This clever French loaf is stuffed with
a savory ham salad and cubes of Swiss and cheddar cheese. Make
ahead of time and keep well-wrapped in the refrigerator before
slicing thinly to serve.
Ham and Cheese
Party Loaf
1 1/2 pounds fully cooked
ham, ground fine
10 tablespoons butter, softened
3 tablespoons Dijon-style mustard
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
1 1/2 ounces Swiss cheese, in one piece
1 1/2 ounces sharp Cheddar cheese, in one piece
1 long slender loaf French bread, about 12 ounces
12 gherkins
In large bowl combine
butter, mustard, allspice, nutmeg, pepper and thyme; mix until
smooth. Add ground ham to butter mixture; blending well.
Slice Swiss and cheddar
cheese into 1/4-inch thick sticks.
Turn bread top side down;
cut off ends. Make a lengthwise cut down the center of the loaf
from one end to the other, being careful not to cut through top
side. Spread the bread apart carefully; hollow it out, leaving
about 1/2-inch thick shell. (The bread removed from the center
can be dried and used for breadcrumbs).
Press half the ham mixture
into the bread. Arrange the Swiss cheese sticks lengthwise in
one row; arrange the gherkins as the center row, the cheddar
as the third row. Press the remaining ham mixture on top. Wrap
tightly in plastic wrap; then in foil. Refrigerate for several
hours or overnight.
To serve, slice filled
loaf thinly; arrange slices, overlapping, on serving tray.
