole Egg Mayo - in huge jars. Hurray for Costco!
Every Sunday (except first Sundays of the month - which is Fast Sunday) I make 3 trays of tuna sandwich for church. The tiny sandwiches keeps the hunger at bay until we get to our homes for lunch. We attend a 3-hour church block that starts at 10:00 am. I am always amazed at the members and visitors who stayed on until the last class. At the end of it, everyone is starving. I thought of the young exchange students who takes public transport, they will get home too late. Then mid last year Richard and I decided instead of making few cupcakes here and there why not make some sandwiches and share at the end of the classes for everyone? We have done it since and those who are not fan of tuna actually acknowledged that it was yummier than they thought.
Why tuna? Why not chicken or egg? My argument is that in the New Testament there is a story of how a small lunch pack of loaves and fishes of a young lad fed over 5 thousand people who came to listen to the words of the Savior.
Barley Loaves and Fishes. Not White bread and chicken. I joked a lot about this.
But really, honestly? My real reason is I just love Tuna sandwich and I want to recreate how it tastes like in the Philippines. It is my favourite and it is already preserved in the can so it stays yummy after hours in the fridge :-)
But since I joked about the biblical story as my reason, it stuck. And I kind of like it. Fits that I am sharing this as an after church snack.
Barley loaves and 2 fishes. Why Barley? Barley is the first grain to be harvested in the Spring, and the feast of unleavened bread celebrates the first fruits of the barley harvest. Jesus performs this miracle as Passover approaches, and will go on later in John 6 to explain that He himself is the Bread of Life. The miracle of the loaves points backwards to great events in the Old Testament to give us clues as to who Jesus really is. And who He is in our future.
I just thought of this when I was approached a few weeks ago by a young woman who asked me where I get the chance to make these sandwiches to take to church. The story of the feeding the multitude answers the question a little bit. Also preparing it, is my "me" time when I am mixing the filling and spreading them on to the bread. I like to find time to do this. It is for me as well as for others.
I enjoy doing this. I even bake some batches of banana or chocolate cake on the side, and make some berry ice creams. Depends on my energy from other duties. But I do enjoy this and loves the opportunity to help out in any way I could. Richard is very supportive, he buys the bread and makes the vegetarian version from time to time.
The sandwich is a steady presence every Sunday after the classes. The Primary kids points to the RS room as "that is where the food is:-)" The other classes comes in for a quick bite and catch ups before they venture forth and meet the rest of their week. They always leave with a smile.
Who would think small bread and tinned fishes can do this? It makes me smile.
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