Griddled Black Forest Ham Sandwiches with Sharp Cheddar Cheese and Cranberry Mustard

Griddled Black Forest Ham Sandwiches with Sharp Cheddar Cheese and Cranberry Mustard
These sandwiches are great for those cold and snowy days when you need a little more comfort
than just hot soup. Toasted in a pan, they come out warm and crisp, filled with smoky ham and
the sharp bite of cheddar cheese. I like to use Black Forest ham, a German variety, because it has a
perfect balance of smoky, salty, and sweet flavors. Into the mustard, I mix cranberry sauce to add a
tart, colorful New England twist. Dark brown pumpernickel bread matches the German theme of
the ham. The sandwich goes really well with Cauliflower, Potato, and Cheese soup .

Cranberry mustard
1/2 cup honey mustard
1/2 cup cranberry sauce

Sandwiches
1/3 cup cranberry mustard (from recipe)
8 slices pumpernickel bread
11/2 pounds sliced Black Forest ham
8 slices sharp cheddar cheese
4 tablespoons butter

■ For the cranberry mustard: In a small bowl
stir together the honey mustard and cranberry
sauce until well mixed.

■ For the sandwiches: Spread the cranberry
mustard on each slice of bread. Place the ham
on 4 slices of the bread. Place 2 pieces of
cheese on top of each slice of ham. Top with
the remaining 4 slices of bread. Melt the
butter in a large cast iron skillet or heavy sauté
pan. Add the sandwiches and pan-fry for 2
minutes on each side. Remove from the pan.
Cut each sandwich into four triangles and
serve warm.