Ham and Cheese with a Kick

What’s easier than whipping up a quick ham and cheese sandwich?  With three hungry girls and little time to devote to dinner (especially during the week), we usually look for something quick and easy to make for dinner.

A peanut butter and jelly sandwich, bowl of cereal, ramen noodles, and spaghetti-o’s are some of the girls’ favorites.  There’s always takeout, but we try to avoid it when possible.  We typically only eat fast food once or twice a month.

So with Jeremy out of town on business and dinner on my mind, I thought we’d try something new.  Of course, it needs to be simple and something the girls will eat without question.  We opted for Cheesy Ham Pockets.  And let me just say, these were better than any pocket sandwich we’ve ever eaten!  What’s better is that they’re fresh, and you know exactly what’s in them.  Plus, as an added benefit, the baking bread makes your kitchen smell like a pizzeria!

The real secret to this recipe has got to be the cole slaw! Ham and cheese pockets tend to be a little on the salty side, but by adding the creamy cole slaw, it creates the perfect fusion of flavor.  They are super easy to prepare and much tastier than a cold ham and cheese sandwich.  

To get started, lightly flour your cooking surface to keep the dough from sticking.

Unroll the can of refrigerated pizza dough.

  Using a knife or pizza cutter, cut the dough into four equal pieces.

That looks about right!

Using your fingers, or a rolling pin, press each piece of dough into a 7X4-inch rectangle.

Add two to three slices of thinly-sliced ham to each piece of dough.

Looks perfect!  These are going to be great!

Add one slice of cheese to each piece of dough.  

  They’re ready for some cole slaw!
 

Add two tablespoons of cole slaw; that’s the secret ingredient!  Creamy and crunchy, it makes for the perfect pocket!

Looks incredible as is!

Now for the fun part…rolling the pockets!  Begin by folding the short side inward. Seal the edges well with your fingers. Begin rolling the pocket.  Start by folding one of the long edges over first.

Continue to roll…

And just like that, you have a nice, neat little pocket!

To be sure you seal the goodness in, use your fingers to gently press down along the seam.

Place them on a greased cookie sheet, baking mat, or parchment and pop them in the oven for 10-12 minutes.

Remove them from the oven, and allow them to rest for a minute or two.  To add extra flavor to the crust, I lightly brushed melted butter on them.

Serve with extra coleslaw or some fruit, and you have a real treat!  It took about 20 minutes total to make these, and they were so worth it.  Forget grilled cheese or cold ham and cheese sandwiches from now on; we prefer them with a little kick!

What quick meals do you make for your family?  If you try Cheesy Ham Pockets, leave me a comment or rate and review the recipe.

Come back on Monday when Liz cooks an Indian-inspired recipe which emphasizes that the world is full of wonderful flavors.

Julie is paid to write for the Land O’Lakes Recipe Buzz® Blog.