De Ma Cuisine

ham Archive

Monday

5

January 2015

0

COMMENTS

Spaghetti Squash au Gratin

Written by , Posted in Breakfast, Brunch, Cheese, Dinner, Kid-Friendly, Lunch, Main Dishes, Meat, Pork, Potlucks, Roasting, Sauces, Sides, Vegetables

SpaghettiSquashauGratin-9

Haaaaappy New Year!

We’re right smack in the middle of winter squash season. I find that in the middle of a season, I have to get a bit more creative with how to use things. As much as I love Spaghetti Soup or Vegan Roasted Butternut Squash Soup, we don’t want to eat it every week. Someone posted on social media that they were enjoying some Spaghetti Squash au Gratin. I knew I needed to come up with a recipe for that. It sounded amazing.

It ended up tasting a little bit like what I think it would taste like if you took grated hash browns and smothered them with cheese sauce.

SpaghettiSquashauGratin-1

It all starts with some squash roasting in the oven for about an hour. I had three squash sitting on my kitchen island. Since I knew we’d be getting another in this week’s Abundant Harvest Organics box, I figured that I should just roast them. That way, even if I didn’t use it all in this dish, I could just freeze what was leftover. Then I remembered that some friends of ours, who just had a baby, might enjoy this too. So all the squash was perfect.

SpaghettiSquashauGratin-2

While the squash roasts, a quick roux is made up. I used butter and olive oil and then added the same amount of all purpose flour (if you’re making a gluten-free version, skip the flour, and whisk 1 T cornstarch with 1/4 C cold water, and whisk it in later on when the milk mixture is really hot).

SpaghettiSquashauGratin-3

To the roux I whisked in some whole milk. A little bit at a time.

SpaghettiSquashauGratin-4

Once the milk mixture thickens, add ons go in. I chose chopped ham (but you could use chicken, beef, turkey… or omit the meat all-together), some dijon mustard, Greek yogurt, and cheese. If you had some leftover cooked veggies (like broccoli, carrots, cauliflower etc…) you could add those now too.

SpaghettiSquashauGratin-5

I added the cheese a little bit at a time, whisking until smooth-ish between additions. Then everything else hops in.

SpaghettiSquashauGratin-6

You know, if you wanted to double the recipe, you could use half for mac and cheese, pour some over roasted broccoli or cauliflower, or dip some crusty bread in it (it’s practically fondue).

SpaghettiSquashauGratin-7

The squash is scraped out of it’s skin and placed in an oven-proof baking dish. The ham and cheese sauce is stirred in.

SpaghettiSquashauGratin-8

Then it’s all topped with a bit more cheeeeeeese!

SpaghettiSquashauGratin-10

It will bake for a little while (which is really optional – you could just top your squash and go!), then stand for a few minutes, if you can handle waiting to dig in!

Happy Eating!

Spaghetti Squash au Gratin

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour, 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 55 minutes

Yield: Serves 6-8 as a side, 4-5 as a main dish.

Spaghetti Squash au Gratin

Ingredients

  • 2 medium-sized spaghetti squash, halved and seeds removed
  • 1 medium-sized butternut squash, halved and seeds removed
  • 1 t olive oil
  • 1 T olive oil
  • 1 T unsalted butter
  • 2 T all purpose flour
  • 2 C whole milk
  • 1 t dijon mustard
  • 1 C greek yogurt
  • to taste salt
  • 6 oz. chopped ham (or chicken, beef, or turkey… or omit the meat all-together)
  • 2 C cheese (combo of any of these: cheddar, gruyere, monterey jack, or mozzarella), grated, 1/2 C reserved
  • pinch cayenne
  • 1 t paprika

Instructions

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 350F. Drizzle squash with 1 t olive oil and place cut side down on a baking sheet. Roast for about 1 hour, or until flesh is tender.
  2. Heat a pan and add 1 T olive oil and butter. When it's hot, whisk in the flour. Cook for about 30 seconds. Whisk in milk, a little bit at a time, whisking until mostly smooth between additions. Bring to a simmer (but do not boil). Reduce heat to low and cook until thickened, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  3. Remove from heat, stir in dijon, yogurt, and salt. Back on low heat, slowly add cheese, a bit at at time, whisking between additions until fairly smooth. Stir in ham. Continue to stir over low heat for about 2 minutes. Stir in cayenne and 3/4 t paprika. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired.
  4. Scrape squash from skin. Mash together in a greased 9x13 oven-proof baking dish. Stir in sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Sprinkle with reserved cheese and 1/4 t paprika.
  5. Place baking dish on a baking sheet (in case it bubbles over). Bake on a rack in the upper portion of the oven for 15 minutes. Increase heat to 375F and bake for 15 minutes more. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/spaghetti-squash-au-gratin/

