Roast Beef Tasties

I made a few appetizers for people to munch on at our party this weekend.  I knew I'd be running around the house like a mad woman that afternoon, so I planned on making a couple things that came together quickly and could be prepared ahead of time.  One of the appetizers I made were these little roast beef sandwiches, and they were such a hit.

Ingredients:

2 packages dinner rolls (I used Hawaiian)
2/3 cup peach preserves
1/2 cup mustard-mayonnaise blend
1 lb thinly sliced deli roast beef, cut into strips
1/2 lb thinly sliced Havarti
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions:

1. Heat walnuts in small nonstick skillet over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, 5 to 6 minutes or until lightly toasted.
2. Remove rolls from packages, but do not separate rolls.  Cut rolls in half horizontally, creating 1 top and 1 bottom per package. Lay the bottom layer into a 13x9 glass baking dish. Spread preserves on cut side of top of rolls; sprinkle with walnuts.  Spread mustard-mayo blend on cut sides of bottom rolls; top with beef and cheese.  Cover with top halves of rolls, preserves sides down, and wrap in aluminum foil.
3. Bake at 325 for 25 to 30 minutes or until cheese is melted. Slice into individual sandwiches.

Sandwiches are also able to be made ahead.  Just prepare through step 2 and freeze up to one month. To thaw, put in the refrigerator overnight and then bake as directed.  They can also be assembled and refrigerated for several hours ahead before baking.

I loved that they were so easy to pick up and eat, just the right size for two or three bites. The combination of the sweet preserves with the roast beef was so tasty, too.

And as a side note, I love these little Kate Spade Party Plates.  They're the perfect size for appetizers, and they can easily be used for dressy or casual occasions. We received 8 as wedding gifts, and I've been slowly working to collect more for entertaining.