Soup’er Bowl Splurges

Julia Child once said, “Fat gives things flavor,” and I wholeheartedly agree. But, unless you’re a triathlete, you can’t eat whatever you want whenever you want. Most people, myself included, need to sustain a healthy balance between fit and fun. With that being said, I’m not going to pretend that the following recipes are in the least bit healthy. Because they aren’t. I mean, not even a little bit. But they’re good. Really good. And that’s what “splurges” are for, right? Eating good food that’s bad for you. So forget about the healthy snacks on Sunday and indulge in one of these crowd-pleasing favorites. Come Monday you can always stuff yourself with salad and spend an extra hour on the treadmill.

Baked Hawaiian Roll Ham Sandwiches

This is a great lunchtime treat that you can make a day ahead, put in the fridge, then pop into the oven right before halftime. — You can halve the recipe for a smaller group, but I guarantee you’ll want leftovers! (Recipe slightly adapted from King’s Hawaiian)

Baked Hawaiian Roll Ham Sandwich

Serves 12

2 – 12 pack King’s Hawaiian Bread Rolls
1 lb. paper thin shaved ham
8 oz. Swiss cheese slices (about 10 slices)

Glaze:
¾ cup butter, melted
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 ½ tsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 Tbsp. dried onions
2 tsp poppy seeds

Melt butter, then whisk together with all the other glaze ingredients, set aside.

Slice the entire pack of rolls in half, horizontally, keeping rolls in tact.

Lightly mist 2 – 9×13 inch baking dishes with cooking spray. Lay bottom half of rolls in the first dish.

Evenly distribute half of ham over bread.

Layer cheese on top of ham.

Place tops of rolls over the ham and cheese, then drizzle half of the glaze evenly over sandwiches. Using a spoon, scoop glaze from bottom of dish back over the tops of the rolls until evenly covered, lightly pressing on the tops to help them absorb the glaze. Repeat with second package of rolls and remaining ham, cheese, and glaze.

Cover and refrigerate overnight. (*Note, this is an important step as it allows the glaze to fully saturate the buns).

Before baking, let the sandwiches come to room temperature for 1 hour. Cover with tin foil and bake at 350°F for 15 minutes, then remove foil and bake for another 2-3 minutes until tops begin to brown.

Cut sandwiches along the seams and dish out with a spatula.

Bacon & Cheese Ranch Pull-Apart Bread

This fun appetizer is always a hit when I serve it — each bite-sized cube packs a mouthful of cheesy-bacony-Ranchy goodness.

Bacon & Cheese Ranch Pull-Apart Bread

1 large, round sourdough bread loaf
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2-3 oz. real bacon bits
1 package Ranch dressing mix
1 cup milk (whole or 2% works best)
1 cup mayonnaise

Preheat oven to 350°F.

In a bowl, whisk the contents of 1 Ranch dressing package together with milk and mayo. Place in refrigerator for 15 minutes to thicken.

Meanwhile, with a sharp bread knife, slice sourdough loaf lengthwise into 1-inch strips, cutting down to the bottom crust, but not all the way through. Turn the loaf and cut 1-inch strips in the other direction, creating cubes.

Carefully separate the bread cubes and sprinkle half of cheese and bacon into the seams, distributing evenly. Pour Ranch dressing over the loaf and into the seams (if you don’t use all of the dressing, reserve it for dipping later). Sprinkle remaining cheese and bacon evenly over the top of loaf.

Place on a baking sheet and bake for 15-18 minutes, or until cheese is melted and starting to bubble.

Serve on a large platter with extra Ranch dressing for dipping.

And, here’s a close-up…