Party Sliders

Eventually I was going to have to try these bite size sliders that are being posted all over Pinterest and various food boards--my reason being that they are a fantastic idea for any college apartment hosting game day, the Sunday or Monday night football, March Madness, or any other event with a crowd.

After I tried them, it seemed self-evident that multiple variations exist:  Roast Beef & Cheddar, Caprese with pesto and mozzarella, or Turkey Club.  Really, experiment with this one, modify, try it out!  

Equipment:

Baking sheet with edges

PAM Spray

Knife

Small Mixing Bowl

Ingredients:

1 12-pack Hawaiian King Dinner Rolls, remove from packaging

Slices of honey ham

Slices of Swiss cheese

1/3 cup mayo

1/3 cup miracle whip

Sauce:

1 Tbls poppyseeds

1 1/2 Tbls mustard (grainy or yellow mustard)

1/3 cup butter, melted

1 Tbls onion, finely minced

1/2 tsp Worchestershire 

Instructions:

1. Wash Your Hands.

2. Preheat Oven 350F degrees.

3. Slice rolls horizontally and mince your onion.

4. Spread each side of the rolls with mayo / miracle whip mixture.

5. Add layer of ham.

6. Add layer of cheese

7. If you want tomatoes, pickles here...now's your chance.

8. Finish with the top half of the rolls.

9. Combine all ingredients of the sauce and brush over tops of the rolls.

10. Cover with foil and bake x 15 minutes (or longer) to ensure cheese is melting.

11. Remove foil and brown tops until golden brown.

12. Use a large knife to separate the rolls at the pre-cut lines.

13. Offer to the crowd.

A Twist On Caprese

Fresh mozzarrella, basil and tomatoe with a little olive oil has got to be one of Italy's finest contributions to the world.  Fresh, classic, simple.  The recipe I'm featuring today is a new way to enjoy this timeless flavor profile:  Caprese Garlic Bread.  Use it as an appetizer or as a side dish or a simple snack!  Oh, and it's easy as pie.

(Adapted from Pinterest)

Equipment:

Baking Sheet

Small mixing or cereal bowl

Functioning oven or large toaster oven

Ingredients:

Ciabatta or French Baguette (but ciabatta is wider)

4 Tbls butter, softened

3 cloves garlic, minced

12 oz of Mozzarrella cheese, sliced

2-3 Roma Tomatoes, sliced to match number of cheese slices

Salt & Pepper

1/3 cup basil, chopped

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, drizzled (optional)

Instructions:

1. Wash your hands.

2. Preheat oven to 350F degrees.

3. Slice the ciabatta in half horizontally.

4. Mix the butter and garlic.

5. Spread on bread halves.

6. Place slices of cheese across loaf and bake (or toast) for several minutes.

7. Set your toaster to BROIL for 30-45 seconds and watch closely until golden brown.

8. Add tomato slices.

9. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

10. Drizzle olive oil and balsamic over the top.  Sprinkle with basil.

Sit back and enjoy the compliments!