Ham and Cheese Bites

These are a great holiday party hors d'oeuvre.   

• 1 package active dry yeast
• 1 t sugar
• ¼ c water at 110 degrees
• 2 T sugar
• 1 c milk at 110 degrees
• 3 c flour
• 4 ozs. ham, chopped
• 4 ozs. swiss cheese, shredded
• 6 c water
• 4 t baking soda
• 4 T butter , melted
• 2 T kosher salt

 Line a couple baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
 
Place the yeast, sugar and warm water in a large bowl and whisk together.   Rest for five minutes.
 
Place 2 tablespoons of sugar and warm milk in a separate bowl and mix until dissolved.   Add two and a half cups of flour and milk mixture to the yeast.   Stir with a wooden spoon until a dough forms.   Add the remaining flour as needed.  Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured board and knead for five minutes.
 
Grease the inside of a large bowl with oil and place the dough in the bowl and flip, allowing both sides to be oiled.  Cover tightly with towel and rise in a warm, draft-free place for two hours or until dough doubled in size.
 
Place the risen dough on a lightly floured board.   Divide into four equal pieces.   Roll each into 12×4-inch rectangles.   With the long side toward you, place a quarter of the ham and cheese onto one half of the dough and flip the other side over the filling. Press the edges together to seal and cut into twelve one-inch pieces.  Place on the prepared baking sheets.   Repeat with remaining 3 portions of the dough. 
Rest for half an hour.
 
Preheat oven to 400.
 
Place water in a large pan and bring to a boil.   Stir in the baking soda and reduce to medium heat. Cook bites in the water for ten seconds, flip and cook for another ten seconds.   Using a slotted spoon, remove the bites back to the baking sheets.
 
Bake for fifteen minutes.  Remove from the oven and brush bites with melted butter.  Sprinkle with salt and serve.