Wednesday

15

May 2013

2

COMMENTS

English Peas with Ricotta and Ham over Pasta – Episode 67

Written by , Posted in A Cooking Show with Rachel O, Abundant Harvest Organics, Cheese, Dinner, Fruit, Herbs, Kid-Friendly, Lunch, Main Dishes, Meat, Pasta, Pork, Quick and Easy, This Week's Feast, Vegetables

EnglishPeasPasta3I know that some people hate peas. But, I am not one of them. I mentioned in my post last week that I didn’t like frozen peas as a kid. Now, I can’t get enough of them – in any form.

I love peas.

EnglishPeasPasta4

EnglishPeasPasta6

I love sugar snap peas with bacon and pasta. I’m also crazy about them raw. Pea tendrils? Have you ever tried them? So good with a fried egg on top! Snow peas in Stir Fry are amazing. I wish I was eating that right now (with some tofu or chicken, some bean sprouts and carrots, and a nice slightly sweet sauce…). Frozen peas in Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup is one of my favorites.

But now, I have a new love. Pasta + ricotta + ham + carrots + chard + garlic + ENGLISH PEAS = Love love love this meal. Topped with some basil and parmesan cheese… oh boy! (Husband’s response last night after his first bite: “Wow!”)

And it’s good cold, as a pasta salad. Maybe with some German or Italian sausage? How about alongside a Burger? Or with a few other delicious salads?

Why am I coming up with all these meal ideas, I’m not even hungry!

Or I wasn’t…

EnglishPeasPasta

EnglishPeasPasta2

EnglishPeasPasta5

After I finished filming and taking photos, I stood at my little Ikea island and picked pasta and ricotta out of the bowl and ate it. Someone’s gotta clean up.

Happy Eating!

English Peas with Ricotta and Ham over Pasta

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Yield: 4

English Peas with Ricotta and Ham over Pasta

Ingredients

  • 1 pkg pasta
  • 1 T olive oil
  • 1 heaping C (about 40 pods) English peas (shelled)
  • 2 carrots, in long thin ribbons (use a vegetable peeler)
  • 1 bulb green garlic and the green part (just the edible part), minced
  • 3/4 t to 1 t salt
  • pinch cayenne
  • pepper, to taste
  • 1/2 to 1 t fresh thyme
  • 1/4 C water
  • 1-2 T lemon juice
  • 3/4 C ham, cooked and thinly sliced
  • 2-3 C chard, roughly chopped
  • 10 oz. ricotta cheese
  • parmesan cheese (for topping), grated
  • basil, chopped (for topping)

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta in salted water.
  2. While pasta cooks, heat skillet, and add oil. Add English peas through thyme. Cook over medium or medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes. Add water. Cook 8 minutes more, stirring occasionally.
  3. Add lemon juice, ham, and chard. Cook for 5 minutes (or until ham is heated through and chard is wilted), tossing occasionally with tongs. Taste and adjust seasonings.
  4. Toss cooked pasta with ricotta and a pinch of salt.
  5. Serve pasta topped with veggies and some parmesan and basil.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/would-you-like-peas-with-that-ep67/

Sponsored by: Abundant Harvest Organics, Bari Olive Oil Company, Waterfall Creative, Molly Jenson.

Friday

12

April 2013

2

COMMENTS

Grilled Cheese with Gruyère Apple and Ham

Written by , Posted in Bread, Cheese, Dinner, Fruit, Kid-Friendly, Lunch, Main Dishes, Meat, Pork, Quick and Easy, Sandwiches, Sides, Snacks

GrilledCheese4Today is National Grilled Cheese Day. My brother, Josh, informed me of it this morning. It would have been just wrong not to have it for lunch.

I’m totally cool with a plain old grilled cheese. You know, bread, butter, cheese, done. But today I wanted a fancied up version. Hello gruyère, rosemary ham, fuji apple, olive oil, and a touch of salt, between two pieces of Ezekiel bread. Hello indeed.

GrilledCheese5

GrilledCheese2

GrilledCheese3

Now go eat some lunch. I know you’re hungry!

Happy Eating!

