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3 Ways To Cook Up Leftover Ham in the Slow Cooker

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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Categories
Recipes

Broccoli Slaw Salad

Broccoli slaw is one of the latest “health” tends to be added to the salad aisle of your grocery store. Basically, it is the stems of broccoli — that part no one really wants to eat — julienned or shredded into more easily consumable pieces. Often, the broccoli is mixed in with shredded carrots, as well. Some people like to saute broccoli slaw, while others turn it into an interesting and high-fiber salad.

broccoli slaw
Photo by torbakhopper via Flickr (CC BY 2.0) – cropped

Ingredients

Salad

  • 1 bag of broccoli slaw (you can find this in your produce section)
  • 1/2 onion, chopped
  • 8 slices bacon, cooked crisp
  • Optional: 1/2 C chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, almonds, pistachios) and/or 3/4 C dried cranberries
  • Optional: 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

Dressing

  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice or apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Directions for Broccoli Slaw Salad

  1. Add dressing ingredients to a large bowl and mix together well.
  2. Add salad ingredients and stir well, making sure to coat everything evenly.
  3. Refrigerate for at least an hour to allow the flavors to meld together and enjoy!

Variations

  • Don’t want to add sugar? Use Splenda or stevia to taste.
  • Toss in some poppy or chia seeds for texture.
  • Use ranch dressing instead of the dressing recipe above.

 

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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Categories
Recipes

How To Cook the Perfect Easter Ham in the Slow Cooker

Are you serving Easter ham this year? One of the hardest things about cooking for a big gathering around the holidays – including Easter – is the logistics of figuring out what needs to go in the oven when. You don’t want the biscuits getting cold while the ham is still baking. I’ve been known to gather all my recipes and chart my cooking times all out — and still not get the timing right!

There just never seems to be enough time or space to bake the turkey, ham, casseroles, side dishes, pies and rolls to perfection and have it all hot and ready at the same time. That’s where your slow cooker can come to the rescue. This Easter, cook your ham in this handy kitchen gadget and free up hours of valuable oven time.

Easter ham

Step One: Choose Your Largest Slow Cooker

To begin with, get out your largest slow cooker. Ideally, you want one that holds at least six quarts. The size of the Easter ham you’re able to cook depends on the size of your slow cooker. Since these handy kitchen appliances aren’t terribly expensive, it may well be worth investing in a larger model if your current slow cooker is too small to hold a good-sized Easter ham.


Step Two: Choose Your Easter Ham

Choose a fully cooked ham that you think will fit in your slow cooker. It’s fine if it’s a bit of a close fit. You can even get away without the lid closing all the way. When that happens after you put your ham into the slow cooker, grab some heavy duty aluminum foil and make a tent over your slow cooker instead of the lid. Be sure to seal everything well around the rim to prevent too much heat and moisture from escaping.

Note: For easy clean-up, you may want to spray the inside of your crock with non-stick cooking spray before you add the ham. There is no need to add water or any type of cooking liquid.

Step Three: Set it and Forget It

Cook the ham on low for six to eight hours, or on high for four to five hours, or until your entire ham is heated throughout. You can use a whole ham or a spiral sliced one for this cooking method.

If you prefer the outside to be a little browned, heat the ham and then carefully transfer it to a baking dish. Broil the ham for a few minutes until it develops a nice lightly browned crust. Keep an eye on it carefully. When broiling, you can go from perfectly cooked to burnt in less than a minute.

Variations on Ham

Of course, you’re not limited to a plain ham with this recipe.

  • If you prefer a glazed ham, cook up a batch of your favorite glaze and pour it over the ham as you start to cook it in the slow cooker. Baste the meat every hour or two with the glaze and again before broiling, for best results.
  • If you want to reduce the saltiness, try basting the ham with 7-Up.
  • For a more traditional spiciness, poke some whole cloves along the top of the ham.
  • Rub the ham with honey or brown sugar for a sweeter take.

