I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday so far. With Christmas in the rearview and 2025 on the horizon, it’s time to look forward to Pasadena. But first – what a performance last weekend! That version of the Buckeyes will be hard to beat. Between the bone-rattling hits, agressive coaching, and the near-flawless execution – not to mention the south finally having to leave their warm, cozy footprint for a game of significance – that was the team we’ve been waiting to see all year long. Hopefully that attitude and confidence can carry over into the rematch with the Ducks. We all know how round 1 ended in October. This time, though, I think the guys pull it off and advance to the semis.

My in-laws always have ham for Christmas, and one of the things I look forward to in the days following are the ham sliders that my father-in-law makes with the leftovers. They are pretty simple, but are always a hit with the family.

Hawaiian Ham and Swiss Slider

Ingredients

• 2 packages (12 count) of King’s Hawaiian sweet dinner rolls
• 24 slices of honey ham (or more if you really want to load it up)
• 6 slices of Swiss cheese, cut into fourths
• 1/3 cup mayo
• 1 Tbsp poppy seeds
• 1 ½ Tbsp Dijon mustard
• ½ cup melted butter
• 1 Tbsp onion powder
• ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce

Directions

1. Place rolls on a baking tray.
2. Cut rolls in half and spread mayo on top side of the rolls. Set aside.
3. Place a slice or two of ham and a slice of Swiss cheese on the roll bottom. If you have thicker ham from a honey-baked ham, 1 slice will probably be enough. If you have thin deli slices, consider adding another slice or two to each slider.
4. Place slider tops back on the rolls.
5. In a medium bowl, whisk together melted butter, poppy seeds, Dijon mustard, onion powder, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour sauce over the rolls, trying to coat only the tops. Use a brush if needed. Cover with foil and let sit for 10 minutes.
6. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
7. Bake (covered) at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Uncover and cook for an additional 2 minutes until tops are slightly browned and crisp.
8.  Slice up with a knife and serve warm.

Pro Tips

• Add some more pig to the sliders by adding some bacon to the sandwiches. 

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