Quick and Easy Hot Ham Sandwiches

The day started out warm-I didn't even need a jacket this morning when I left for work at 5:30, and as I walked down the steps to my Jeep, I could hear the snow melting off the roof. At around 10 this morning, however, it started raining in the valley, and I was worried it would be snowing up here.

When I left the office and headed for home, I called DH as I always do, and mentioned I had no idea what I would fix for dinner. He mentioned that I had some sliced Black Forest Ham in the fridge, so I said I'd come up with something using the ham. That's one of the advantages of living up here-I can use the time during the drive home to plan dinner. I had some bagels that were in the office freezer that I was bringing home, and decided to use them and make Baked Ham Sandwiches. Normally the recipe calls for hamburger buns, but I thought the bagels would be good. They were. I also had half a cucumber and half a bell pepper that needed to be used, so I made a pasta salad that I first had at a scrapbooking party. It's pretty simple, and DH likes it a lot.

Baked Ham Sandwiches



1 T butter, softened
2 T mayonnaise
1 T mustard
1 T finely diced onion
2 t poppy seeds
3 hamburger buns or plain bagels (hmmm. some of the flavored bagels would be good, wouldn't they?)
3 slices cooked ham
3 slices Swiss cheese

In a small bowl, mix together the butter, mayonnaise, mustard, onion and poppy seeds. Spread on top and bottom of hamburger buns or bagels. Add a slice of ham and a slice of swiss to each, and wrap sandwiches in foil. Bake 15 minutes at 350˚. Serve hot. Makes 3

Easy Pasta Salad



6 oz. rotini or elbow macaroni, cooked
1/2 of a cucumber, peeled, seeded, and diced
1/2 of a green or red bell pepper, diced
1 medium tomato, diced
1/2 c bottled Italian salad dressing

Combine all ingredients.

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