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, one piece
1-1/2 ounces sharp Cheddar cheese, 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.*
Press half the ham mixture into the bread evenly. 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 and arrange slices on serving tray.
Makes about 30 servings.
*The bread removed from the center can be dried and used for breadcrumbs.