Never have I felt a stronger kinship with a fictional character, than when Liz Lemon of 30 Rock discussed sandwiches with Jack Donaghy on their way to Stone Mountain:

Liz: Can I share with you my world view?

Jack: I’d rather hear you sing Rocket Man again.

Liz: All of human kind has one thing in common: The Sandwich. I believe that all anyone really wants in this life is to sit in peace and eat a sandwich.

Jack: What a surprise your world view is food based. Well, fictional character Liz, food based or no, I think yours is a world view to be commended. Think of the universality of the sandwich. Subs, hoagies, grinders, burgers, the mythical Primanti sandwich, the legendary cheesesteak, and that’s only America. Think of the paratha, the murtabak, the kebab, the banh mi, the pannini, the baguette, the chip butty. Oh sandwiches, you have given so much to us, and what have we given you in return? We treat you with the utmost contempt. Many think of you only as a means of consuming dubious leftovers. Too few of us care about the freshness of your bread; of your salad. We hurriedly slap spookily square slices of cheese and freakishly round pieces of processed meat between your staling ends and have the guts to call you sandwich? Not me. No, sandwich, you and I have been through too much together, and I know only too well the heights of your glory. You are a ruler of men. You tap into the heart of humanity, sandwich, with your universal appeal, and you can help us to learn more about the darkest depths of the human experience. Sandwiches are a great leveller. No matter who you are, you must still make your sandwich the same way; bread, filling, bread. Sandwiches bring people together. There is much camaraderie to be fostered whilst sitting around eating sandwiches. And yet, they are also diplomatic. You may make your sandwich however you please, add the things you like and remove the things you don’t, and no-one else will care, because you don’t have to share a sandwich. You hold it with your own two hands and you eat it yourself. It is yours and yours alone. And with that, I think we have the insight that I was looking for. Everyone wants to eat a sandwich in peace, but no-one wants to eat a sandwich alone. Share a sandwich on a deck looking into the trees. Share a sandwich on a step, with the sun beating down on your shoulders. Share a sandwich anyway you want, but make sure everyone’s got their own sandwich. And since this website has not yet graduated to showing off savoury recipes, I have created a dessert inspired by a sandwich. The American classic, the PB & J. Deep-fry a puck of a sweet yeasted dough, and pipe full of whipped peanut butter and raspberry jam and dust with some icing sugar. Delicious deliciousness. Don’t even get me started on what donuts can tell us about the human condition. Although, in hindsight I can see how that would have been a more appropriate topic. Next time! For now, please enjoy some donuts on me.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Donuts

The dough for these nuts is a recipe from Lara Ferroni, and can be found here. Makes 12.

Peanut Butter Filling:

1/2 cup smooth peanut butter

2 tbsp icing sugar

2 tbsp double cream

Mix all ingredients to a smooth paste Raspberry filling:

1/2 cup Raspberry jam

1/2 cup fresh raspberries (or frozen, thawed and drained)

Stir together gently. Oil, for deep frying

Icing Sugar, to serve Once the dough is made, roll to about 1.5 cm thickness and cut it into 8 cm rounds, and set aside to rest for 20 minutes. In the meantime, heat the oil to 180C in a thick-bottomed saucepan or dutch oven. Fry the donuts for about 30 seconds to a minute per side, or until golden brown and cooked through, and set aside to drain on paper towels.

Once the donuts are drained and cool, take a chopstick, or other similar shaped implement and insert halfway into the donut, and then wriggle it around to create a pocket for the filling. Place the jam filling into a piping bag and distribute evenly amongst the donuts, followed by the peanut butter filling following the same method.

Dust with icing sugar, and serve.