10.22.2012

Hobbes' Favorite Tuna Salad

 Bill Watterson

 My youngest loves a good tuna salad sandwich.  And he loves to read Calvin and Hobbes.  And being the youngest of four, he gets whatever he wants.  At least that's what my three older ones accuse me of.  
So when he begged for a stuffed Hobbes, I went searching online.  OK, maybe the older ones are right.  

Quickly I found out that a stuffed Hobbes can't be purchased anywhere, because Mr. Bill Watterson never liked the idea of commercializing his work.   So if you want to own a stuffed Hobbes, you gotta make it yourself.  

And here I found a great free pattern available online. Thanks to super creative Seamster, the instructions, complete with helpful step-by-step photos, were super-easy to follow, even for this novice sewer.  
The hardest part was hand sewing Hobbes' way-too-many stripes, but my youngest "hoorayed" and said things like, "Mom, you are the best sewer in the world!"  every time a stripe was sewn on.  With this kind of encouragement, I could have sewn the moon for this kid.  

Just like the real Calvin and Hobbes, these two are inseparable lately.  After only a few weeks,  Hobbes' white muzzle is already grey-brown, and his limbs are beginning to detach from being carried around so much.  And watching them share this tuna salad sandwich for lunch? Priceless.  





Hobbes' Favorite Tuna Salad 
Makes 2 generous sandwiches
Recipe inspired from Cook's Country

2 (5 oz) cans solid white albacore tuna, packed in water
2 Tablespoon grated onion (great way to hide onion from kids)
1 Table Olive oil
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 Cup Hellmann's Mayonnaise
Salt and Pepper to taste

Optional ingredients: finely chopped celery, hard boiled eggs, fresh dill, or anything else that catches your fancy.

4 slices of bread
2 pieces of lettuce leaves  

Open two cans of tuna and drain water completely.  Transfer tuna into a medium size bowl and pat dry with a few sheets of paper towels.  

In a small microwave safe bowl, combine grated onion and olive oil and heat for 45 seconds.  Cool.  

Using a fork, toss onion mixture with tuna and add lemon juice and mayo.  Add any optional ingredients if using. Season well with salt and pepper.  

Assemble the sandwiches or use it to top a bed of greens.  


Note: Here is the link to canned tuna drainer that Pateberry mentioned in her comment.  Thanks Pateberry for this tip!



19 comments:

  1. wow, yummy lunch AND a fun friend for your son! way to go Kay! :)

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  2. Kay, the grocery store has a two piece, turquoise, concentric ring thingy that is PERFECT for draining and pressing tuna dry right in the can. The outer ring comes off to make it fit perfectly into the tuna can. I've become so attached that I bought a back up, just in case... A tool we definitely can use!

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    1. Draining tuna juice is not my favorite thing to do, I will look for that ring thingy! Thanks for the tip! :)

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    2. Kay, if you cannot find the thingy I'll be happy to send you one...I think you have my email, just let me know! I owe you a good favor, anyway. The friend who first told me of your blog gave me the book from which you've often quoted. The Spicy Tomato Soup is a household favorite and I thank you each time I make it.

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    3. I thought I had all the kitchen gadget in the world! But not that thingy you mentioned. :) Found it on Amazon and put the link to share with our friends! Thanks again!! And so glad you like the soup recipe!

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    4. pateberry2@yahoo.comOctober 24, 2012 at 5:46 PM

      Good. Did I read that you are using water pack tuna? I can't get beyond the "cat food" smell....all the more reason I LOVE my ring thingy as it lets me really press out the oil and then can run a bit of fresh water into can and press it dry. Surely there's another use for such a cool tool!

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  3. Oh This tuna salad sandwich looks perfect !!

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  4. I love the Hobbes - that is so cool! My brothers love the Calvin and Hobbes comics and read them at every opportunity. Thank you for the tip on draining tuna - I will keep that in mind next time i am at the store!

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  5. Awwww....I love these pictures of John Harvard enjoyed Hobbes AND a tuna sandwich! Can't wait to show Caitlin, and to make this recipe! :)

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  6. being the youngest boy in the family - I can relate.. (I got my way with mom every time :))

    To be honest, I rarely press and squitch out the tuna - I tend to buy chunk white or albacore in oil and use most of the oil in the can. I find the tuna is more flavorful and much less watery. And since there's usually oil (or mayo) in the mix, I'm not adding in that much in addition.

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    1. Toby, after testing a few recipes with canned tuna, I am def going to try with oil already in it! I can probably get away with half of the mayo. :)

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  7. Is it okay that I'm 26 (nearly 27) and I want a Hobbes? And a tuna sammich to share with him? Precious.

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    1. Still just a babe....hello, Mrs. Keno. Don't you love being called Mrs.? :)

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  8. I'm not a big tuna fan, but think I'll try this with chicken.
    I love Calvin and Hobbes; that was my dad's favorite cartoon. Brought back a lot of good memories.
    I'll be putting the recipe in my Tasty Kitchen recipe box :)

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  9. Calvin and Hobbes and I go wayyyyyy back. I even have a tattoo of them. They are the bread and butter of my childhood. Thanks for the recipe and for making me smile! :]

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    1. They will be part of my youngest son's fondest childhood, too! :) Thanks for your visit, Sarah.

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  10. I am the biggest Calvin & Hobbes fan, and was sad when it was no longer in our Comic Strips. I have a few of the books, and love 'em. You are an awesome mom, to make this happen. LOVE the shot of those two!

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  11. Love your post, Kay. I have made some little critters from my grandkids and they just love them to pieces. I didn't realize I could catch a tiger with a tuna sandwich...hahaha.

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