Oven Ham and Cheese Sliders

Old Order Mennonite favorite recipe

Darla Weaver is an Old Order Mennonite writer, gardener, and mother of three. A couple years ago I enjoyed getting to know her from a distance working with her on two books for Herald Press, the most recent one titled Gathering of Sisters: A Year with My Old Order Mennonite Family. (2018)

The Weavers, who own a greenhouse, live close enough to each other that the adult kids come home every Tuesday and spend it with their Mom on the farm with the greenhouse. They hitch up their buggies and bring along their children who aren’t in school. In summer they sometimes ride bicycles to get there.

When Darla first told me about their tradition each week I asked her if she would keep a journal of their experiences on those Tuesdays for a year, thinking of course of the bestselling book, Tuesdays with Morrie (and one of my favorites). Her other book for us was a devotional Water My Soul, which came out in 2017.

This recipe for Honey Mustard Ham sandwiches is one of their favorite dishes for these Tuesday gatherings when they each bring along items from their pantries or gas-powered refrigerators, (yes, sometimes leftovers, recipe fails, or things that are maybe getting a bit stale). But together they creatively fix a mostly wonderful meal enjoyed by all including picky toddlers and in summer, endlessly hungry adolescents.

You may have seen these at potlucks or perhaps parties or showers and there are numerous variations online, but here’s Darla’s recipe. And no, the store-bought honey mustard dressing is not used in this recipe, in case you were wondering.

Honey Mustard Ham Sandwiches

15 mini-dinner rolls (Hawaiian is a great choice for these)
1 pound sliced Swiss cheese
½ pound sliced ham

Topping

1 cup butter
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons mustard

Cut rolls in half. Place bottom half in 9 x 13 inch pan. Layer with cheese, then ham, then another layer of cheese. Place bun on top layer.

To make topping

Combine ingredients and mix and melt in small pan.
Pour over rolls.

Bake at 375 for 20 minutes.

If you’re not cooking for an Amish or Old Order family, or going to any potlucks anytime soon during this pandemic, consider halving the recipe. And you might love this book as much as I did! Find here.