Ham it up (for a Stress Free Holiday Dinner)
Like
most mothers there is the constant need to multi-task so, I try
to give a little thought to meal planning throughout the month
in my “spare” time---you know while staking my place
in the carpool line, waiting in the dentist’s office or
during my daughter’s violin lessons.
It’s a family tradition at our house to bake ham for Easter.
Ham is easy, and a fabulous value. These days I start with a precooked
spiral sliced ham, make a glaze with extra for a dipping sauce
and slide it into the oven. If I am feeling sentimental, I use
a whole ham, score it with a knife, then decorate it with whole
cloves, and pineapple rings and serve it the way my grandmother
made it every year. Our family loves a big holiday dinner around
a festively set, food laden table. Our Easter dinner wouldn’t
be complete without fresh green beans, and creamy macaroni and
cheese, framed by golden crisp edges. And since we’ve usually
stuffed ourselves during dinner, dessert is often something sweet
but not too heavy. Sliced, fresh strawberries with Homemade Shortcakes
is the perfect finishing touch.
One of the best things about ham is its versatility. With good
pacing after the big dinner, the family isn’t whining about
“ham again?” Once we’ve cleared and crumbed
the table, I package slices for sandwiches and chop some for my
favorite quiche. When our ham is trimmed bare to the bone I slip
the bone with remnants of meat and marrow, into a stockpot to
flavor beans or soup.
The kids will make the sandwiches and I’ll make Now-and-Later
Quiche* one of my favorite recipes. I call it Now-and-Later
Quiche because it makes enough to serve now, and I freeze one
for later. When Easter dinner is at my mother’s house I
am especially thrilled because I know that I can usually get her
to make me some of her split pea soup.
Yes, we definitely ham it up during the Easter holiday at our
house and we hope that you will enjoy yours too!
Easter Holiday
Menu
Now
and Later Quiche
