Written by: Merilee Kern, MBA • March 30, 2020• Eat + Drink

Bite Into This Brazilian Twist on the Ham & Cheese Melt

These are unusual times which, on the desperately needed upside, are giving us more opportunity to spend time with our families—and this includes sharing meals together. When you’re cooking more at home, it’s great to have easy ways to change up those classic kitchen-counter favorites. Here’s one option that’s sure to be a crowd pleaser: Pão de Queijo “Brazilian cheese bread.” Created in Brazil’s heartland by the international brand Forno de Minas, these tasty morsels are not only incredibly versatile, but also hugely convenient since they cook up in the oven in just five minutes flat.

Forno’s Pão de Queijo—or cheese roll in Portuguese—is an easily prepared, adaptable offering that serves as a snack, a breakfast item, a side dish and even a dessert pairing. In addition, Forno’s Pão de Queijo is a favorite of health-conscious eaters, as the cheese rolls are all-natural, gluten-free, allergen-friendly and yeast-free. They’re fully baked, frozen and conveniently only take just a few minutes to bake up crispy on the outside, and soft and chewy on the inside. In fact, because they’re frozen you can store them in your freezer and get a fresh, chewy bun to eat on its own or for reinventing standard recipes.

On that note, one taste tip is to change up the traditional ham and cheese sandwich by spinning the melt version of that time-honored, scrumptious sammy! All you need are mustard, ham, cheese, pickles and Forno’s nutritious, delicious cheese bread!

Here’s the quick fix recipe should you be so tempted:

Ingredients:

1 package Forno De Minas Pão de Queijo
¾ cup melted butter
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
1 lb sliced ham
¼ lb swiss cheese, sliced
1 cup pickles, for serving
Potato chips, for serving

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line or grease a baking tray and set it aside.
3. In a bowl mix together the melted butter and dijon mustard.
4. Slice the rolls in half and then layer the ham onto the bottoms.
5. Add the swiss cheese to the ham and then put the tops of the rolls on.
6. Take your butter mixture and brush the rolls.
7. Bake them for 20 minutes until the rolls are lightly browned and the swiss has melted.
8. Take them off the tray and place on serving dish. Serve with a side of pickles or chips.

Forno’s Pão de Queijo mini cheese breads, available in the frozen section of your local grocery store, come in a variety of flavors and are an ideal comfort food during this time when home is also the office and school! You can also see more of their delectable creations on their Facebook and Instagram socials @FornodeMinasUSA. Happy eating!

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As the Executive Editor and Producer of “The Luxe List,” Merilee Kern, MBA is an internationally-regarded brand analyst, strategist and futurist. As prolific consumer trends, lifestyle and leisure industry voice of authority and tastemaker, Merilee keeps her finger on the pulse of the marketplace in search of new and innovative must-haves and exemplary experiences at all price points, from the affordable to the extreme. The best-of-the-best across all product, service and travel categories—as well as noteworthy marketplace change makers, movers and shakers—are spotlighted in her prolific cross-media platform work that reaches multi-millions each month via broadcast TV (her own major market/network TV show “Savvy Living” and copious other shows on which she appears) as well as print and online publications. Connect with her at www.TheLuxeList.com / Instagram www.Instagram.com/LuxeListReports / Twitter www.Twitter.com/LuxeListReports / Facebook www.Facebook.com/LuxeListReports / LinkedIN www.LinkedIn.com/in/MerileeKern.

***Some or all of the accommodations(s), experience(s), item(s) and/or service(s) detailed above may have been provided at no cost or sponsored to accommodate this review, but all opinions expressed are entirely those of Merilee Kern and have not been influenced in any way.***