RECIPE: HAM DELIGHTS, THE PERFECT LITTLE PARTY SANDWICHES

I first had ham delights back in the 80′s when my in-laws, Sam & Carolyn, made them for a Christmas party. These were always at their get-togethers and while I’m not 100% sure where the recipe originally came from, I am 100% sure I stole it from them. Or it was given to me but regardless, I will never forget the first time I had them. I’ve made my own adjustment to the spread and sometimes change up the cheese to make it more interesting. These little sandwiches make an appearance for many of my get-togethers… even all these years later. They are so simple and perfect for a party because you can make them in advance and they freeze well so you can make a big batch and have them anytime. I always double the recipe and put a few trays in the freezer for later. Keep this recipe handy for tailgating season, too. Add some spicy chili or tomato soup and your friends will be happy no matter what happens with the game.

HAM DELIGHTS

Difficulty: Easy    Category: Party Food

Prep Time: 35 minutes     Cook Time: 20 minutes

INGREDIENTS

3 trays Pepperidge Farms Party Rolls or any mini party rolls (in the bread aisle of the store)

1 pound ham, shredded (use leftover ham or deli ham of any kind)

1/2 pound Swiss cheese, finely grated

1/2 pound butter, softened

3 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard

1 small white or yellow onion

1 1/2 tablespoons poppy seeds

1 teaspoon Worcestershire

Salt and pepper

Dash cayenne pepper

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 400 F.

Prep the rolls by removing them from the tray. Using a serrated knife, slice through the middle so you have a top and a bottom half. Do not separate the individual rolls. Put the bottom back in the tray. Cover until later.

Next, grate the Swiss cheese if you did not buy the already grated kind.

Prep the ham by putting it into the food processor to shred it. Remove to a bowl.

Put the onion the food processor and finely chop. Add the butter, mustard, Worcestershire, S&P, cayenne, and the poppy seeds; whir until it is a spreadable consistency.

Leaving the bottom half of the rolls in the tray, spread the top and the bottom of the rolls with the mixture. Add a layer of ham and a layer of cheese. Put the top on. Dab a little butter here and there on top. Cover the entire tray with foil and wrap tightly. Bake until toasty and cheese melts…. about 20 minutes.

Slice the rolls with a serrated knife and serve warm.

If you want a decadent variation on this classic, try my ham and cheese in puff pastry. Flaky, buttery, divine! Get the recipe...

FAVORITE BRUNCH RECIPES: SUNDAY MORNING POPOVERS

I'm not a big breakfast person. That's not exactly true... let's just say I don't always make time for breakfast so I skip it most days. But on Sunday morning, when I try to stop for a bit and have a word with God about all my many blessings, I often cook while God and I chat. One of the things I often make is Popovers. I first fell in love with them while living in Chicago; the little restaurant inside Neiman Marcus on Michigan Avenue had them on the menu. One of my friends, a woman named Gwendolyn Watson who I have long ago lost but will never forget, told me about the Neiman's Popovers. These light, airy little puffs are so delicious- plus they are fast and SO easy. I don’t have a popover pan;  I just make them in muffin tins and so dang what if they are not perfect? They are still perfectly delicious. The secret? Pour the batter in a hot pan much like you do for cornbread. Trust me.

Fast and simple, elegant and delicious: make Sunday Morning Popovers for breakfast or brunch... a great little vehicle for almost anything you want to stuff in there. Plate by my friend Tena Payne of Earthborn Pottery.

 Prep Time: 10 minutes    Cook Time:  35 minutes

SUNDAY MORNING POPOVERS

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1 ½ cups all purpose flour

½ teaspoon kosher salt

4 large eggs, room temperature

1 ½ cups whole milk

 Directions:

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Place an oven rack so that the popovers will be in the middle of the oven once they rise. If the rack is too close to the top of the oven, the tops of the popovers will burn.

Brush a standard 12-cup metal muffin tin with softened butter. Grease thoroughly including the area between the cups as well as the cups themselves. Put the pan in the oven to heat.

In a bowl, add the eggs, milk, and salt. Whisk till the egg and milk are well combined, with no streaks of yolk.

Add the flour all at once, and beat with a whisk till frothy with no lumps in the batter. Stir in the melted butter, combining quickly.

Pour the batter into the hot muffin cups, filling them half full.

Make sure the oven is at 450°F. Place the pan on the lower rack.

Bake the popovers for 20 minutes without opening the oven door. Reduce the heat to 350°F and bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, until they're a deep, golden brown. Resist the urge to open the door as the popovers will deflate easily.

Remove the pan and let the popovers cool slightly. Take a knife and run around the cups to release. Serve hot with butter, whipped cream, berries, honey or your favorite filling. In the fall, I like to go all Autumn and saute some not quite ripe apples in butter. Add some sugar, some cinnamon, nutmeg, maybe a little vanilla. Let the sugar begin to dissolve. Pull it off the heat, pour on some Calvados or brandy and light the thing on fire. Swirl the pan until the brandy burns off. Don't catch yourself or the house on fire. Pour over the Popovers. Count your blessings. #blessed

RECIPE: SAUSAGE, WHITE BEAN AND ESCAROLE SOUP

I love soup. There’s hardly anything I like more than a warm bowl of something hearty when it is cold outside. This time of the year, a big pot of soup is the perfect way to feed a big crowd and this recipe for Sausage, White Bean and Escarole soup is not only fast, it is also very affordable. For game day or snow day parties, you can serve this with a salad and some toasty garlic bread and you’re all set. If you can't find Escarole in the veggie aisle, arugula, kale, or other leafy green can substitute.

Sausage, White Bean, and Escarole Soup is hearty, easy, and very affordable for a big crowd! Serve with some toasted bread and a salad and you've got dinner!

SAUSAGE, WHITE BEAN AND ESCAROLE SOUP

Serves 6-8

Prep Time: 10 minutes  Cook Time: 25 minutes

INGREDIENTS

2 pounds of spicy or mild Italian sausage, removed from casing

1 medium yellow onion, diced

5 carrots, diced

3 stalks celery, diced

1 clove garlic, minced

5-6 whole canned tomatoes plus 1/2 cup of juice from Italian canned tomatoes

1 teaspoon fresh thyme

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

splash white wine (or any) vinegar

1 cup white wine (optional)

5-6 cups low sodium chicken broth 

1  tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

2 bay leaves

2 cans cannellini beans (white pinto beans, Great Northern beans)

2 cups escarole, chopped

Parmesan for garnish

Tabasco-optional

DIRECTIONS:

In a large Dutch oven, over medium high heat, brown the sausage, removed from the casing. Once the sausage is nice and brown, use a slotted spoon to remove it from the pan; drain on paper towels. Reserve. Drain all but 1 tablespoon of the fat from the pan. Let the oil get hot and add the onion, carrots and celery. Cook 3 minutes or until softened. Let the vegetables get nice and soft, stirring occasionally, about 3-4 minutes. Add the garlic. Cook one minute more. Add the sausage back to the pot. Add salt, pepper, and thyme. Add the tomatoes by crushing them with your hands into little pieces. Add the juice from the tomatoes, vinegar, Worcestershire, and the white wine to deglaze the pan, scraping up all of the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook and stir for about 1-2 minutes.

Add the chicken broth, beans and escarole. Bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat and cook 10 minutes more. The soup is ready to serve when the escarole is wilted. Serve with toasty garlic bread and garnish with grated Parmesan.