Ham Leftover Favourites

 

 

Ham leftovers are the best! Whether you have thick slices left over or little bits and chunks remaining on the bone, ham can be the start of yummy dinners during the week. No one will complain about “oh no! not again!!!”.

I love to use the little bits for my Mini Ham Quiches, an easy party appetizer or quick and tasty treat with a lunch salad. Today I have included 3 other favourites for you to try.

Slow Cooker Ham and Potato Casserole

If you have thick slices left over, this makes a hearty weeknight supper. Easy to assemble first thing in the morning, supper is ready when you are. I like to serve this casserole with a sweet kale salad and my yummy pickled red beets that I pickled last summer. For dessert, I’ll open a jar of my canned B.C. peaches and pass around Oatmeal Raisin cookies.

Ingredients:

6 thick slices of ham

8 potatoes, sliced ¼ inch thick (I like to leave the skins on)

1 small onion, chopped fine

2 cups grated cheddar cheese

2 cans cream of mushroom soup

Method:

1. Spray the slow cooker casserole with no-stick spray to make clean up a little easier.
2. Start by placing 1/3 of the ham slices in the bottom of the slow cooker casserole, follow with 1/3 of the potato slices, 1/3 of the chopped onion, and 1/3 of the cheese. Repeat these layers twice more.
3. Whisk the undiluted mushroom soup until smooth. Pour on top.
4. Cook on low for 7 hours.

 

 

Split Pea and Ham Soup – Slow Cooker Style

This old-fashioned soup is a favourite at our house. Everyone looks forward to it. I like to use the bone as well as the meat for that special ham flavour. With the soup I like to make my Two Hour Buns, served warm from the oven slathered with lots of butter. Pineapple Brownies topped with ice cream are a great dessert to serve with this meal.

Ingredients:

2 (12oz) pkgs. dry split peas, rinsed and sorted

1 pound cooked ham, diced

1 lb carrots, peeled and finely diced

3 stalks celery, diced fine

1 onion, finely diced

Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

1. Place everything in the slow cooker and cover with water or unsalted chicken broth.
2. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, stirring occasionally.
3. Add more liquid to get the consistency in the soup that you like.
4. Season with salt and pepper as necessary before serving.

 

 

Slow Cooker Ham and Beans

If you haven’t used the ham bone yet, this recipe is great to use the ham bone in. The ham bone gives this supper dish a wonderful rich flavor. Use however much meat you have left – even a small amount of ham is great in this nutrition-packed supper dish.

Use your favourite dried beans here – pinto, northern beans, navy beans or use a mixture of beans and incorporate some small red beans, pinto beans, or pink beans. They all work well. If you don’t have a ham bone, add a bouillon cube for extra flavor.

I like to serve this dish with a chopped salad and Vanilla Cheesecake with Cherry Sauce for dessert.

Ingredients:

16 oz. dried beans

1 cup leftover ham

1 ham bone

¼ cup fresh onion, finely chopped, or 2 tbsp. dried onion

¼ tsp ground cloves

Salt and Pepper to taste

Water to cover or vegetable or chicken broth

Method:

1. Sort and rinse your beans.
2. Put everything into the slow cooker and add enough liquid so the level is an inch or two above the beans.
3. Cook the beans on high for two hours, then switch your slow cooker to low and cook an additional four hours or until your beans are tender and ready to eat.
4. Remove the bone before serving. These beans are great with a homemade cornbread on the side.

 

 

Category: Baking Tips