Farmer's Breakfast Casserole

 It's the time of year when I usually begin craving comfort food, as the temperature has cooled down some, and the mornings and evenings are crisp. I adore fall and always look forward to cooking up some meals that are heartier than summer's fare. This dish is perfect for any meal, as we've eaten it not only for breakfast, but it makes a tasty lunch or dinner as well.

 This delicious Farmer's Breakfast Casserole is the perfect 8x8 inch size for my husband and I. There's just enough yummy leftovers for us for a couple of days, plus this dish reheats really well. The casserole starts with a layer of frozen hash browns, then ham, green onion and cheese is layered over the potatoes. Beaten eggs are pour over all. It bakes for about an hour. Don't expect the hash browns to be crispy though. The hash browns are soft and very moist after baking. If not baked long enough I think it could be watery, so be sure to allow time for it to fully cook.

Farmer's Breakfast Casserole
Slightly adapted from here-
This dish can be put together the night before, covered and placed in the fridge, and baked in the morning. Baking time may be longer. Also, according to BHG, you can double the ingredients and place in a 9x13 baking pan. Again I imagine baking time would be longer, and I have not tried it.

Ingredients:
3 cups of frozen hash browns- I use the shredded ones
1/4 cup diced green onions
1 cup of diced ham, or can use cooked sausage
1 cup shredded cheese- I used Colby-Jack
4 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1/8 teaspoon salt- I used less because the ham was so salty
1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Method:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8x8x2 inch (2 quarts), baking pan. Pour the 3 cups of frozen hash browns into pan and distribute evenly in the pan. Sprinkle potatoes with the green onions, ham and then the cheese. Mix eggs, milk, salt, and pepper together and pour over all. Bake in oven for about 50 minutes, until eggs are set and top is golden. Pierce middle with a knife to test for it to be done. The casserole will puff up during baking. Hope you enjoy!

What to do with left-over Ham

Our family Easter dinner was last night and I didn't get any pictures of our ham. Sorry, it was beautiful, delicious and everyone was hungry. So we ate. I baked a ham and I'll just have to bake another soon, when I can take pictures. But we have plenty for some great tasting leftovers, that won't taste like leftovers. Sandwiches are wonderful, but here's some other ideas if you have a good portion of ham hanging out in your fridge.

 Scalloped Potatoes and Ham are awesome. Really, this is a dish that's easy to overindulge in. I have to be very careful because it is so delicious!

 White Beans and Ham Soup. I use great northern dried beans for this hearty dish.

 Asparagus, Ham and Fried Egg Stacks. So yummy and perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

 Red Beans and Rice. If your craving a little southern comfort, then look no further. Spice it up as much as you like.

 I love a good Western Omelet, made with ham or bacon. Perfect for anytime of day.

 Green Beans and New Potatoes. Of course this dish is best with garden beans, but I froze my ham bone to use for the season's first green beans. Don't ever throw out your ham bone! Just wrap it in plastic wrap, then in heavy foil or put it in a freezer bag. Date it and freeze to use in green beans, or soup. It will last several months in the freezer.

 

And this is a tree, not food. I was outside today and it is so beautiful that I had to take some pictures. It is 70 plus degrees and gorgeous! Our trees are beginning to bloom. Spring just may have arrived, for a few days anyway.

I hope you all have had a fantastic Easter and hopefully you've  found some good ham recipes. Love to my readers!

 

 

 



Scalloped Potatoes and Ham

I've always loved using leftover ham in scalloped potatoes for a delicious, hearty casserole. I had 2 cups of ham pieces leftover from my Easter ham, so this casserole was born today. It was creamy and cheesy and had chunks of ham scattered throughout it. Potatoes are either sliced with a mandolin, or very thinly sliced by hand with a sharp knife. The only change I will make next time is too add more milk for just a bit more sauce, a change I added to the recipe. Other than that, this was a very tasty dish. Got Leftover ham? Give this a try.

Scalloped Potatoes and Ham
From Lynda's Recipe Box
I used unpeeled Yukon Gold potatoes. When I use russets, I always peel them because they have a thicker peel.

2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, or russet potatoes
2 cups diced ham
1 cup heavy cream
1 1/2 cups milk-I used 2%
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoon flour
1/2 onion, diced
1 1/2 cups shredded cheese- I used Colby/Jack
salt to taste
pepper, to taste

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Since I used Yukon Gold potatoes, I left the peels on. If using russets, they need to be peeled. So, slice all the potatoes, using a mandolin or a knife. In a 12 inch skillet, melt the butter and add in the diced onion. Saute the onion for about 2 minutes, then sprinkle in the flour. Stir and cook for about 1 minute. Pour the milk into the skillet and stir until the mixture begins to thicken. Add in the ham, and heat one minute. Add the cream, and also the potatoes. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper if needed. Butter a 9x13 inch baking dish. Pour half of the potato mixture into the baking dish. Sprinkle with half the cheese. Top with remainder of the potato and cream mixture. Top with the remaining cheese. Cover dish well with aluminum foil. Bake for 50 minutes covered. Then, uncover the pan and bake for another 10-15 minutes until cheese is bubbly and potatoes are done. Remove from oven and enjoy!

What to do with those Thanksgiving turkey leftovers!

Got Turkey? Make a delicious Pot Pie. You can't go wrong with this classic dish.

Or how about Turkey Tetrazzini? This casserole is great with leftover turkey, or even chicken.

Use turkey, instead of chicken, in these yummy Enchiladas with Sour Cream Sauce.

These are just a few ideas to use up your Thanksgiving bird. Have a wonderful weekend my friends!

Mashed Potato Cakes (what to do with those leftover mashed potatoes)

Yes, I made mashed potatoes this week. I am still baby sitting with my adorable granddaughter and she loves mashed potatoes. I had quite a few left over so I did what my mother used to do when my brother and I were little -I made Mashed Potato Cakes. We absolutely loved them. She always browned them in butter, so they were crispy on the outside. Good stuff! This is not really a recipe, but a quick and delicious way to use up those left-over mashed potatoes. These cakes are made with cold potatoes that are already well seasoned. It does not work well if you added too much liquid to the potatoes when you first mashed them and they were rather soupy. You need mashed potatoes that hold their shape well. I sometimes add an egg to the potatoes and maybe some fresh chives, before I make the patties. The egg helps hold them together better, I think. Here's how I make them.

MASHED POTATO CAKES
from Lynda's Recipe Box

In a large bowl, add the cold, left over mashed potatoes-I had about 3 1/2 cups.
Add 1 egg and some fresh chives, if desired. Mix well with a fork. Make potatoes into small patties about an inch thick, and no wider than the spatula you are going to use. Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add enough oil to just cover the bottom of the pan. Add 1 tablespoon of butter to the pan also. When the oil is hot and butter is melted, place the potato cakes into the pan. Let them cook until brown, then carefully turn them over to brown on the other side. Do not flip them again as they can fall apart with too much handling. When brown on the other side, remove them to a platter. Serve hot. They are a delicious side dish to any meat; crisp and buttery on the outside and soft mashed potatoes on the inside. And you have used your leftovers to make another tasty dish.
Enjoy!

Here's my granddaughter at her birthday party earlier this week. She's loving the bags that the gifts came in, while her mother looks at the actual gifts. What fun it was! She looked so cute in her little Tutu that she wore, but it was falling down in this shot.

Have a great week!