YumSugar

'Wich of the Week: Honey Baked Ham and Cabbage Reuben

YumSugar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:05:07 -0700

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Perfect Holiday Appetizer: Ham and Cheese Thumbprints

partysugar — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 09:07:57 -0800

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'Wich of the Week: Fall Gouda-ness Grilled Cheese

YumSugar — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:40:18 -0700

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Cubano Quesadillas

YumSugar — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 20:26:14 -0700

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'Wich of the Week: Easter Ham Slider

YumSugar — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 22:34:16 -0700

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Soup's On: Lentil Soup

partysugar — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 11:48:31 -0800

The other day, when I asked my sister what kind of soup she wanted for dinner, she quickly replied lentil. I researched some recipes and started chopping vegetables. Later when we sat down to dinner I realized she was only kidding! Luckily the soup was hearty and delicious and my entire family enjoyed it. The original recipe has you puree the soup, but I left it chunky for texture. The croutons add a nice crunch, but don't directly affect the flavor of the soup. Paired with a green salad and a glass of red wine, this is one excellent Winter meal. To see how I made it, read more.

Lentil Soup
From Food & Wine magazine

1 tbsp. unsalted butter, plus 1 tablespoon melted butter
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
5 ounces Serrano ham or lean bacon*, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 medium leek, white and tender green parts only, finely chopped
1 large carrot, finely chopped
2 quarts plus 1/2 cup chicken stock or low-sodium broth
2 cups brown lentils (3/4 pound), rinsed and picked over
2 cups firm-textured white bread, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1/2 cup heavy cream
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large saucepan, melt the 1 tbsp. of butter in the olive oil.

Add the Serrano ham, onion, leek, and carrot and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 8 minutes.

Add the stock and lentils and bring to a boil over moderately high heat. Simmer the soup over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are tender, about 45 minutes.

Meanwhile, on a baking sheet, toss the diced bread with the melted butter and bake for 8 minutes, or until browned.

Puree the soup in a blender in batches**; transfer the puree to a clean saucepan. Add the cream, bring to a simmer and season with salt and pepper.

Serve the soup in bowls, garnished with the croutons.

Serves 8.

Make ahead: The soup can be refrigerated for up to 3 days. The croutons can be kept in an airtight container overnight.

*Sadly I could not find Serrano ham anywhere so I used bacon.
**I opted not to puree the soup.

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Kitchen Experiments: Baked Egg in a Ham Shell

YumSugar — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 10:03:38 -0800

Earlier this week, I wanted a simple, yet hearty breakfast. I knew I had some eggs and ham, but I didn't have a lot of time. I had to get ready for work, but also wanted something yummy. That's when I remembered baked eggs. Baked eggs are great because you can pop them in the oven, get ready for work, and have a warm breakfast before you leave.

I was originally going to have a simple egg, but then thought about lining a ramekin with ham in order to make a self-contained meal. Next I decided to toss in some tomatoes sautéed in garlic. To find out how it all turned out and get the recipe I used, read more.

The overall concept was a good one, I don't think you can really go wrong with a baked egg. However, my dish was a bit runny. I halved the tomatoes, but didn't really let them cook down much. This was a mistake, I should have let them cook down as they weren't seeded and the tomatoes were really watery. There was nowhere for the liquid to go, so the bottom of my creation was a bit soggy. The top, however, was great. Next time, I won't get lazy with the tomato cooking!

Baked Egg in a Ham Shell
A kitchen experiment by YumSugar

handful of plum tomatoes, halved
1 clove garlic
2 slices of ham
1 tbsp. jack cheese
splash of milk
1 egg
salt pepper
olive oil

Preheat oven to 375ºF.
Grease a small ramekin or one slot in a muffin tin. Place two pieces of ham inside the ramekin, make sure they overlap to create a sort of crust. Set aside.
In a small pan on medium heat, heat a small amount of oil until shimmering. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant.
Add tomatoes to pan, salt, and cook for a few minutes.
Spoon tomato mixture into the ham shell. Add a splash of milk and cheese.
Crack an egg on top of the mixture. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Place ramekin on baking sheet and place into the oven. Bake for about 20 minutes or until egg white has set.

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