Tuna from Love

"John From Cincinnati" at its heart is a story of redemption. It is a story of the ability of love and caring to heal lives, and of the tremendous restorative power to be found in even the smallest glimmer of hope. All this love, caring and hope reaches its high water mark in a recipe for tuna salad shared in a kitchen between a mother, son and grandmother. Hard to say why this scene is so powerful and why it works so well to set up the cookout that follows. There is much about "JFC" that lives beyond the realm of explanation. But it is clear that within the ensemble that created and produced "JFC" there is a knowledge of just why we cook and of how exceptionally important the feelings that drive us to cook are to our very existence. For its courage in pushing the boundaries of what entertainment can be, "John From Cincinnati" deserves an award. Since all the other award givers seem to be looking the other direction, we came up with one.

Cissy's Tuna Sandwich

1 6 oz. can light tuna, drained
1-2 TB. mayonnaise
1 TB. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
1/4 cup chopped dill pickle (1 small)
1 tsp. French's yellow ballpark mustard, optional

In a medium bowl, combine the tuna, mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt, black pepper and chopped pickle and mix well. Add the mustard if using. Mix with a fork to blend. Serve on Wonder bread.

Prep. time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: none
Serves: 2-3

Bill's Tuna Salad Sandwich

1 6 oz. can tuna, drained
1/4 Cup minced white onion (1 small onion)
1-2 TB balsamic vinegar
1-2 TB mayonnaise
1-2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 tsp. California basil
1/2 tsp. Turkish oregano

3 slices Italian-style bread
3 slices Swiss cheese

Preheat the oven on low broil. In a roomy bowl, combine the tuna with the onion, vinegar, mayonnaise and mustard, stirring to mostly break up the tuna but leaving a bit of chunky texture. Crumble on the basil and oregano, stir again. Divide among three large slices of Italian bread or other crusty bread, preferably with sesame seeds. Cut each slice of Swiss into three pieces and drape over the sandwich, leaving a little tuna showing. Broil in the preheated oven for 3-5 minutes, until the cheese starts to bubble and turn golden.

Prep. time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 3-5 minutes
Serves: 3