Servings: 2
Ingredients
2 (6 ounces) boneless cod fillets
2 ( 6ouncws) Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and sliced thin
Half a medium onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup heavy cream divided
2 thyme sprigs, chopped, divided
Salt and ground black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons salted butter, divided
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in each of two ramekin baking dishes.
Layer one sliced potato on each of the ramekins and top with sliced onion. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Bake the potatoes for 30
minutes. Turn the oven down to 350 degrees F.
Male a well in the center of each baking dish and place a fillet in the center. Sprinkle with thyme, salt, and pepper. Pour ¼ cup of cream over each fillet.
Return the baking dishes to the oven and cook for 25 minutes. Serve with sauteed greens.
I made a baked ham over the holidays and of course, that meant leftovers. Here are some of the recipes I made with some of the leftover meat.
Ham Broth
You can make your own ham broth for soup using a leftover ham bone:
Simmer the ham bone in a stockpot filled with 12 cups of water.
Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover with a lid, and let simmer for one hour.
Potato Soup
Ingredients
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 onion finely chopped
2 carrots diced
1/2 cup diced celery with leaves
4 cups peeled and diced baking potatoes, about 3 large baking potatoes
3 cloves garlic minced or finely chopped
1 1/2 cups cooked ham, diced (add more if desired)
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
4 cups ham broth
3 cups of milk
1 pinch of salt (adjust to your taste)
Fresh cracked black pepper
Chopped fresh chives
Directions
Heat the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté the onion, carrots, and celery until beginning to soften (about 4 minutes).
Add the ham bone used for the broth and potatoes, cook for 2 minutes, then add the garlic and sauté 30 seconds.
Stir in broth mixing all ingredients together. Increase heat and bring to a boil until potatoes are ‘just’ fork-tender, about 10-12 minutes. Remove ham bone and pick off meat to add to the completed soup.
Puree soup with an immersion blender.
Mix the flour and milk together and stir into the soup.
Reduce heat to medium-low and stir over the heat until thickened (about 5 minutes).
Add chopped ham. Adjust seasonings.
Top with chives and serve hot.
Ham and Cheese Scones
ingredients
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour plus 2 tablespoons, divided
1 ¼ cups whole-wheat flour
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons cold salted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup chopped leftover baked ham
¼ cup thinly sliced fresh chives
1 cup buttermilk
1 large egg
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Coat two large baking sheets with cooking spray or parchment.
Whisk 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Using a pastry blender or your fingertips, cut or rub the butter into the dry ingredients. Stir in cheese, ham, and chives.
Whisk buttermilk and egg in a medium bowl; stir into the dry ingredients until just combined.
Sprinkle a work surface with 1 tablespoon flour. Turn the dough out and sprinkle the top with the remaining 1 tablespoon flour.
Knead three to five times, or until the dough just comes together. Divide in half and pat each piece into a 5-inch circle. Cut each circle into 6 wedges and transfer to the prepared baking sheets.
Bake the scones until firm to the touch, 20 to 24 minutes. Rotate the pans halfway through the baking time
Tips
Reheat at 300°F for 10 to 15 minutes.
Ham Macaroni and Cheese Casserole
Ingredients
1 lb whole wheat penne pasta
3 tablespoons butter
½ cup diced onion
½ cup diced bell pepper
1/4 cup flour
½ teaspoon mustard powder
2 cups of milk
12 ounces Velveeta cheese, diced
2 cups diced baked ham
Pinch black pepper
1/2 cup panko crumbs
Salt to taste
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Prepare pasta al dente according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
In the same pot melt butter and add the bell pepper and onion, cook until soft. Stir in the flour, salt to taste, and mustard.
Slowly whisk milk into the roux, whisking constantly to avoid lumps.
Allow milk and roux to heat for about one minute, then begin adding the Velveeta.
Continue to gently whisk the mixture until all the Velveeta has melted, then add a pinch of black pepper. Stir in the ham and pasta.
Transfer the mixture to a greased 9 x 13 baking dish. Sprinkle panko on top.
Cook uncovered for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly.
Make a large piece of meat (beef roast, chicken, or pork roast) one day a week and you will have lots of easy meals during the week. Last week I made a baked ham (recipe) that had been in my freezer for a few months. Having these leftovers made for some easy meals.
Ham Omelet For Breakfast
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
8 large eggs
4 small red potatoes, cooked and diced
1 cup diced Italian light green frying peppers
1 cup thinly sliced onion
1 cup diced cooked baked ham
3 slices American cheese, broken into pieces
Directions
Position rack in the upper third of the oven; preheat the broiler.