Grilled Cheese with Gruyère Apple and Ham

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Yield: 1

Grilled Cheese with Gruyère Apple and Ham

Ingredients

  • 2 slices bread
  • 1 t olive oil
  • teensy pinch of salt
  • a few slices of thinly sliced ham (rosemary ham if you can find it)
  • Gruyère cheese, as much as you need, sliced
  • fuji (or your favorite) apple, thinly sliced

Instructions

  1. Drizzle oil on one side of each slice of bread. Sprinkle with salt and distribute evenly over the slice. Top with cheese, ham, and apple slices. Close.
  2. Place into a hot skillet over medium or medium-low heat. Cover (opt.) and cook for about 3ish minutes, or until the bread is crispy. Flip and cook uncovered until cheese is melted and second slice of bread is crispy.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/celebrating-grilled-cheese/

 

Wednesday

9

January 2013

3

COMMENTS

Savory Baked French Toast – Episode 50

Written by , Posted in A Cooking Show with Rachel O, Abundant Harvest Organics, Baking, Bread, Breakfast, Brunch, Cheese, Dinner, Eggs, Fennel Pollen, Fruit, Holiday, Lunch, Main Dishes, Meat, Nuts, Pork, This Week's Feast, Vegetables

Savory-French-Toast5

It’s 2013! It’s a New Year! We all have plans, ideas, resolutions. We, like many of you I’m sure, missed our Abundant Harvest Organics boxes over the break. I’m so glad our produce drawers are full once again so we can get back into our lifestyle of healthy eating!!

This is a special episode, because it’s my 50th!! That’s a big number and I’m excited. I’ve loved doing this show for you. I hope you’re learning, laughing, enjoying, and eating along with me!

Savory-French-Toast1

Savory-French-Toast2

Savory-French-Toast3

I hope you try this rather yummy dish. It’s perfect for any meal. But, I think it would be awesome at a brunch with family or friends. You can use any kind of bread that you want. To make it a bit healthier, I’d go with a whole grain, whole wheat bread. But, I had some stale French bread, so that’s what I used. It’s a great way to use the greens that are so good for you, and are in season right now. (If you need another way to use greens, my brother gave me his recipe for Green Smoothies. They are delicious and full of healthy ingredients.) I used ham, but bacon would also be amazing (cooked then crumbled over top when serving). Another option would be to omit the meat altogether and add some more almonds when serving, for some lean protein.

This dish comes out super bright green. Kinda like the Incredible Hulk. I like green.

Savory-French-Toast4

I hope your new year has been wonderful so far! And, I’m glad you’re here! Thanks for being a part of my first 50 episodes!!

Happy Eating!

Savory Baked French Toast

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Yield: 4-5

Savory Baked French Toast

Ingredients

  • 4 eggs
  • 3-4 C kale/spinach/collard greens
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, chopped
  • 2 C milk
  • 1/4 C cream (reserve a bit for topping)
  • 1 t dijon mustard
  • 1/2 t (or less) salt
  • 1/4 t pepper
  • pinch cayenne
  • 1 to 1 1/2 C cheese, grated (I used Creamy Jack Cheese)
  • pinch fennel pollen
  • 1 t olive oil
  • 10 thick slices of bread (I used a stale loaf of French Bread)
  • 5 slices ham, quartered
  • roasted almonds, chopped (for topping)

Instructions

  1. Pre-heat oven to 350F. In a medium bowl (if using a hand blender), or a food processor, or a blender, blend spinach/kale/collard greens, garlic, eggs, milk, dijon, onion, seasonings, and 1/2 C cheese (I blended up the greens in the chopper attachment of my KitchenAid hand blender first, then transferred to the bowl).
  2. Grease baking dish with olive oil - even on the sides (at least part way up). Soak bread slices in egg mixture. Place in baking dish, overlapping each slice with the next one (if desired). If there is any extra egg mixture, add more to each slice. Top each slice with two pieces of ham.
  3. Bake covered for 30 minutes. Uncover, top with remaining cheese, and bake uncovered for 15 minutes more (or until it reaches 160F).
  4. Let it rest for about 10 minutes before serving.
  5. Top with a drizzle of cream and some almonds (a dollop of Greek yogurt would also be good!).
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/i-like-bright-green-food-ep-50/

This episode is sponsored by: Burroughs Family FarmsAbundant Harvest OrganicsBari Olive Oil CompanyWaterfall Creative, and Molly Jenson.