April 12, 2017

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One of the best things about cooking up a holiday ham is the leftovers. There are the obvious candidates like ham sandwiches or ham and eggs for breakfast the next day. But it doesn’t stop there. Since you already have your slow cooker out for cooking the ham in the first place, let’s talk about some yummy ways to cook up delicious dinners for the next few days. Or freeze the leftover ham slices and use them to cook up these leftover ham slow cooker recipes on a busy weeknight down the road.

leftover ham
Photo by Mack Male via Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Slow Cooker Leftover Ham and Potato Casserole

This makes a hearty weeknight dinner and is a great way to use leftover slices of holiday ham. The recipe calls for 6 thick slices, but use up whatever you have left.

Ingredients

  • 6 thick slices of leftover ham
  • 8 potatoes, scrubbed and sliced
  • 1 small onion, sliced
  • 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
  • 2 cans cream of mushroom soup

Directions for Leftover Ham and Potato Casserole

  1. Layer 1/3 of the ham in the slow cooker, followed by 1/3 of the potatoes, 1/3 of the onions, and 1/3 of the cheese. Repeat twice more.
  2. Pour the undiluted soup over everything and cook on low for 7 hours.

Split Pea and Bean Soup

The key to good, old-fashioned split pea soup is to cook it slow and to cook it with ham. This is a great recipe for all those little bits and pieces of leftover ham from the holidays.

Ingredients

  • 2 (12oz) pkgs dry split peas, rinsed and sorted
  • 1 pound leftover ham, diced
  • 1 lb carrots, peeled and finely diced
  • 1 onion, finely diced
  • salt and pepper to taste

Directions for Split Pea and Bean Soup

  1. Pour everything into your slow cooker and cover with water.
  2. Cook on low for six to eight hours, stirring occasionally. Add more water as needed to get the consistency you like for your soup.
  3. Season with more salt and pepper to taste before serving.

Leftover Ham and Beans in the Slow Cooker

Let’s wrap this up with another frugal family favorite – ham and beans. The ham bone in this recipe is optional but adds lots of flavor. And don’t worry too much about the amount of ham to add. If all you have left over is 1/2 a cup or just a few bits and pieces, add those.

You can make this recipe with any type of dried beans. Both pinto and northern beans work very well. If you don’t have a ham bone to add, consider throwing in a bouillon cube in for added flavor.

Ingredients

  • 16 oz. dried beans
  • 1 cup leftover ham
  • 1 ham bone
  • 2 tbsp. dried onion (or 1/4 cup fresh onion)
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
  • salt and pepper to taste

Directions for Ham and Beans

  1. Sort and rinse your beans.
  2. Put everything into the slow cooker and add enough water so the level is an inch or two above the beans.
  3. Cook the beans on high for two hours, then switch your slow cooker to low and cook an additional four hours or until your beans are tender and ready to eat.
  4. Remove the bone before serving./li>

These beans are great with a homemade cornbread on the side.


 

Planning an Easter Meal at Home?

Easy Easter at HomeMake it a relaxing, easy event with the tips, suggestions and recipes included in Easy Easter at Home, Carma’s Cookery’s latest report. Take a sneak peak at the Table of Contents, then grab a copy of your own!

  1. Introduction
  2. Planning Ahead: Easter Activities & Decorations
  3. Hosting Easter Without the Stress
  4. Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch or Dinner?
  5. Share The Joy – You Don’t Have To Do Everything Yourself
  6. It’s Not Just About the Easter Bunny – A Short History of Easter
  7. Getting Creative with Leftovers
  8. Closing Words
  9. Recipes
  10. Crafting Ideas

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About the Author

Carma Spence has been experimenting in the kitchen since she was four years old and loves trying out new recipe ideas. She is the author of Bonkers for Bundt Cakes and Your Perfect Pie, as well as author and contributor to several more non-food-related books. With Carma's Cookery, she is taking her passion for empowering people and blending it with her passion for cooking, gift-giving and entertaining.

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