Going Fishin' Day Two - Tuna Melt

I must admit that I am a bit on the picky side when it comes to tuna.  I like it, but I have never liked to eat it warm.  Out of the can that is, because I can eat a tuna steak fresh off the grill without batting an eye. So the first time I heard about a tuna melt, I was a bit hesitant to even go there....but I finally did.

The beauty of this is that it is entirely portable to make on the go when you go fishing or camping thanks to StarKist making tuna salad in the foil packets. The only thing I would change about making this even at all is the fact that I would most definitely put it on Texas toast bread, because while I love Whitewheat, it's just too wimpy to support this hearty of a sandwich.

Not to mention that quite frankly, the idea of a soggy, wilted tuna melt just makes my tummy do a twirl...and not in a good way.

So first, go ahead and butter your bread. I know you are asking how butter can possibly be portable without dragging around a stick of it in your backpack? There are several answers to that, actually. You can buy the liquid squirt butter in the plastic bottle, which is actually kind of yucky yet functional...or the next time you make a run for KFC, ask them for a few packets of butter. They actually have butter packaged like ketchup, which is something I never even knew existed until last year.

Now heat a pan or skillet over medium heat and when it gets hot enough, gently place one piece of bread butter side down in there and put a slice of American cheese on top. You will have to work quickly here, or the bread will burn...and that sounds as unappetizing as a soggy, wilted sammich.

Once you have the cheese on, you can open the packet of tuna salad and spread that over the cheese.  Now cover the tuna with more cheese. You can use another slice of American, some Swiss, or whatever you choose. I personally went with mozzarella.

Now top the sandwich with the other slice of bread, butter side out. When the bottom gets golden and crunchy, very gently turn the sandwich over to brown on the other side, very much like a grilled cheese. Just make sure you gently handle this or the filling is going to come right out and make a huge mess!  (er, not that I would know or anything)

Now fish it out of the pan (heh, see what I did there?), and grab a plate. Because I was a good wifey when I made this for my hubby last night, I cut it in half for him. Of course, I also wanted to see what the inside looked like. It actually looks pretty good, and hubby said it was yummy.

I guess the truth is...I still have not eaten a hot tuna sandwich.
Maybe someday.