Braided Sandwich

This is a recipe I came up with so I can use my White Bread dough for dinner. It's ham and cheese with a twist.
1. I rolled out half of the dough on to a greased cookie sheet and smeared the middle 1/3 with cream cheese (leave the sides empty, so you can braid it).


2. Layer ham (or any sandwich meat) over the cream cheese.


3. Top with a hand full of shredded cheese. Layer with more ham and more cheese (we like cheese in my family).

4. Cut the sides at a slight angle and make sure you have the same amount of cut or else your braid wont work out.


5. Stretch and fold over the top middle over the filling (this helps the cheese stay inside) and start braiding. I started on the Left and laid it over the filling. Then right, then left, right, left, right, left...Etc.


6. This is how it looks when its all braided. I brushed it with an egg wash, sprinkled it with garlic powder and a little parsley.


8. Pop it in a 350 degree preheated oven for 30-45 minutes or until golden brown. Mine took closer to 45 minutes for the color that I wanted. Let it cool about 5 minutes or else you'll burn your tongue like nobodies business.


We really loved this dinner! Of course we love anything with ham and cheese. Hope you enjoy!

Date with Nate- Week 2

Today was our weekly date night (the hubby is now on days at work, Hooray!). This week we grabbed a Cheese Tasting Date from the Date Jar. I got the idea from Moments to Live By. Now before you think, "A cheese tasting? Really?!" I need to tell you a little about my hubby...He loves Cheese! I can buy a one pound block of cheese and he will have it eaten (not on things, just cutting pieces off the block) in 3 days; so I added this to the list of dates as an ode to him. Love you honey!

We went to Harmon's and were treated like Kings (and in my case a Queen). We were just going to get an apple, some crackers, and some cheese but once we walked by the fresh bread area and the man started giving us samples we were hooked. We decided on a Fresh Baguette instead of crackers and then headed over to the cheese man. I have to tell you, I went a little over board. What can I say? Along with being a procrastinator, I'm also indecisive. The great guy at the cheese station, Steve, cut us tiny pieces and by the time we left the store, we had 12 different cheeses, an apple, a peach, a pear, roast beef, and the baguette.

We waited until G was asleep, jumped in the shower, got dressed up (I told Nate he couldn't wear Jammies since it was a date), and set the end table for a romantic night of cheese and talk.

The Spread

Our Cheese Plate

Our Fruit Plate

The Baguette

First, we tried the cheeses alone and then with bread and then with fruit. We had some Goudas, Fromager, Asiagos, a Cajun Cheddar, Havarti, and more. Some were good, some were okay, and one was terrible. These were ok to take a small taste of but I wouldn't be able to have a lot of them or have them on a sandwich. I've come to a realization; I like plain pre-packaged cheese. I like Colby Jack, Cheddar, Pepper Jack; which we didn't buy any of. We did get some great goat's milk cheeses from our neighbor that we really liked but I think I like cow's milk cheeses for texture.

Nate with the Havarti (he really liked that)

Me with the Dubliner (I hated it!)

All in all, it was a great date. We did spend more money on the cheese and crackers than we thought we would ($25) but we would have spent that much on a dinner out anyways. Give it a try! Go out and buy some cheese (though I suggest not 12 different kinds) and spend some time with your spouse. P.S. Don't get the Dubliner!!!!