Whisk eggs in a medium bowl. Heat oil and butter in a large ovenproof nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, peppers, and potatoes; cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the ham; cook, stirring, until the ham is hot.
Pour the eggs over the vegetable ham mixture and cook, lifting the edges of the omelet so uncooked egg can flow underneath until the bottom is light golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Sprinkle cheese on top, transfer the pan to the oven and broil until the eggs are set, 6 to 8 minutes. Let rest for about 3 minutes before cutting. Serve hot or warm.
Ham And Potato Soup For Lunch
Ingredients
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 large onion diced
1 cup diced carrots
1/2 cup diced celery
3 cups peeled and diced potatoes
4 cloves garlic minced
1 1/2 cups cooked ham, diced (add more if desired)
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups ham broth, see recipe below
3 cups of milk
1 teaspoon of salt (adjust to your taste)
Fresh cracked black pepper
Directions
For the ham broth
Simmer the ham bone in a stockpot filled with enough water to cover the bone halfway.
Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover with a lid, and let simmer until the meat clinging to the bone begins to shred. (about 1 hour).
Discard the hambone.
For the soup
Heat the butter in the stockpot over medium heat. Sauté the onion, carrots, and celery until beginning to soften (about 4 minutes).
Add the potatoes, cook for 2 minutes, then add the garlic and sauté for 30 seconds.
Mix the flour through the vegetables and cook for 2 minutes.
Stir in the ham stock, mixing all ingredients together, and making sure the flour is completely dissolved. Cover the pan and cook until the potatoes are ‘just’ fork-tender, about 10-12 minutes.
Reduce heat to medium-low, add the milk and stir over the heat until thickened (about 5 minutes). Using a hand blender, process the soup until partially pureed. Leave a few chunks here and there. Stir in the chopped ham and heat. Taste and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Serve hot.
Air-Fryer Chicken Tenders For Dinner
Ingredients
1 large egg beaten with 1 tablespoon of water
Salt
1 cup Italian seasoned panko crumbs
¼ cup of vegetable oil
Cooking spray
6 chicken tenders
Directions
Pound the tenders between plastic wrap to ¼ inch thick
Mix the oil into the panko crumbs until combined.
Dip each tender in the egg and then the panko. Place on a plate. Sprinkle the tenders lightly with salt. (Can be refrigerated at this point until ready to cook.)
Set the air-fryer temperature to 350 degrees F and preheat the oven (takes about 10 minutes).
Remove the air-fryer basket and coat with cooking spray. Place the tenders in the basket – don’t do more than 6 at one time. Repeat the process if you have more.
Bake 6 minutes. Turn the tenders over and bake 6 more minutes. Remove to a serving platter.
Spinach Stuffed Tomatoes
Ingredients
4 medium tomatoes
4 teaspoons panko crumbs
10 oz pkg frozen chopped spinach, defrosted and drained
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons cream cheese
2 tablespoons heavy cream
salt and pepper
Parmesan cheese
Directions
Heat oil in a small saucepan and add garlic; cook 1 minute
Add spinach and heat.
Make a well in the center of the spinach and add the cream.
Heat and stir until cheese is dissolved throughout the spinach. Season with salt & pepper to taste.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Cut a thin slice off the top of the tomatoes and scoop out the pulp and seeds. Salt the inside of the tomatoes and turn upside down on a plate lined with a paper towel to extract juices, about 15 minutes.
Stuff the tomatoes with the spinach filling, Sprinkle with the top of each tomato with Parmesan cheese and panko crumbs. Place the tomatoes in a greased baking dish just large enough to hold the four tomatoes. Bake until the filling is hot and the tops are light brown, about 20 minutes.
In my part of the world, produce planted in February is coming into season during the month of April. Friday’s market had plenty of radishes, cauliflower, broccoli, potatoes, spinach, leeks and asparagus. Fresh herbs and citrus fruits are still plentiful and they make excellent flavor additives to savory dishes.
There was lots to choose from, so the menu this week will reflect the variety of spring crops available. Here are a few ideas for when these crops are in season in your area.
Radish Salad
Pair this salad with the scallop recipe below. It is a great combination.
