Ham and Swiss Rolls

While this recipe may not sound like much, I can promise you it is definitely worth the try.  When I was nine years old, my parents went on a motorcycle trip for three or four weeks and my Grandma Rose came to stay with me in Colorado.  There are two things I remember her always doing – cooking and crocheting.  She crocheted scarves, blankets, hats, and slippers. While she did teach me how to crochet, unfortunately, it did not stick. However, there was no way I could forget the meals she prepared.  Thank goodness! I swear I requested my two favorite dishes almost every day – Ham and Swiss Roll-Ups and Swiss Macaroni and Cheese. She got really tired of making the same two meals every day for almost a month…lol.  I remember her complaining about cleaning the pot from the Swiss Macaroni and Cheese because it was so messy.  It didn’t matter though, the next day, I asked for it again, and again, and again.  Even though the pot took forever to clean, she still made them for me.  So sweet!  Love her!  Unfortunately, I never had a hand written recipe that gave me the step by step for these dishes. Fast forward years later, I was flipping through my Southern Living magazine, and I saw a recipe called Ham and Swiss Roll-Ups. Immediately, a flood of memories came pouring into my head. These were just like the ones my grandma Rose used to make! I felt so many different feelings from happiness, to warmth, to missing her since she had passed away years earlier. I literally went to the grocery store that day to buy the ingredients to make this dish. After a few modifications, I had successfully recreated one of my favorite childhood meals. My Ham and Swiss Roll-ups are a pretty quick dish to make.  It really just consists of deli ham slices, broccoli, Swiss cheese, and a sour cream-mushroom sauce.  I use fresh broccoli and blanche it.  I am not a big fan of frozen vegetables; they just don’t seem to have any flavor so I use fresh vegetables about 98% of the time. They are inexpensive and give you way more flavor. When baked, it comes together as a piping hot, gooey, and creamy dish.  All I remember from that time is laughing with my grandma Rose, nicknaming her my crazy grandma, and eating these two foods just about the entire time. While I have not yet figured out her Swiss Macaroni and Cheese, it is on my list and I know I will figure it out one day.  So, stay tuned for that one in the future.

Ham and Swiss Rolls

2 small heads fresh broccoli crowns or

2 (10 oz.) package frozen broccoli spears

8 (1 oz.) slices Swiss cheese

8 slices cooked ham, sliced a little thicker than sandwich meat or 16 slices of deli ham sandwich meat (thin sliced)

1 (10¾ oz.) can cream of mushroom soup

2 Tbsp. chive and onion cream cheese or plain cream cheese, softened

½ cup sour cream

¼ tsp. Black pepper

2 tsp. Dijon mustard

1 Tbsp. chopped chives (optional)

If you using fresh broccoli, then cut broccoli into bite size flowerets.  Blanche in boiling water for 1 minute and 30 seconds.  Cool and set aside.  If using frozen broccoli, cook broccoli according to package directions.  Drain well; set aside.

Place 1 slice of cheese on each ham slice.  If using the deli ham that is thin, than double up the ham.  Place two slices of ham on top of one another.  Then top with the Swiss cheese. Divide broccoli into 8 portions; arrange a portion on each ham slice, placing stems in the center and flowerets to the outside.  Roll up securely, and place seam side down in a greased 12x8x2 inch baking dish.  If you want, you can secure with a toothpick.

Combine soup, sour cream, cream cheese, pepper, and mustard; pour over ham rolls.  Cover with foil and bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until bubbly.  Uncover and bake for 5 more minutes.  Remove from the oven, top with chopped chives, and serve immediately.

Serve with sliced fruit such as grapes, pineapple, orange slices or cinnamon apple sauce.

Yield: 4

Author: Kelly Meer

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Ham and Swiss rolls

Creamy and Gooey Baked Goodness

Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 20 MinTotal time: 35 Min

Ingredients

• 2 small heads fresh broccoli crowns or
• 2 (10 oz.) package frozen broccoli spears
• 8 (1 oz.) slices Swiss cheese
• 8 slices cooked ham, sliced a little thicker than sandwich meat or 16 slices of deli ham sandwich meat (thin sliced)
• 1 (10¾ oz.) can cream of mushroom soup
• 2 Tbsp. chive and onion cream cheese or plain cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup sour cream
• ¼ tsp. Black pepper
• 2 tsp. Dijon mustard
• 1 Tbsp. chopped chives (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°
2. If you using fresh broccoli, then cut broccoli into bite size flowerets. Blanche in boiling water for 1 minute and 30 seconds. Cool and set aside. If using frozen broccoli, cook broccoli according to package directions. Drain well; set aside.
3. Place 1 slice of cheese on each ham slice. If using the deli ham that is thin, than double up the ham. Place two slices of ham on top of one another. Then top with the Swiss cheese.
4. Divide broccoli into 8 portions; arrange a portion on each ham slice, placing stems in the center and flowerets to the outside.
5. Roll up securely, and place seam side down in a greased 12x8x2 inch baking dish. If you want, you can secure with a toothpick.
6. Combine soup, sour cream, cream cheese, pepper, and mustard; pour over ham rolls.
7. Cover with foil and bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until bubbly.
8. Uncover and bake for 5 more minutes.
9. Remove from the oven, top with chopped chives, and serve immediately.
10. Serve with sliced fruit such as grapes, pineapple, orange slices or cinnamon apple sauce.