Chad Lavely combines simplicity, tradition and flavor with this quick and easy sliders often made during the holiday season. “They were fun,” he says. “The little bits of Swiss cheese would melt out of the sandwiches and get crusty on the foil, so when you opened up the sandwich you got to pick off all the little crunch pieces of cheese.”

Mom’s Hot Ham and Cheese Sandwiches | Makes 12 servings
Recipe courtesy of Granville Inn

INGREDIENTS
2 pounds sliced chipped chopped ham (preferably Isaly’s)
1 pound Swiss cheese, sliced thick
1/2 pound butter, melted
4 tablespoons minced fresh onion
3 tablespoons poppy seeds
4 teaspoons prepared yellow mustard
12 plain white sandwich buns

DIRECTIONS
Cut the ham slices into 1/2-inch squares. Cut Swiss cheese into small cubes. Combine in a bowl and set aside. Melt butter over low heat, add onions and cook for just a minute, then stir in poppy seeds and prepared mustard and cool slightly. Combine the butter mixture with the ham and cheese. Scoop the ham mixture evenly onto the 12 buns. Place the bun tops on and wrap each sandwich in a square of aluminum foil. (These are great made ahead and the wrapped sandwiches can be stored in the bun bags and frozen for a couple of weeks.) When ready to eat, bake the foil-wrapped sandwiches on a cookie sheet at 325 F until good and hot — about 25 minutes for a frozen sandwich and 15 minutes if thawed.