2 servings
Ingredients
4 large radishes
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon honey
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 cup extra virgin extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1 oz baby spinach leaves
1/2 cup toasted pecan halves
Directions
Whisk together the lemon juice, orange zest, salt, honey and cayenne; whisk in the extra virgin olive oil. Set aside
Rinse and trim the radishes and slice into thin rounds.
Line a salad bowl with the spinach leaves and mound the radishes in the center and top them with the olives.
Drizzle the salad with the dressing just before serving.
Broccoli and Ricotta Pizza
Ingredients
1 lb pizza dough, at room temperature
2 cups broccoli florets
8 oz mozzarella, sliced thin
2 cups ricotta cheese
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
20 black olives, pitted and halved
2 chopped fresh plum tomatoes
Salt
Olive oil
Directions
Heat the oven to 500 degrees F. Oil a large pizza pan.
Press the pizza dough out on the pan to the edges.
Cook the broccoli in salted boiling water for 2 minutes until it is just crisp-tender.
Drain, rinse under cold running water and drain well.
In a medium-sized bowl, combine the ricotta, Parmesan and garlic. Add a pinch of salt.
Place the sliced mozzarella evenly on the dough.
Drop the ricotta mixture in tablespoons on top of the dough and mozzarella.
Sprinkle with the olives and chopped tomatoes. Arrange the broccoli on top of the mixture.
Drizzle the top of the pizza with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
Bake the pizza for 18 to 20 minutes. Let rest 5 minutes before slicing.
Pasta with Asparagus, Prosciutto and Lemon Sauce
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 ounces thin sliced prosciutto, diced
1 garlic clove, sliced thin
1 cup half & half or heavy cream
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
12 oz short pasta (I use Barilla’s Casarecce pasta for this dish)
1 bunch very thin asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1 in pieces
1 1⁄2 cups grated Parmesan cheese
Chopped fresh basil to taste
Directions
Bring 4 quarts salted water to boil in large pot.
Add the asparagus to the boiling water with the pasta for the last two minutes of cooking time.
Cook pasta al dente, about 10 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water, drain pasta and asparagus and return to pot.
While the pasta is cooking, heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat until just smoking.
Cook prosciutto until lightly browned and crisp, (5 minutes) Transfer to paper towel lined plate.
Add garlic to the pan and cook 30 seconds.
Stir in cream and lemon juice and simmer until thickened, 3-5 minutes. Season with salt to taste.
Add the pasta and asparagus to the lemon cream sauce with 1/2 cup reserved pasta water, the cheese and the basil, toss to combine, add remaining water, if needed.
Sprinkle with black pepper and crunchy prosciutto. Serve immediately.
Sea Scallops in a Citrus Rosemary Sauce
I also like to serve this dish with a mango salsa. See recipe:
Serves 2. This recipe is easy to increase the number of servings.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small finely chopped shallot
6 large sea scallops, side muscle removed
Flour, for dredging
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Juice and zest from half a large orange
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
Directions
Heat oil in a small skillet. Sauté shallots over medium heat until soft. Push them to one corner of the pan.
Pat scallops dry with paper towels. Season flour with salt and pepper.
Dredge the scallops in the flour.
Increase heat under pan to high; sear the scallops for 1 minute. Turn and cook the other side for 2 minutes.
Add lemon juice, orange juice and orange zest to the skillet (the sauce will sizzle and steam).
Bring to a boil, reduce heat and swirl in butter and rosemary. Serve immediately.
Potato Soup
Ingredients
2 slices pasture-raised bacon
2 leeks, rinsed well with white and light green parts sliced very thin
2 stalks celery, diced
1 carrot, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 quart vegetable or chicken broth
2 bay leaves
2 cups half & half or whole milk
Fresh dill or chives, chopped fine
Sea salt and freshly ground white pepper
Sour cream for garnish, optional
Directions
In a heavy-bottomed soup pot, cook the bacon until crisp. Remove to a paper towel. When cool enough to handle crumble into small pieces.
Heat the reserved bacon fat over medium heat and add the leeks, garlic, celery and carrot.
Cook until tender, about five to six minutes or so.
Add the broth, cubed potatoes and a teaspoon of sea salt and ½ teaspoon of pepper. Cover the pot.
Cook the potatoes, vegetables and broth together over medium-low heat until the vegetables are softened and fall apart when pressed with the tines of a fork, about thirty minutes.
Puree with an immersion blender or use a processor.
Add the half & half, dill or chives to taste, crumbled bacon and adjust the seasoning. Reheat over low.
Serve with a tablespoon of sour cream, if desired.
