Asparagus Smoked Gouda And Ham Melt Recipes

HAM AND ASPARAGUS AU GRATIN

Steps:

• Melt butter or margarine.
• Blend in flour and seasonings.
• Gradually add milk.
• Bring to boil, stirring constantly.
• Simmer until smooth and thickened.
• Add cheese and stir until melted.
• Cook asparagus in boiling water until tender-crisp (about 1 min).
• Roll two asparagus spears in each ham slice.
• Place noodles, then ham rolls, in baking dish; cover with sauce.
• Garnish with red pepper slices, if desired. Bake, uncovered, 20 min at 180°C
• Makes 4 servings (2 rolls each).

SMOKED GOUDA AND HAM APPETIZER TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, combine first six ingredients. Stir in cheese, ham and cranberries. Spritz one side of each wonton wrapper with cooking spray. Gently press into miniature muffin cups, coated side up. Spoon 1 tablespoon cheese mixture into each., Bake 10-14 minutes or until crusts are golden brown. Sprinkle with fresh chives if desired; serve warm. Refrigerate leftovers.

APPLE, HAM, AND SMOKED GOUDA RUSTIC TARTS

Steps:

• FOR THE PASTRY: In a food processor combine flour, sugar, baking powder, pepper, and the 1 teaspoon salt; cover and pulse with a few on/off turns to combine. Add the 1 1/2 cups butter; cover and pulse with several on/off turns until the largest pieces of butter are no bigger than a small pea (about eight 1-second pulses). Add cheese; cover and pulse with a few on/off turns to work it inches Add egg yolks; cover and pulse with a few on/off turns to combine.
• Transfer the mixture to a very large bowl. Gradually add 1/2 cup of the ice water, stirring with a fork until combined. Squeeze a small handful of the dough together (it should easily hold together without crumbling apart). If necessary, add enough of the remaining 1/4 cup ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until dough holds together, stirring between additions. Gather mixture into a ball, kneading gently until it holds together. Transfer to a cutting board; cut into six equal portions. Place each dough portion on a sheet of plastic wrap; fold the plastic wrap tightly over the ball. Pat each plastic-wrapped dough ball into a 4-inch disk. Chill for 1 hour to 2 days.
• FOR THE TARTS: place apple slices in a large bowl. Add the 1/4 cup melted butter, the apple jelly, and lemon juice; toss to combine. Line two extra-large baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.
• On a well-floured surface, roll a pastry disk to a 9- to 10-inch circle, about 1/4-inch thick. Spread 1 1/2 teaspoons of the mustard over dough circle. Overlap two slices of the ham in the center of the dough circle; arrange one-sixth of the apple mixture over the ham, making sure to leave a 3-inch border uncovered. Fold dough edges over apple slices, loosely pleating the dough and leaving apple slices uncovered in the center. Using a spatula, carefully transfer the tart to a prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough disks, mustard, ham, and apple mixture, placing three tarts on each baking sheet. Cover and chill for 1 hour.
• Arrange one oven rack in the upper-middle position and another oven rack in the lower-middle position of the oven. Preheat oven to 375°F.
• In a small bowl beat together egg, the 1 tablespoon water, and the pinch salt. Using a pastry brush, brush the egg mixture over the edges of each tart. Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until the dough is golden and the apples are tender. Cool slightly on wire racks. Serve warm.

ASPARAGUS, HAM, AND CHEESE MELTS

Steps:

• Preheat broiler.
• In a small bowl stir together Parmesan and mayonnaise. Trim asparagus to fit bread and arrange asparagus in a skillet just large enough to hold it in one layer. Add 1/2 inch salted cold water and cook asparagus, covered, over moderately high heat 5 minutes, or until just tender. In a colander drain asparagus well.
• Arrange bread on a baking sheet and butter top of each slice. Broil bread about 6 inches from heat until golden, about 2 minutes. Turn bread over and arrange ham on each slice, folding or trimming to fit if necessary. Arrange asparagus on ham and spread with Parmesan mixture. Broil sandwiches about 3 inches from heat until golden, 1 to 2 minutes.

PARMESAN ASPARAGUS PROSCIUTTO ROLL-UPS W/SMOKED GOUDA CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• In microwave-safe dish or pie plate, microwave butter until melted. In another shallow dish, combine bread crumbs, parmesan cheese and 1/3 cup of the parsley. In shallow dish, place flour. Coat breasts first with flour, then with butter, then with the parmesan breadcrumb mixture, turning to coat both sides. Place one slice prosciutto atop each chicken breast, lay 3 asparagus spears crosswise on short end of each breast; roll up tightly.
• Place seam side down in a single layer in a 13 x 9-inch glass or metal baking pan, leaving space between rolls. Press remaining crumb mixture onto rolls; drizzle any butter leftover from coating chicken over the rolls (see cooking tip). Bake for 30 min or until chicken is no longer pink inside and the coating is golden brown. Let stand 10 minute.
• Smoked Gouda Cheese Sauce: Meanwhile, whisk flour into milk. Gradually stir milk mixture into small saucepan. Over medium heat simmer, whisking often, for about 5 min or until slightly thickened. Remove from heat; add smoked gouda cheese and pepper. Stir until cheese melts and sauce is smooth.
• Cut each chicken breast into 3 slices, fan pieces on dinner plate; drizzle with 2 tbsp gouda cheese sauce. Sprinkle with remaining finely chopped parsley. Serve with additional sauce.
• Chicken Tip: To flatten chicken breasts: Place each chicken breast between 2 sheets of plastic wrap; pound with rolling pin or mallet to about 1/4 to 1/8-inch (5 to 3 mm) thick.
• Asparagus Tip: To blanch asparagus, plunge spears into boiling water for 1 min; drain and quickly plunge into ice water or cold running water. Pat dry.