This hearty Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup is like a warm hug by the fire on a cold day. Loaded with potatoes, veggies and ham -- pure comfort food. It’s also quick and easy to prepare and is ready to eat in about half an hour. I buy ham after major holidays at a reduced price just for delicious treats like this throughout the year. I slice, dice and cube chunks of the ham and freeze them in quart sized zipper bags in 2 cup portions. It only takes a quick trip to the freezer when the mood strikes for a super hearty – omlet, casserole or whatever. An unexpected early – early – fall snow was the inspiration for this wonderful soup. Thaw the ham before cooking, either by setting it in the refrigerator overnight, putting it in a pan of hot water for a couple of hours, or a 1-2 minutes in ... [Read More]
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Ham and Cheese Mini Quiche
This crustless Ham and Cheese Mini Quiche is low on the carb scale – like 3 grams of carbs with 12 grams of protein. Healthy enough for every day and deliciously handsome and tasty enough for company! Ham and Cheese Mini Quiches work very well as a make ahead and freeze till needed dish. Great for overnight guests! Breakfast fit for royalty in a flash and no fuss. Or thaw one or two overnight and warm in the microwave for a quick breakfast before work or heading off to school. These cozy little quiches also make a nice dinner with a crisp salad on the side. Nutmeg is frequently used in Swedish cooking particularly. And often for custard type dishes in other cuisines. I’m always a little startled when I see it in a savory dish since I associate it with sweet desserts. And my ... [Read More]
Aloha Pineapple and Ham Pasta Salad
Pineapple and Ham – an unexpected twist to pasta salad. The pineapple makes a great addition without shouting, “hey, there’s pineapple in this dish”. It plays together very nicely with all the other ingredients. Using aloha in the name bows to the idea of playing nicely with others. Mainlanders think of aloha as meaning “hello” and “goodbye” -- and it does serve as a greeting. However, “aloha” also encompasses love, mercy, compassion and the joyful sharing of a positive attitude. Kind of like this pasta salad, it’s more than it appears. This is also a versatile recipe. The original calls for red pepper which is certainly a colorful addition. However, you can substitute any sweet pepper you have available. Or use cubed chicken instead of diced ham. You can also add a half ... [Read More]
Cheddar and Ham Quiche
Leftover ham after a holiday? Cheddar and Ham Quiche will help you solve the problem of what to do. Quick, easy and tasty, too. Cooking with evaporated milk is something relatively new to me. I stopped drinking milk with meals about 3 years ago. Love cold milk, but it wasn’t returning the love! No more gallon jugs of milk in the fridge. I was going through a couple of gallons a week and now half a gallon will last almost three weeks. I still cook with milk, but there isn’t always enough in the fridge for the recipe I want to make. Or if there is, its past the due date and a little sniffy – can I admit that?? So I started keeping a can or two of evaporated milk on the pantry shelf. It also comes in handy for times when it is blizzarding outside and a trip to the store is the ... [Read More]
Ham and Cheese Pinwheels
I have it on good authority if you serve these during a football game, your team will win. I’m collecting data and that’s absolutely true. . . . so far. Conduct your own test and see. In fact, the guys are so sold on this winning thing that they are willing to watch any game, no matter who is playing, and draw straws to determine “their” team, just to test the theory. Me – I ignore the game and concentrate on my project du jour while munching from the plate of pinwheels at my side – win, win! There are never any leftovers whenever these are served and that’s certainly a winner! Use crescent sheets if your store has them. No perforations to come apart. You can use any deli sliced meat you like instead of ham and your choice of cheese. Just choose finely shredded cheese as it will ... [Read More]
Creamy Pasta and Veggie Salad
Creamy Pasta and Veggie Salad makes a great dinner salad for cool summer eating. It’s also perfect for potlucks and family. However or whenever, this salad makes an appearance it is a well balanced blend of carbs, veggies and proteins. It’s healthy and makes a big salad so it will serve a large number of people – or be a made ahead dinner salad a couple of times for three or four eaters. It’s also a nice change from mayo dressed salads and always disappears quickly. I like for my ingredients to “even out” so there aren’t little bits of leftover ingredients setting around. Three cups of dry pasta is generally about a 16 ounce package. That’s what I use if the dry pasta measures out between 2 ¾ cups and 3 ¼ cups. Any less and the salad won’t have the pasta base needed to carry the other ... [Read More]
