ham

White Bean Hot Dish

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? A Burst of Flavor: White Bean Hot Dish! One of the secrets of being a seasoned cook is knowing when to use quality ingredients to your advantage. Especially when you’re short on time or just needing a mid-week break. I keep my pantry stocked with what I refer to as “staples”; standby products that produce excellent results. Then on the nights when we are on the go, I can turn to a delicious alternative while serving another food-lover’s favorite. Pat yourself on the back and make yourself a hero, too. 

WHITE BEAN HOT DISH

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 sweet yellow onion, chopped

1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon celery seed

1 24-ounce jar Randall’s Great Northern Beans*

16 ounces ham, cooked and shredded

16 ounces baby carrots

14.5 ounces diced potatoes, including liquid

3 bay leaves

Instructions:

In a large deep skillet, heat olive oil on medium-high heat. Sauté chopped onions in seasoned salt and pepper until they turn opaque. Reduce heat to medium. Add beans, ham, carrots, and potatoes. Stir to combine thoroughly. Add bay leaves and celery seed.  Cover and reduce to simmer for 15 minutes. Remove lid and simmer longer for thicker results. Before serving remove bay leaves. 

*I receive no recompense for promoting their product.

Understated Stuffed Stromboli

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? A Burst of Flavor: Understated Stuffed Stromboli! Everyone likes finger food. Take a ready-made French bread dough, add your favorite meats, and cheeses….and Voilà, you have a speedy sandwich assembled in minutes. I often serve it with a side of marinara sauce for dipping. Leftovers make a tasty midnight snack, whether you warm it up or eat it cold. Either way, you won’t see this understated grinder hang around very long. 

UNDERSTATED STUFFED STROMBOLI

Ingredients:

1 tube refrigerated crusty French bread

1 cup mozzarella cheese, finely shredded

1 cup cheddar cheese, finely shredded

1/4 pound deli smoked ham, thinly sliced

1/4 pound deli salami, thinly sliced

1 tablespoon butter, melted

3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated

1/8 teaspoon dill weed

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 375°. Unroll the dough and pat into a rectangle about 12″ x 14″. Sprinkle with mozzarella to within half an inch from the edges. Layer ham over mozzarella cheese. Top ham with cheddar cheese. Then layer salami over the cheddar cheese. Roll up lengthwise; seam side down on an ungreased baking sheet. Tuck ends under. Brush with melted butter. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Garnish with dill weed. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Slice into four servings. 

Copycat 1905 Salad

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Food Plating: Copycat 1905 Salad! If you’ve ever traveled to St. Augustine, Florida, located in the heart of historic downtown is a place that’s been in business for a while now. It’s called the Columbia Restaurant offering Spanish/Cuban cuisine. You can always expect a long line of people that trails around the corner toward the Spanish-style fountain. Once inside, most customers insist on their signature 1905 tossed salad and then work their way through the menu. Now you can enjoy this specialty at home without the cost of a plane ticket. 

COPYCAT 1905 SALAD

Ingredients:

Dressing:

1/2 cup olive oil

2 tablespoons lemon juice

2 tablespoons vinegar

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 teaspoon dried oregano 

Sea salt and black pepper, to taste

Salad:

I head iceberg lettuce, shredded or gently torn

1/2 pound deli ham slices, julienned 

1/3 pound Swiss cheese, julienned

10 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved

5 ounces green olives, sliced

1/2 red onion, thinly sliced

5 ounces garlic croutons

2 ounces parmesano reggiano cheese, grated

Instructions:

In an extra large salad bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic cloves, dried oregano, sea salt, and black pepper. Set aside. In a mixing bowl, combine ice berg lettuce, ham slices, Swiss cheese, cherry tomatoes, green olives, red onion, garlic croutons, and parmesano reggiano cheese. Gently toss. Add prepped salad contents to the dressing. Toss to thoroughly coat the salad with the dressing. Serve in individual salad bowls. 

Egg Cup Jambon

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Simple Sensations: Egg Cup Jambon! What’s black and white and crunchy to the taste? It’s the dense little chia seed. This highly nutritional nut is a member of the mint family boasting fiber, antioxidants, and even iron. Sprinkle it on everything from popcorn to yogurt. Today I topped off the Egg Cup Jambon for a nice chewy finish. 

EGG CUP JAMBON

Ingredients:

Nonstick Cooking Spray

6 slices Smoked Virginia Ham

6 large eggs

6 teaspoons Gouda cheese, shredded 

1 green onion

Seasoned salt and cracked pepper to taste

1 tablespoon chia seeds

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400°. Lightly coat six muffin cups with nonstick cooking spray. Place one slice of ham into each cup forming a bowl. Layer one teaspoon of cheese on top of ham. Sprinkle with seasoned salt and pepper. Divide the green onion by slicing it between all six cups. This is easily done with a kitchen shears. Next crack one egg into each cup, being careful not to break the yolk. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes and broil on High for one minute. The whites should be cooked, but the yolks a little runny. Watch! Remove egg cups onto serving platter and sprinkle chia seeds on top before serving.  Enjoy!

*TIP: Make ahead and gently reheat in the microwave on 20% power for those mornings-on-the-run. 

Virginia Smoked Ham Sandwich

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Virginia Smoked Ham Sandwich!  The wonderful thing about baking a Virginia smoked ham is the assortment of menu options you glean from a three-pound ham purchase. And with picnic season upon us, this is a quick and easy meal to enjoy at the park. 

