Simple Ways To Use Leftover Ham

According to food experts, you can safely eat leftover ham for up to five days after it was initially served, provided it was properly stored in your refrigerator. You may freeze leftover ham for up to six months, but for best quality, experts recommend that you consume it within two months. So, if you still have leftover ham from Easter, then time is ticking. That said, you might consider breathing new life into your leftover ham by making the following dishes: PASTA, PEAS AND HAM Ingredients: 2 (9-ounce) packages fresh tortellini, cooked 3 tablespoons butter 2 cloves minced garlic 2 … Continue reading →

Roasted Honey Turkey Gravy Glaze

Spring is here in Pennsylvania, with temperatures that can range from the 50s to the 80s. It is time to go digging into the freezer and pull out those ingredients that take a long time in the oven. I don’t want to heat up the house on warm days, so I am cooking strategically. Down in that freezer, there happen to be two large frozen turkeys. Now I usually prepare my roast turkey the same way every time, but I wanted a new recipe to try, once that would translate well as we transition into the warmer weather. We are … Continue reading →

Gimmie that Fish!

Like millions of others around the world, my 5-year-old is hooked on McDonald’s catchy commercial for its Filet-o-Fish sandwich. Unless you’ve been living under the sea, then you’ve probably seen the ad, which features Big Mouth Billy Bass belting out: Gimme back that Filet-O-Fish. Gimme that fish! Gimme back that Filet-O-Fish. Gimme me that fish! What if it were you hanging up on this wall? If it were you in that sandwich, you wouldn’t be laughing at all! So give me back that Filet-O-Fish, give me that fish! Yes, nothing says, “Welcome to Lent,” more effectively than a stuffed fish … Continue reading →

Two Fish Recipes

I admit I’m one who doesn’t eat meat on Good Friday. It’s something our family has always adhered to. So if you’re looking for a fish recipe for the day, or for any other time, here is the fish curry I mentioned recently. If you have a family that’s not real keen on fish either of these recipes could be a good option. Both are gluten free. Fish Green Curry Ingredients 12 ounces basa fish fillets, 1 tablespoon oil I Spanish onion, diced 1 clove garlic 2 tablespoons green curry paste 1 red bell pepper 16 ounce tin coconut milk … Continue reading →

Non-Seafood Lenten Meals

What’s for dinner during Lent? Two words: Fish fry. Some families live and die by Fish Fry Fridays during Lent, but my clan is not one of them. Heck, my young daughter refuses to eat fish more than once a month, so weekly doses of seafood often result in hunger strikes (which, I suppose is not entirely inappropriate during Lent). If your family is tiring of the same ol’ Friday night fish stick dinner, then consider the following non-seafood Lenten recipes. Not only are they simple to make, they are also incredibly inexpensive: VEGETARIAN PIZZA POCKETS Ingredients: 12 Rhodes Texas … Continue reading →

More Meatless Meals for Lent

Another “Fish Friday” is upon us, and if you are tired of sipping calm chowder, heating up frozen fish sticks, or eating breakfast for dinner in an effort to make meatless meals more palatable, then you might find the following recipes helpful. The Baked Tilapia and Seafood Stuffed Haddock are not only easy to make, but they may just make Friday night dinners during Lent something to look forward to, rather than dread. SIMPLE BAKED TILAPIA Ingredients: 2 Tilapia fillets (you could also substitute with red snapper, haddock, halibut, or orange roughy) 1 fresh lime 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/4 … Continue reading →

Affordable Asian-Inspired Meals

One of the best parts of going home to Hawaii is that I get to eat as much Asian food as possible. Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and Thai restaurants can be found on practically every street corner throughout the state. The food is unbelievably delicious and the portion sizes are generous. Plus, there is nothing quite like dining on authentic Asian food in a tropical setting. Now that I’m back in the Artic… I mean, Wisconsin, I am once again reminded of how much I am missing back home. To console myself I have been making very inexpensive Asian-inspired meals in … Continue reading →

Shrimptastic Friday Dinners

With Lent in full swing, many home cooks are looking for tasty meatless dinner options. When you get to the point where you simply can’t bring yourself to choke down another piece of fried fish, then consider whipping up these easy shrimp dishes: SIMPLE SHRIMP LINGUINI Ingredients: 1 pound linguine noodles 1 pound large peeled and deveined shrimp 2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt Juice of half fresh lemon 1 small jar marinated artichoke hearts in oil, roughly chopped 1/2 pint cherry tomatoes, halved 1/2 cup chicken broth 3 cloves garlic, chopped well 1/4 cup … Continue reading →

Tasty Meals for Lent

Let the “Fish Fridays” begin. Wednesday marked the start of the Lenten season for Christians worldwide. The countdown to Easter includes abstaining from meat on Fridays. While some see this requirement as sacrifice, I happen to embrace the opportunity to experiment with meatless dishes. Some of my family’s favorites include: EASY TUNA NOODLE CASSEROLE Ingredients: 1 package (16-ounce) medium size shell pasta, cooked and drained 2 (5-ounce) cans tuna, drained 2 tablespoons butter 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 cup minced onion 1 1/2 cups diced celery 1/2 cup mayonnaise 2 cans (10-ounce) cream of mushroom soup … Continue reading →

Dairy Free Main Meals For Crock Pot and Casserole.

Since I’m not a fussy and fiddly type of cook, I’m always on the lookout for healthy and tasty recipes that require little preparation time. Here are two really easy dishes to make, one with beef and one using bacon. One is for the crock pot or slow cooker. The other will go into a casserole dish. These recipes are both gluten free and dairy free. Beef Hot Pot Ingredients 16 ounces chuck steak or gravy beef, cubed 1 onion, diced 1 clove garlic, crushed I green bell pepper 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 15 ounce tin kidney beans 1 … Continue reading →