CategoriesRecipes
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ONE HOUR EASTER DINNER

prep time30 minutes

cook time25 minutes

total time55 minutes

servings4 people

INGREDIENTS

Au Gratin Potatoes

  • 3 cups Yukon Gold potatoes, thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon EACH: onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper
  • 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated

Honey Butter Carrots

  • 1 pound baby carrots,* washed and peeled
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, optional
  • 1/2 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1/2 tablespoon honey

Parmesan Asparagus

  • 1 bunch thick asparagus, woody ends removed
  • 1/2 teaspoon EACH: garlic powder, dried basil, dried thyme
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated

Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham

  • 1 and 1/2 pounds Smoked Boneless Ham, OR 3 (7 ounces EACH) ham steaks (halved crosswise)
  • 1 can sliced pineapples (reserve the juice)
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Optional

  • 1/2 large baguette, sliced
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
  • Fresh parsley, fresh lemon

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Prepare two extra large sheet pans by lining them with parchment paper or buttering both pans. Arrange the oven racks so that one rack is the second down from the top and the other oven rack is the second one up from the bottom. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Au Gratin Potatoes

  • Start with the potatoes. Scrub clean and then thinly slice (1/8th inch thick) all the potatoes. In a small saucepan over medium high heat, melt the butter. Briskly whisk in the flour and, whisking constantly, stir for 30 seconds. While whisking constantly, slowly add in the milk and whisk until smooth. Allow to thicken. Add in all of the seasonings. (Salt and pepper to taste; I alway end up adding another 1/2 teaspoon salt). Stir in the sliced potatoes and then cover and reduce the heat to medium low. Allow to cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until potatoes are fork tender. If needed, add a few extra tablespoons of milk. Remove from the heat and stir in the cheddar cheese. 
  • Arrange the potatoes on 1/3 of a parchment covered (or buttered) sheet pan. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese over the potatoes. Place the rest of the potatoes on top and then sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese.

Honey Butter Carrots & Parmesan Asparagus

  • Place the washed (completely dried) and peeled carrots on the sheet pan and drizzle with oil, salt and thyme (if desired). Toss to combine. Separate the carrots to one half of the sheet pan.
  • On the other side of the sheet pan add the asparagus (break off the woody ends). Pour the oil and seasonings over the asparagus and toss to coat.
  • Bake on the bottom rack for 10 minutes; stir veggies around, and bake for another 10-15 minutes or until the veggies are tender. Remove from the oven.
  • For the carrots: combine the butter and honey and melt in the microwave for 20-30 seconds. Pour over the carrots and toss to coat. For the asparagus: top with the Parmesan cheese and a squeeze of fresh lemon if desired.

Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham

  • Slice the ham into thick slices. Place on the parchment lined sheet pan next to the au gratin potatoes. Place a pineapple slice on top of each ham slice.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together 1 tablespoon of the juice from the canned pineapples, 1/4 cup brown sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard. Whisk. Generously coat all of the ham with this mixture.
  • Bake the potatoes and ham on the top rack for 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are crisp and ham is thoroughly warmed through. Remove from the oven and add the baguette slices on the last 1/3 of the sheet pan.
  • Spread butter over each slice and sprinkle with the Italian seasoning. Cook for another 2-3 minutes or until the baguette is toasted and soft.
  • Remove from the oven and top the potatoes with fresh parsley if desired. Salt and pepper everything additionally to taste and enjoy immediately!
ham and potato casseroleCategoriesRecipes
by 0

Ham and Potato Casserole

PREP TIME 15 minutes

COOK TIME 1 hour

TOTAL TIME 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp Onion, very tiny mince (about 1/4 of small onion) (Optional)
  • 6 tbsp Salted Butter
  • 6 tbsp All-Purpose Flour
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1 tsp Pepper
  • 2 1/2 Cups 2% Milk, (whole milk ok)
  • 1 1/2 Cups Cheddar Cheese (white), grate yourself (see note 1)
  • 1/2 cupe cheddar cheese (yellow), grate yourself (see note 1)
  • 3 Cups Russet Potatoes, peeled, diced and boiled to al dente cut to 1/2″dice
  • 1 pound Ham, diced 1/2 “dice
  • 2 Tablespoons Fresh Parsley, minced finely

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350º
  2. Peel and dice potatoes and place in a stock pot of cold water.
  3. Simmer on high until the water starts to boil, then reduce heat to medium.
  4. Boil potatoes until they are cooked thru, but still somewhat firm (al dente) About 5 minutes. The potatoes will continue to cook when in the oven after mixing all ingredients. If you cook them to doneness now, they will become a soft mushy mess after baking.
  5. Once Potatoes are cooked to al dente, drain water and put back into the stockpot until later.
  6. Dice ham into the same size you cut your potatoes. Once diced, place on top of potatoes in stockpot until ready for sauce.
  7. In small sauce pan on medium heat, melt butter,
  8. Once butter is melted, add minced onions and cook until translucent and soft. (About 5 minutes.) Resist turning up the heat to cook more quickly, you want the onions to remain unbrowned.
  9. Once the onions are translucent, add the flour to the sauce pan and cook for 3-5 mins. Stir with a whisk constantly. This step is crucial to get the earthy taste of flour to come through and not be pasty tasting when finished.
  10. Once flour is cooked, slowly add milk to flour mixture, whisking rapidly. It is better to incorporate small amounts of the milk while whisking to avoid lumps. If you pour all the milk in at once your sauce may be lumpy.
  11. Once all the milk is added continue to stir until sauce begins to thicken (8-10 minutes.)
  12. When the sauce can coat the back of a spoon without running it is ready. (Imagine a slightly thicker pancake batter.)
  13. Once sauce reaches the spoon test thickness, add in salt, pepper and 1 1/2 cup white cheddar cheese. Once cheese is melted completely, remove from heat.
  14. Pour Cheese mixture over potatoes and ham mixture and stir to distribute all evenly.
  15. Place combined mixture in baking dish. (9X13 works well, but any will do.)
  16. Sprinkle yellow cheddar cheese over the top.
  17. Bake, uncovered at 350º on the middle rack in the oven for about 30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the sides are bubbly.
  18. Once done, let rest for 15 mins then sprinkle fresh parsley on top and serve.
  19. This will make 8 full sized portions or 10-14 portions for a light luncheon with a salad.