Ham Fried Rice

Looking for a recipe to use up all of that leftover Easter ham?

Well,I have got just the recipe for you...our new favorite.

About a month or two ago I made fried rice for the first time. I know...such a basic dish, but I didn't know how to make it. I had a package of diced ham, and I decided to try it out. Oh, my goodness...I ate two bowls because it was sooo awesomely good. My husband said I should make fried rice or some sort every week. Just think of all of the variations you could do.

I haven't made it every week, but I have made it three times. Twice were ham fried rice, and once a pineapple fried rice with chicken. Both were excellent and I look forward to many different variations to come!

I have discovered that fried rice is just one of those make it up as you go...you don't need a true recipe. I listed the ingredients we use and how I make it, but do what works for you. This is a great way to use up leftovers.




2-3 Tablespoons butter
8 oz. ham, diced
3 Tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 cup diced onion, divided
1 cup diced or matchstick carrots
1 cup peas (sometimes I use regular and sometimes sugar snap)
3 eggs
2-3 Tablespoons soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper, optional
Rice (4 servings)
Salt and Pepper

Heat butter in a large skillet. Add in ham, brown sugar, carrots, and half of the onion. Cook until heated through and onion is translucent. Move all of the ingredients over to one side of the pan.

In a small bowl, whisk the eggs. Pour into the empty side of the pan. Scramble until cooked through. Add in the rice, remaining onions, peas. Stir. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add in soy sauce. Serve.

Serves: 4



What do you put in your fried rice?

Western Egg Scramble

A.LOT.OF.EGGS.

That has been my life for the month of January!

I decided I needed to venture out and find some new and creative ways to prepare them. I wasn't sure I could complete this mission, but I think I succeeded at creating at a pretty awesome egg recipe. This is pretty filling so it is something I make for dinner for the two of us, along with some fruit.

(Please don't be scared off by the addition of cream cheese. I promise that the cream cheese is what makes this recipes so awesome!)

1/2 cup chopped peppers
1/4 cup onion
1/2 cup chopped ham
2 oz. cream cheese, cubed
5 eggs
splash of milk
salt/pepper

In a skillet saute the onions, peppers, and ham in a little butter (I use a few sprays of I can't believe it's not butter) until tender. Meanwhile mix the 5 eggs with a splash of milk. Add eggs into the skillet and cook like regular scrambled eggs. When they are about 3/4 done add in cream cheese. Continue to cook until cream cheese is melted and mixed.

Serves 2-3

Countdown to Christmas - Apple Cranberry Salsa

I thought for the first recipe I should start with the meat, the main thing. I don't have much advice on baking a ham, it is kind of self explanatory. So, what does everyone make to go with the ham? A glaze or sauce! In my case though, I make a "salsa". You should give this a try this year, it is so good! I saw it in an ad in a Paula Deen magazine a few year ago. I immediately wrote it on my menu for Christmas dinner. The flavors go so well with the ham...and it is now the only sauce I will make with Ham.

2 medium apples
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup walnut pieces
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 ham glaze packet (it comes with a spiral sliced ham)

Chop and core apples; toss them with the lemon juice.
Melt the butter in skillet, add walnuts. Stir in apples, cranberries, maple syrup, and glaze packet and mix until it dissolves. Bring to a boil. Spoon over ham.