Li'l Baby Reubens
Serves 12–24
½ pound corned beef
1 medium onion
1 16-ounce can sauerkraut
2 cups Swiss cheese, shredded
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup mayonnaise (do not substitute low-fat mayonnaise)
Thousand Island dressing
Rye crackers
Cocktail Complement:
Cigar Band (page 50)
1. Shred the corned beef with a fork. Peel and chop the onion into ¼-inch pieces. Drain and rinse the sauerkraut. Combine the corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, onion, Cheddar cheese, and mayonnaise in the slow cooker. Cook covered on low setting for 2 hours, stirring every 15 minutes.
2. Serve on rye crackers with a small dollop of Thousand Island dressing.
Reuben Roulette
There are three stories competing for the truth about the inventor of the Reuben sandwich. One tells of a Manhattan delicatessen that claimed to serve the sandwich to Charlie Chaplin's leading lady in 1914. In another, a hotel in Omaha developed the sandwich to feed some late-night poker players in 1922. And in 1956, a waitress entered the sandwich in a contest and won.
