Did you know that September is National Family Meals Month? Coinciding with the start of the traditional school year, it’s also the perfect time to get your family together around the table. National Family Meals Month is facilitated by FMI Family Meals, a movement to raise awareness of the benefits of frequent family meals. All during the month of  September, food retailers across the country will be working collaboratively to bring families back to the table to share one more meal at home per week.

Among the reasons for enjoying meals as a family is that there’s clear evidence the structure of a meal can heavily influence a child’s long-term health. Kids and teens who share meals with their family three or more times per week are significantly less likely to be overweight, more likely to eat healthy foods and less likely to have eating disorders.* Also, with each additional family meal shared each week, adolescents are less likely to show symptoms of depression, less likely to use/abuse drugs and less likely to engage in delinquent acts.**

So, with schedules as busy as they are, how do we make more time for family meals? Well, one of the key ingredients to helping you make easy and quick family meals, is the amazing variety of products you’ll find when you visit Hormel Foods and the great ideas from their Easy Recipe Ideas site. My own idea for a great family meal is this Ham on Rye Breakfast Sandwich. It uses Hormel Cure 81 Classic Dinner Ham along with sharp cheddar cheese and a delicious fried egg to make a delectable option for a family breakfast. Prepare the ham (according to package instructions) in advance and then assemble the sandwiches in a matter of minutes. I serve this with a healthy side of mixed fresh fruit.

This Ham on Rye Breakfast Sandwich gets your day off to a rousing start! Click To Tweet

Prepare the Hormel Cure 81 Classic Dinner ham according to package directions (may be done a day or two in advance and refrigerated until ready to use).

Make the mayo-mustard spread: In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise and mustard stirring until thoroughly mixed.

Fry the eggs: Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil and butter. Break each egg carefully into the pan. Cook until yolk is set as desired. Remove to a plate.

Assemble the sandwiches: Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Place 4 slices of the marbled rye bread on a baking sheet and add a generous amount of the mayo-mustard mixture. Top with one slice of sharp cheddar cheese and two slices of Hormel Cure 81 Classic Dinner Ham. Bake until the cheese begins to melt.

Remove from the oven and top each with a fried egg, salt, pepper, sliced tomatoes, and lettuce. Top with a second slice of marbled rye generously spread with the mayo-mustard mixture.

Enjoy!

Ham on Rye Breakfast Sandwich

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

A hearty breakfast sandwich the whole family will enjoy!

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Ingredients

• 16 slices Hormel Cure 81 Classic Dinner Ham
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup spicy whole grain mustard
• 1 tblsp. olive oil
• 1 tblsp. butter
• 4 eggs
• 8 slices marbled rye bread
• 4 slices sharp cheddar cheese
• Salt
• Pepper
• Tomato slices
• Lettuce

Instructions

1. Prepare the Hormel Cure 81 Classic Dinner ham according to package directions (may be done a day or two in advance and refrigerated until ready to use).
2. Make the mayo-mustard spread: In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise and mustard stirring until thoroughly mixed.
3. Fry the eggs: Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil and butter. Break each egg carefully into the pan. Cook until yolk is set as desired. Remove to a plate.
4. Assemble the sandwiches: Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Place 4 slices of the marbled rye bread on a baking sheet and add a generous amount of the mayo-mustard mixture. Top with one slice of sharp cheddar cheese and two slices of Hormel Cure 81 Classic Dinner Ham. Bake until the cheese begins to melt.
5. Remove from the oven and top each with a fried egg, salt, pepper, sliced tomatoes, and lettuce. Top with a second slice of marbled rye generously spread with the mayo-mustard mixture.

Notes

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Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 4333 Total Fat: 181g Saturated Fat: 38g Trans Fat: 1g Unsaturated Fat: 98g Cholesterol: 1964mg Sodium: 28018mg Carbohydrates: 55g Fiber: 6g Sugar: 32g Protein: 620g

Nutrition information is calculated by Nutritonix and may not always be perfectly accurate. Use your own judgment.

** Meier, A. and Musick, K. (2014). Variation in associations between family dinners and adolescent well-being. Journal of Marriage and Family, 76 (1).

More breakfast sandwich recipes you might enjoy from around the internet:

• Huevos Rancheros Breakfast Sandwich from Closet Cooking
• Reuben Breakfast Sandwich on Pumpernickel English Muffins from Gimme Some Oven
• Camping Breakfast Sandwiches from Recipe Girl
• Cowboy Breakfast Sandwiches from The Pioneer Woman
• Cheesy Egg, Avocado, and Bacon Breakfast Sandwich from Noble Pig