Ham sandwiches are the highlight of many people’s favorite holiday lunch in front of the television and a good game of football or basketball. For those who may want to change up the ham sandwich, try some of these inspired and creative ideas.

Shave the meat very thinly when cutting the remainder of your holiday ham away. Use a sharp chef’s knife, an electric knife or even a home meat slicer. Shaved meat can be marinaded in a great, smoky barbeque sauce and grilled quickly for a great variation. Squeeze a little lemon over the top while it grills then, pile onto a toasted bun . Wasabi mustard is a great condiment for this spicy ham treat.

Use thinly shaved ham pieces to wrap around shelled, whole shrimp. Secure with a toothpick or skewer. Brush the ham-wrapped shrimp with orange marmalade and bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for about 3 minutes. Turn the shrimp and douse the second side with marmalade and finish baking for 3 minutes more. Then, glaze the shrimp with a fruity mix of one tablespoon marmalade mixed with one teaspoon apple cider vinegar and a pinch of paprika. Pop the glazed shrimp under a preheated broiler for just one minute. These ham-cooked shrimp are heavenly! Remove the toothpicks or skewers and serve on a toasted long French roll or Po’boy roll and enjoy!!

By varying the breads you serve with ham, you can entirely change the appeal and flavor of a sandwich. Try using rye or pumpernickel breads for ham sandwiches. These hearty breads are an excellent pairing with hearty cooked ham. Try serving ham sandwiches rolled up in a tortilla, a raw spinach leaf or inside a pita bread pocket.

Cube leftover ham and place into a medium saucepan. Add one-half cup apricot jam. Add one or two peeled and cored green apples. Stew over medium heat until the apples are just beginning to soften. Serve spooned inside a warmed pita or over cooked white or brown rice with a spicy chow-chow on the side.

Here’s a great relish recipe that goes very well over an exciting variation of the holiday ham sandwich:

Cranberry Orange Relish

12 ounces fresh cranberries -- washed
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup orange juice
1 orange -- zest only
Combine all ingredients in a large saute pan. Cook, uncovered, over medium heat until the cranberries have opened and the mixture has thickened, 7 to 10 minutes. Cool and refrigerate.

Ham’s hearty, smoky flavor goes very well with a variety of condiments both sweet and savory. Ham can stand up to a spicy flavor without getting lost. Some of the most common condiments served next to ham sandwich makings are chutney, relish, ketchup, mustard, sweet & sour sauce and hot pepper sauce. By offering a variety of breads, adding one or two new condiments and even changing the size and shape of your leftover holiday ham, you can offer new exciting sandwiches that will entice your family and friends even more.