Make Ahead Ham And Caprese Picnic Sandwich Food

SMOKY CAPRESE SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• If your ciabatta rolls are very bready, pick out a little of the crumb. Put the rolls on a baking pan and bake until warm and crisp on the outside, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat a small grill pan or cast-iron pan over medium-high heat until very hot. Toss the red onion in 1 tablespoon of the oil and sprinkle with a little salt, then grill, turning occasionally, until slightly softened and charred in spots, about 6 minutes.
• Stir together the basil, smoked almonds, crushed red pepper, 1/4 teaspoon salt and the remaining 4 tablespoons olive oil in a bowl.
• Arrange the bottom halves of the ciabatta rolls on a work surface. Drizzle with a little olive oil, then arrange the tomatoes on top; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Next, top evenly with the onions, followed by the almond mixture. Lay the mozzarella on top; sprinkle with salt and pepper and drizzle with a little more olive oil. Top with the arugula and serve immediately.

ULTIMATE HAM SANDWICH

Steps:

• Spread Homemade Mayonnaise (recipe follows) on a thick slice of crusty white or rye bread. Top with Bibb lettuce, sliced tomato, thick slices of leftover ham, a few dill pickle slices and sliced cheddar cheese. Spread whole-grain mustard on another slice of bread, then close the sandwich.
• Whisk the egg yolk, vinegar and 1 tablespoon water in a medium nonreactive heatproof bowl (glass or ceramic). Fill a large bowl with ice water and set aside. Bring 2 inches water to a simmer in a saucepan over medium-low heat.
• Set the bowl with the yolk mixture over the saucepan (do not let the bowl touch the water). Slowly whisk until a thermometer inserted into the yolk mixture registers 150 degrees F, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Set the bowl with the yolk mixture in the ice water to stop the cooking; whisk just until the mixture is lukewarm (do not let it get cold).
• Put the bowl with the yolk mixture on a damp towel. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt. Combine the oils in a measuring cup. Whisking constantly, slowly drizzle the oil into the bowl in a thin stream until smooth and thick. If at any point the oil is not emulsifying into the mixture, stop adding the oil and whisk to combine before continuing. Whisk in 1 to 2 teaspoons water if the mayonnaise is too thick. Season with salt. Cover and refrigerate up to 4 days.
• Yield: 1 cup

CAPRESE SANDWICH

Steps:

• Salt the tomatoes and layer on the bottom piece of bread with the mozzarella and basil. Drizzle with Basil Oil. Top with the remaining piece of bread. Slice into portions.
• Add the basil to boiling water for 45 seconds to 1 minute. Remove to a bowl of ice water to stop it from further cooking. Dry and add to a blender. Add the olive oil, and blend until smooth. Strain through cheesecloth into a bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add the lemon juice right before serving.

MAKE AHEAD HAM AND CHEESE SLIDERS RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a large baking dish with cooking spray and set aside. In a small bowl, stir together butter, mustard, poppy seeds, Worcestershire sauce, and onion. Split open a roll and spread butter mixture on the top and bottom of the inside of the roll. Add 1 slice of ham and 1 square of cheese; replace the top of the roll to make a sandwich. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Place sliders close together in prepared dish. Cover with foil and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until cheese melts. Recipe Notes To Make Ahead: Assemble sliders as instructed through Step 4. Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. You can bake them directly from the freezer - simply add a few minutes to the baking time to make sure that the cheese is fully melted. Cooking Just for Two? Divide the 12 sliders into 2 separate 8-inch square pans. Bake one pan at a time and keep the extra pan in the freezer for a later use.