Ask me who won the Super Bowl last year. Or which teams were even in it. Was it the Deflate-gate game? Did Janet Jacksonโs top fall off mid-halftime-show? Was Lawrence Taylor MVP? Iโm not proud of my ignorance, but at least I have some company. As we head into Super Bowl 51 weekend, thereโs a good chance that one of my daughters might ask me with a straight face if the Knicks are playing in it this year. Sorry to deliver on gender stereotypes here, but the women in the DALS house are shameful football fans.
Iโll tell you one detail about 2016โs game that we can allย remember, though: Heidiโs Ohio Sammies. Heidi, you may recall, is the genius behind the Hummus Hack, and last year, when she and her husband Will invited us over for a Super Bowl party, she blew all our minds when she presented a tray of buttery baked ham and swiss sandwiches that had been in the works for 24 hours. I know, whatโs the big deal about ham-and-cheese sandwiches? Well, for starters theyโre made with sweet Hawaiian rolls โ what Dayton-raised Heidi calls a โmidwestern speciality item.โ (You can use slider buns or challah, too.) But what takes them from good to great, in my mind is that once theyโre assembled, the sandwiches are โpressed,โ panini-like for hours, allowing them to soak up the buttery-mustard sauce thatโs been drizzled on top of them. Yes, buttery-mustard sauce.
Anyway, we are lucky enough to invited back for Ohio Sammies as we watch the Steelers take on the Braves this Sunday (what?), but below is her recipe along with a vegetarian sub option from my book (shown above, the one on top). My favorite thing about them? Theyโre easy to eat on the couch and you can prepare them ahead of time. Add some beer and chips and youโve got yourself a game. Go Yanks!
Ohio Sammies
Weโve made this for birthday parties alongside a classic Italian sub (both recipes are in the birthday section of How to Celebrate Everything) and it usually serves about five kids or four adults.
1 12-inch baguette, the best quality you can findโจ1 avocado, halved and sliced into thin half-moons
3 ounces Swiss or provolone cheeseโจ24 thin slices of hothouse cucumbers (the narrow kind you donโt have to peel or seed that usually comes wrapped in plastic),โจfrom about 1 small cucumber
1 large tomato, the best you can find, sliced (very thin) horizontally and then in half
8 to 10 lettuce leaves from a head of Bibb, Boston, romaine, or oak leaf
1โ4 small red onion, very thinly sliced
1โ4 cup red wine vinegarโจ1โ3 cup good-quality olive oilโจ1โ2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
Slice the baguette in half lengthwise and on the bottom half, start by layering the avocado and cheese, slightly overlapping as you go. Lay down the cucumbers in two adjacent rows, overlapping slightly, on top of the cheese. Distribute the tomato halves, overlapping as well, then the lettuce and onion.
When ready to serve, whisk together the red wine vinegar, olive oil, and oregano until emulsified, then drizzle on the top baguette half. Spread the mayo on top of the vinaigrette.โจ Close the sandwich with the top baguette half, then place on a cutting board and slice into separate sandwiches.
As a native Atlantan, Iโm excited that the Falcons are in the Super Bowl and just hope they perform better than the last time, when I spent a whole party apologizing. (And I donโt care about or really follow professional football. College football is a different story.) These sandwiches look great! I remember a similar sandwich to the Ohio Sammies on the Pioneer Womanโs website that I always wanted to try. Maybe this is the year.
I was not aware that Hawaiian rolls are a midwest thing! I would have assumed they were everywhere! The more you know. I suppose since Iโve only lived in Ohio and Illinois, it wouldnโt have come up before now ๐
I make a similar Ohio Sammie but we always added poppy seeds to the butter/mustard mixture as well.
I never realized that those ham and cheese sliders are a regional thingโ if thereโs a potluck big or small here in southern Illinois, those sliders are present!
You donโt have Hawaiian rolls in your supermarkets regularly? Who knew?!? I live in Chicago-burbs, and they are in all the stores here. My friend also makes a version of the ham/cheese sandwiches for parties, but I donโt think her version is pressed. Her sandwiches look like the photo you included.
Our tradition is to make the Pioneer Womanโs potato skins for the Super Bowl.
These sandwiches all look amazing and I canโt wait to try them! As an Oregonian, I can assure you that Hawaiian bread is more than a Midwest thing. Kingโs Hawaiian is the brand widely available here and I just did a quick search at the companyโs website which tells me that the rolls are sold in DโAgostino supermarkets and Target stores in Manhattan too. If you have one near you, it might be worth checking.
Iโm pretty sure Iโve seen Hawaiian Rolls at the Stop and Shop in Ossining. I think they were over by the deli section, not in the bread aisle.
Yep, those Ham and Cheese on Kingโs Hawaiian rolls show up at most family gatherings here in Virginia, but poppyseeds are added to the sauce and I donโt think they are usually pressedโฆ will have to try that next time!
The Ohio Sammies are very similar to a friendโs addictive ham sandwiches. One friend just calls them โThe Little Sandwichesโ and we all know what they are. She uses Parker House rolls, country ham, and a mixture of butter, dijon mustard, and brown sugar. I rarely eat ham but I could eat an entire plate of Ohios or Littles on Super Bowl Sunday.
First time poster and long time fan of DALS, us single gals love you too!
P.S.
Your last post on the political/dinner table climate was absolutely spot on, and Iโm so glad you shared.
We always called these party sandwiches. I just use Martinโs potato rolls in the slider size. Super rich but really yummy.
I havenโt got a clue about football either but I could happily sample all of the above:)
lol are the knicks playing. sounds about right.