VIRGINIA SMOKED HAM SANDWICH 

Ingredients:

1/2 pound shaved precooked smoked Virginia ham pieces

4 slices sesame seed artisan bakery-fresh bread

2 tablespoons butter

2 slices Baby Swiss cheese

Mayonnaise or Mustard, optional to taste

Dill Pickle wedge for garnish

Instructions: 

Butter top sides of bread all the way to the edge. Put two slices into a heated skillet over medium-low heat. Assemble ham and Swiss cheese; top with remaining bread slices. Cook until golden brown on each side, turning once. Serve with the slightly tart taste of a dill pickle.  Add a tossed salad and sea salt Kettle chips for the perfect meal!

Quiche Lorraine

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Quiche Lorraine!  Pie for Breakfast? Or Brunch or a light Dinner?  Without a doubt!  This flaky rim pastry tart filled with a rich, creamy filling is a classic French staple that boasts tradition in every bite. 

QUICHE LORRAINE

Pastry:

1 1/3 cup flour

Pinch of salt

3 ounces Neufchâtel cheese

1/2 cup butter

Sift together flour and salt. Add softened butter and Neufchâtel cheese. Mixture becomes crumbly but eventually forms a single large ball. Set aside for 30 minutes to an hour. Roll out and line a deep 9-10″ pie dish. 

Filling:

8 thin slices cooked ham or crisp smoked bacon

8 ounces Gruyère cheese*

2 cups sour cream

3 eggs and 1 yolk

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon melted butter

Cover pastry alternating ham and cheese. Combine remaining ingredients. Pour over ham and cheese. Sprinkle with nutmeg. Bake at 375° 50-60 minutes until set. 

*May substitute Gruyère cheese for thinly sliced Swiss cheese. 

Hearty Ham and Bean Soup

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen?  Hearty Ham and Bean Soup. I’m such a morning person which is why I can throw together a meal, as soon as I grab my first cup of coffee, and let it slow cook all day long. The aroma wafting throughout the kitchen is enough to make your mouth water in anticipation. This hearty bean soup can be simmered stove-top or in the crock pot. You choose. 

HEARTY HAM AND BEAN SOUP

Ingredients:

8 cups water

1 pound bag of dried Mixed Beans

1 can (8oz.) tomato sauce

2 1/4 pounds smoked ham chunks

1 large onion, chopped

1 tablespoon instant beef bouillon 

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper 

1 garlic clove, crushed

2 potatoes, cubed

2 medium carrots, cut up

2 stalks celery, cut up

3 whole bay leaves

Instructions:

Heat water and dried mixed beans to boiling in Dutch oven; boil 2 minutes. Remove from heat; cover and let stand 1 hour. 

Add tomato sauce, smoked ham chunks, onion, instant bouillon, salt, pepper, and garlic to beans. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer until beans are tender, about two hours. Do not boil or beans will burst. Skim fat if necessary. 

Stir potatoes, carrots, and celery into soup. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Add whole bay leaves. Cover and simmer until vegetables are tender, about one hour. Stir in 1 cup of water for thinner consistency. Makes 8 servings. 

Poppyseed Ham Sliders

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? A Symphony of Flavors: Poppyseed Ham Sliders! For a buttery good appetizer or game day snack, these quick and easy sliders get the party going. Be prepared to watch them disappear. If you’re short on time, make them a day ahead and store, covered, in the refrigerator. You will need to adjust the baking time to 20 minutes (covered) and then 8 minutes (uncovered). Either way, your family will thank you for being such a crowd pleaser. Simply smile and respond, “This old recipe? I’ve had it forever.”

POPPYSEED HAM SLIDERS

Ingredients:

12-count Hawaiian sweet dinner rolls

1/3 cup mayonnaise 

6 slices Swiss cheese, cut into quarters

24 slices deli honey ham

1 tablespoon poppyseeds

1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 tablespoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°. Cut the rolls in half; spread mayonnaise onto one side of the rolls. Place a slice of Swiss cheese between two slices of ham. Replace the top of the rolls. Transfer sandwich to a baking dish. Repeat. In a medium bowl, whisk together poppyseeds, Dijon mustard, melted butter, onion powder, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour butter mixture over the rolls, just covering the tops. Cover with foil; let sit for 10 minutes. Bake for 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Remove foil; bake 2 minutes longer until the tops are slightly browned and crisp. Serve warm. 

Grill Pan Supreme Pizza

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? A Symphony of Flavors: Grill Pan Supreme Pizza! Who doesn’t like the taste of grilled foods? You know, that tiny bit of charred smokiness that delivers a presentation of black lines on pizza crust, vegetables, and meat. The raised edges keep food from sitting in fats or unnecessary grease, making it somewhat more healthy. The grill pan actually mimics cooking outdoors on a gas grill, without all the hassle, especially if it’s raining or snowing. Clean up is pretty simple, too. It gets my vote all day long. 

GRILL PAN SUPREME PIZZA

Ingredients:

1 prepared pizza crust, room temperature 

1 cup pizza sauce

8 slices pepperoni 

2 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

2 slices deli ham, chopped

1/4 cup onion, chopped

1/4 cup green pepper, chopped

1/2 cup pizza sauce

1/2 cup fresh mozzarella, sliced

Giardiniera, for topping

Red pepper flakes, for garnish

Parmesan cheese, grated

Instructions:

Preheat the grill pan on medium-high heat for 5 minutes. Using a silicone brush, oil the pan to prevent sticking. Grill one side of the dough until bubbles begin to form on the top. Lift the edge to check for charred grill lines on the dough. Carefully, flip over and arrange toppings. Add pizza sauce and fresh mozzarella. Place the whole grill pan in a preheated 400° oven. Bake 5-7 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Remove and serve with giardiniera, red pepper flakes, and grated parmesan cheese. Enjoy!