My sister used to make these rich rolls for her husband and kids when they went duck hunting. She would prepare them the night before, wrap them in foil, and refrigerate. Then, when Pat and the kids got up to go hunting—sometimes as early as four in the morning—they would just pop the rolls in the oven to melt the cheese and hit the road. The way everything melds together on the soft, steamed rolls is so irresistible, I’m pretty sure the rolls never made it to the duck camp, or even out of the driveway. For nonhunters like me, these rolls, served warm or at room temperature, are great for tailgating, picnics, and road trips.

　　

Ingredients

makes 2 dozen rolls

　　Twenty-four 2-inch potato rolls, or Buttermilk-Sage Dinner Rolls (page 69), or Kate’s Sweet Potato Refrigerator Rolls (page 66)

　　8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter

　　3 tablespoons grated onion

　　2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

　　2 tablespoons poppy seeds

　　1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

　　8 ounces smoked ham, thinly sliced

　　8 ounces Gruyère cheese, thinly sliced

　　

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

　　

Step 2

Split the rolls in half horizontally. Combine the butter, onion, mustard, poppy seeds, and Worcestershire sauce in a small saucepan and place over low heat until the butter melts, stirring to blend.

　　

Step 3

Brush the butter mixture evenly on both cut sides of the rolls. Place the ham on the bottom halves and top with the cheese. Place the top halves on the sandwiches and press lightly. Nestle the sandwiches together on a large piece of foil, wrap tightly, and seal the edges.

　　

Step 4

Place the wrapped rolls on a baking sheet and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the rolls are warmed through. Remove from the oven and let sit for about 5 minutes before unwrapping and serving warm or let cool to room temperature.

　　

Know-how: Planning Ahead

Step 5

Like Judy, you can assemble these sandwiches ahead of time and keep them in the refrigerator until you are ready to heat and serve. They can even be frozen for up to 2 weeks. Just be sure to wrap them tightly and heat thoroughly before serving.

　　Reprinted with permission from Sara Foster's Southern Kitchen: Soulful, Traditional, Seasonal by Sara Foster. Copyright © 2011 by Sara Foster. Published by Random House. All Rights Reserved.Sara Foster is the owner of Foster's Market, the acclaimed gourmet take-out store/cafés in Durham and Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and the author of several cookbooks including The Foster's Market Cookbook, winner of the Best Cookbook Award from the Southeast Booksellers Association. She has appeared numerous times on Martha Stewart Living Television and NBC's Today show. She has also been featured in magazines such as More, House Beautiful, and Southern Living, and is featured regularly in Bon Appétit.