This bright, flavorful appetizer is the perfect kickoff to your al fresco party or backyard barbecue! Created exclusively for Kentucky Legend by celebrity chef Jamie Gwen.

INGREDIENTS

For the skewers:

• One Kentucky Legend Quarter Sliced Ham
• 1/2 small cantaloupe or honeydew melon, halved and seeded
• 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted

For the vinaigrette:

• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 1/2 tbsps red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 12 cocktail skewers

DIRECTIONS

1. To make the vinaigrette: combine the mustard, vinegar and olive oil in a small Mason jar, closing the lid and shaking well. Vinaigrette can be refrigerated until ready to use.
2. Cut the melon into bite-sized cubes.
3. Slightly warm the ham slices to make them more pliable, using your preferred method of heating. (No need to cook through as Kentucky Legend ham is already pre-cooked.)
4. Add a slice of ham onto each cocktail skewer, alternating with one cube of melon and one mint leaf before adding other end of ham slice to skewer.
5. To serve, pile the skewers on a serving platter. Drizzle the skewers with the vinaigrette and garnish with the sliced almonds.

*Ham & Melon Skewers can be made in advance and stored for one day in fridge until ready to eat.