Retro Recipe: Hot Ham 'n Cheese Wiches

A few months ago I received an amazing package from my cousin Kathleen.  It was jam-packed of fun Vintage cookbooks that she had been collecting over the years.  I was given instructions to make sure I use them for My Retro Kitchen- she doesn't have to ask me twice!  Considering I read cookbooks like novels, I have been having a blast going through each one; picking out some of the strangest recipes and also the ones that we would actually love to eat in our home these days. Scott and I have had many laughs over some of these wild concoctions (just you wait and see!  And if you happen to live around me, be prepared to have some interesting things show up at your parties...)   Thank you so much Kathleen!!  I can't wait to show off each of these cookbooks- so be ready for some Retro Kitchen fun!

This morning for breakfast I thought I would give one of the fun recipes a try for my boys. It comes from the cookbook Children's Choice Cookbook: Nutritiously creative recipes children will love to eat by Pillsbury.

These turned out quite good, and would be fun for an afternoon playdate.  They reminded Scott and I of Hot Pockets- only these are obviously more fun to look at....

Hot Ham 'n Cheese Wiches
"Layers of ham and cheese highlight this sandwich."

1 cup cooked ham, chopped
2 tablespoons onion, finely chopped
1 teaspoon poppy seed, if desired
2 tablespoons margarine or butter, softened
1-2 tablespoons prepared mustard (I used dijon)
10 oz. can Refrigerated Big Flaky Biscuits
5 slices American Cheese
*olives, carrots, peppers or any other veggies to make the silly faces

Heat oven to 375.  In a small bowl, combine first 5 ingredients; blend well.  Reserve 1/3 cup.  Separate dough into 10 biscuits.  Press or roll 5 biscuits to 3 1/2-inch circles.  Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Spoon about 1/4 cup ham mixture onto center of each flattened biscuit.

Fold cheese slices into quarters; place on ham mixture.  Spoon remaining ham mixture over cheese.  Press or roll remaining 5 biscuits to 4-inch circles; press lightly over ham mixture.  Do not seal.  If desired, sprinkle with additional poppy seed.  Bake at 375 for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown.  Makes 5 sandwiches.

My Favorite Cookbook of All Time

Do you have one of those?  A cookbook that has grown dog-eared, sauce splattered, chocolate smeared, and just plain yummy with lots of use?  Oh, I do, I do!  It is my wonderful Joy of Cooking by Irma S. Rombauer, Marion Rombauer and Ethan Becker.  It is my total Go-To Cookbook; how to roast a chicken, how to clean a fish, cutting and buying steaks, how to hard boil an egg, making the perfect omelet, What the different types of peppers are and how each one is used best, making flakey pastry dough.... you name it, it is in there.  I have said before how much I love cookbooks- I read them like novels and to me a perfect Sunday is flipping through one of my cookbooks with a pack of post-its by my side, selecting each recipe I want to create in my kitchen.  The only problem with having so many cookbooks is knowing where to look when an idea strikes of What To Cook For Dinner:

"Will this recipe be located in Rachael Rays 30 Minute Meals?  Oh wait, I think I saw it in her Cooking Around the Clock... or maybe it isn't Rachael Ray at all- I remember it uses ginger, I bet it is Cat Cora.  Ok, it isn't in there.... Well, maybe Martha has it.  Ok, there is something similar in there, but not exactly what I am looking for.  A little too fancy.  Aghhhhhh.  I am just going to look in Joy of Cooking already!  .....Oh my goodness, there it is!  Of course it is here, they have everything.  Why didn't I just look here first?!

Yes...  this was a normal late afternoon, time-to-start-thinking-of-dinner-before-the-husband-comes-home-from-work time.  (This is also another reason why I wanted to start this blog as a way to have my favorite recipes from each different location to live in just one place).  I started figuring out that if I just consoled the Joy of Cooking first I could shortcut myself ten-fold.  They weren't always as trendy as Cat Cora, or as fast as Rachael Ray, or as authentic as Jaden Hair- but they were ALWAYS consistently good.   And they were always there!  Amazing how so many recipes could really be located in one place.

I received this book as a gift from my wonderful Mother-in-law, Sandy and I am forvere grateful for it!  What an amazing gift!  It has become one of those things that I will love to pass down to Jackson (or at least his wife if he isn't still a big fan of cooking) and make it an heirloom of sorts.  It contains notes from successful, or unsuccessful attempts, "Do Again's", handwritten variations, and all those things that make a good family keepsake.  And i am only 30.  Can you imagine the notes it will have when I am 50?  So in other words- BUY. THIS. BOOK. if you don't own it already.  And if you do but don't utilize it as much as you should, it is time to dust it off and give it a whirl!  I give this cookbook a full 5 stars.

"I like a cook who smiles out loud when he tastes his own work. Let God worry about your modesty: I want to see your enthusiasm."   -Robert Faarar Capon