HAM AND SWISS ON RYE RECIPES

Steps:

• Butter both sides of 8 slices of rye bread. Place 4 slices in a frying pan, butter side down.  Top each slice with Swiss cheese, then Black Forest Ham. Place slice of rye on top, butter side up.  Cook until both sides of the bread are golden brown and the cheese has begun to melt. For the potato salad: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and cook until tender but still firm, about 30 minutes. Drain, cool and slice thin.  Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside, reserving drippings.  Sauté onions in bacon drippings until they are golden-brown.  In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, celery seed, and pepper. Add to the sautéed onions and cook and stir until bubbly, then remove from heat. Stir in water and vinegar, then return to the stove and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil and stir for one minute. Carefully stir bacon and sliced potatoes into the vinegar/water mixture, stirring gently until potatoes are heated through.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spread bread cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet; bake 20 minutes, till slightly dried.
• While bread is baking, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ham and saute a few minutes. Add oil (if desired) and stir in onion, garlic, and mushrooms. Saute till onion and garlic are golden and soft and mushrooms have released their liquid. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Whisk together milk, egg, thyme, pepper, and salt.
• To assemble the strata, layer half the bread cubes in the bottom of a lightly greased 9 by 13 inch glass baking dish. Sprinkle with half the ham mixture and 1/3 of the swiss cheese. Repeat layers. Gently pour egg mixture over layers and top with remaining 1/3 swiss cheese. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and refrigerate* at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
• To bake the strata, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake strata, still covered with foil, for 30 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking for 20-30 minutes, until cheese on top is melted and egg portion is set (check by inserting a knife in the center--if it comes back without egg on it, you're set!).
• Let strata rest 5 minutes before serving.
• *Refrigeration time not included in recipe prep/cooking time.