We love to open our home to friends and family, and since we live on some acreage in the country, fall is a perfect time to host our guests outside. Our home is set back in the woods, so the natural beauty of fall foliage comes alive around us, even if our grass has been dead for months.
This past October, we hosted a chili/soup gathering. Everyone brought their favorite, along with a side or dessert to pass. Those kinds of get-togethers are always so special, and with everyone pitching in, the thought of entertaining 75 people becomes very manageable.
Then we host those gatherings when I don’t want people to lift a finger. I want them to come empty handed, so that I can feed them, and love on them.
When that occurs, my mind immediately goes through a repertoire of perfect entertaining foods. My desire is that it always has a hint of “gourmet,” yet with none of the work.
As painful as it is to admit it, one of those shortcuts that achieves this goal every time is by using store bought crescent rolls, and dressing them up into yummy stuffed “rings or braids.” (shh.) No matter what filling I add, the flaky goodness cooks up beautifully and always has the guests asking for the recipe.
The beauty of this “technique,” because it’s really about the technique, is that you can mix and match nearly any combination and it will be delicious. I am giving you a standard recipe that you may use with turkey, ham and cheese, but add or subtract ingredients based on your favorite mixtures.
As much as I love the broccoli in this recipe, and I typically always add it in, I happened to be out of it at the time I took this picture, so you are seeing it with just cheese, turkey and ham. I also added a little ranch dressing in lieu of the mayonnaise, since I had an abundance of Ranch, but not mayo, which proves that you can mix and match your favorite ingredients.
It’s honestly the best quick meal idea that always aims to impress.
Enjoy!
I’d love to hear some of your favorite easy entertaining recipes.
If you would like to share it as a guest post with my readers, just let me know.
Head on over to my 10 Minute Dinner site where I shared my Terribly Terrific Easy Taco Ring.
Recipe: Turkey, Ham and Cheese Ring
Summary: This recipe aims to impress. Oozing with turkey, ham and cheese, it’s perfect for entertaining, and comes together in ten minutes of prep time.
Ingredients
- 1 cup chopped ham, turkey or combo of both
- 1 cup chopped broccoli
- ½ cup mayo
- 1/4 cup onion, chopped
- 1 1/2 cups (6 oz) shredded favorite cheese
- 2 tablespoons mustard (your choice. I use Dijon or honey)
- 2 packages (8 ounces each) refrigerated crescent rolls
- Garlic, onion powder (optional)
- Snipped parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven 350ºF.
- Chop ham, turkey, broccoli and onion. Add parsley, cheese, mustard and mayo to meat mixture; mix well.
- Unroll crescent dough separate into 16 triangles. Arrange triangles in a circle on a 13 inch round baking stone with the wide ends of the triangles overlapping in the center and the points facing the outside. (Note circle in the center.)
- Scoop the meat mixture evenly onto the widest end of each triangle. Bring the outside points of the triangles up over the filling and tuck under the dough at center of ring. (See picture: the filling will not be completely covered.)
- Bake 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.
Preparation time: 10 minute(s)
Cooking time: 25 minute(s)
Number of servings (yield): 12
What goodness are you cooking up today? I can’t wait to see. (Link up, link back and share the love)
OK, there goes the diet. I can see this as a Mufaletta ring, with olive salad and italian meats and cheeses, like a savory King Cake.
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Jen Reply:
January 14th, 2013 at 10:22 pm
Oh my word – If you make that, PLEASE snap some pictures and I’ll add it up here.
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Thanks so much for hosting. This looks really delicious. 🙂
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That looks really good! I’ve heard of doing the taco ring, but I didn’t really think of branching out and trying other ingredients in there.
I am sharing my Cranberry Orange Bread recipe, which is super yummy. It’s not a meal you can serve to guests, but I bet it would be a hit at a potluck or a party.
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wow, that looks great! Thanks for hosting each week there’s always so many great ideas!
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I love quick and easy dishes like this for entertaining. Your Turkey, Ham and Cheese Ring looks beautiful, and so tasty too. This week I’ve shared a Cranberry Orange and Ginger loaf. Thank you for hosting!
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Yummy! May be a silly question..but is the broccolie raw or pre-cooked? I’m anxious to try it.
No need to apologize for a recipe being quick or on the easy side. A friend of mine (and her entire family) insist that “they made it” if the oven was on, no matter what..if it came from a box, mix etc! Thanks for sharing.
-Ann
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Jen Reply:
January 15th, 2013 at 6:59 pm
There are no silly questions. I need to go clarify. Use Fresh chopped (or you can use frozen if you make sure that all the water is squeezed out).
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Your recipe looks delicious!! I’m pinning to Pinterest! I can’t wait to try it!!
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This looks great – easy, delicious, and beautiful! Will need to try this sometime … thanks!
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Crescent rolls are a favorite childhood food of mine. We always had them on Sunday. Love the idea of the taco ring. I just started a new Finding the Pretty & Delicious Linky Party on my blog this week – would love to have you stop by and share!
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As I was looking at this it occurs to me that you could turn this into a Monty Cristo type of dish if you wanted. Ham, turkey and swiss cheese baked and dipped in syrup or raspberry preserves or add grape jelly inside the ring and dust with powdered sugar like they do with the Which Wich sandwich. Thanks for the inspiration.
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Jen Reply:
May 21st, 2014 at 7:44 pm
oh my – that would be DELICIOUS!! Let me know when you make it and how you changed it up.
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I made one of these up for dinner tonight with ham, turkey, a few slices of bacon, and honey mustard dressing. Hope the family likes it!
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I’ve done a variation of this before with leftover taco meat, but ham and turkey would be perfect for a party. I may make this for my daughter’s upcoming graduation open house. I would just cut into thin slices and add a fancy toothpick to make it more of a finger food. Thanks for this recipe!
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