Farmhouse Ham, Cheese and Sauerkraut Sandwiches

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1/4 teaspoon caraway seed, crushed
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 cup sauerkraut, drained (1/2 of an 8-oz can)
• 3/4 tablespoon butter, melted
• 12 slices country bread
• 18 slices swiss cheese
• 6 slices ham (thinly sliced)
• pickle (optional)

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 350.

2. 2

   In a small mixing bowl, combine mayo, sour cream, seeds & pepper; stir in kraut; set aside.

3. 3

   On a foil-lined baking sheet, place six slices bread--first brush each with melted butter (save some for the other half of the sammie); top with a slice of cheese, then 1/6th of the kraut mixture,then a slice of ham and two slices of cheese--do this on all six slices of bread.

4. 4

   Brush remaining six slices of bread with melted butter; place on cheese--with butter side up, to make six sandwiches.

5. 5

   Bake for 10 minutes (cheese is melted, bread is lightly browned)--turn once during that time.

6. 6

   Remove from oven; slice diagonally, serve with pickles.

7. 7

   SEPTEMBER HARVEST: Remember Johnny Appleseed by placing a few thin slices of apple between the ham and cheese.

8. 8

   NEBRASKA REUBEN: Salute Omaha's claim to fame and use thinly sliced corned beef instead of the ham.

9. 9

   CRUNCHY BITES: Add a few sunflower kernels to the sauerkraut mixture and honor those hardy souls in North Dakota who raise huge fields of sunflowers!

10. 10

    BOOST YOUR PROTEIN: Stir about a 1/4-cup of cooked edible soybeans (edamame) into the sauerkraut mixture and thank a South Dakota farmer!