 

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

Buy it now

Categories
Recipes

Slow Cooker Mac-n-Cheese

Who doesn’t like mac-n-cheese? This simple dish of macaroni and cheese sauce has become a crowd pleaser — especially if you have kids — at many an Easter meal. Below is a simple, creamy version you can make in your slow cooker, along with some variations I like to do to mix things up and possibly even “adult-ify” this mainstay.

mac-n-cheese

Ingredients

  • 12 oz macaroni, shells, spirals or your favorite pasta
  • 3-4 cups shredded cheddar
  • 8 oz cream cheese
  • 4 cups milk
  • 1 can evaporated milk
  • salt,pepper & nutmeg to taste

Directions for Mac-n-Cheese

  1. Add all the ingredients to your crock pot and cook on low for 2 hours or until the pasta is done.

Variations

  • Need to lower the glycemic index so someone with diabetes can eat it? Choose whole-grain or protein-enriched pasta. Or, increase the protein of the dish by adding in some meat, as suggested below.
  • Add in sliced sausage, hot dogs or Vienna sausage.
  • Drop the nutmeg and add in mustard instead.
  • Toss in some cooked meat balls.
  • Add in some chopped garlic and fresh basil for a pesto-inspired version of mac-n-cheese.

 

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

Buy it now

Categories
Recipes

Slow Cooker Brussels Sprouts

I’ll admit it — I’ve never been a fan of Brussels sprouts. When I was in college, I remember driving by fields of them around Central California and thinking to myself, “Are there really that many people who like Brussels sprouts?”

Well, apparently there are. And, recently I tried a dish that featured this tiny cousin of the cabbage that I actually liked! Below is not that recipe, but it looks good. Frankly, it had me at bacon.

brussels sprouts

Ingredients

  • 1 pound fresh Brussels sprouts
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tsp balsamic vinegar, lemon juice or rice vinegar (to give it a kick)
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 8 slices of bacon, cooked crisp

Directions for Slow Cooker Brussels sprouts

  1. Wash and cut your Brussels sprouts, removing the end and slicing in half lengthwise.
  2. Add them to your slow cooker along with the remaining ingredients, reserving half of the bacon for topping.
  3. Cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-6.

Variations and Notes

  • Use fresh Brussels sprouts — frozen can get too bitter in the slow cooker.
  • Add in some cloves of garlic for extra oomph.

 

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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Categories
Recipes

Slow Cooker Baked Sweet Potatoes

Your slow cooker can act as an additional oven, baking foods such as these sweet potatoes.

sweet potatoes

Ingredients

  • 3-5 sweet potatoes, scrubbed

Directions for Slow Cooker Baked Sweet Potatoes

  1. Wrap each sweet potato in aluminum foil and put into the slow cooker. You can stack them but try not to over stuff your crock.
  2. Cook on low for 7-8 hours or until your sweet potatoes are fork tender.

Serving Suggestions

Sweet potatoes can go sweet or savory, so why not let your guests decide how they’d like them and create a sweet potato bar? Here are some suggestions for toppings you can include:

[one_half] Sweets

  • Cinnamon
  • Sugar
  • Chocolate chips
  • Whipped cream
  • Brown sugar
  • Pecans
  • Orange marmelade
  • Honey
  • Molasses
  • Whipped butter

[/one_half]
[one_half_last] Savories

  • Sour cream
  • Ricotta cheese
  • Goat cheese
  • Shredded cheddar
  • Chopped green onions
  • Sliced olives
  • Bacon crumbles
  • Chopped tomoato
  • Chopped cilantro
  • Satay sauce

[/one_half_last]


 

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

Buy it now

Categories
Recipes

Slow Cooker Whipped Potatoes

Getting your Easter whipped potatoes just right doesn’t need to be a chore. Pop them into the slow cooker and they’ll be ready to whip in about two hours — no need to worry about burning them!

whipped potatoes

Ingredients

  • 2-3 lbs. of your favorite potatoes, cubed
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 3 Tablespoons butter
  • salt & pepper

Directions for Whipped Potatoes

  1. Add the cubed potatoes to the slow cooker and cook on high for 2 hours (or until soft).
  2. Once potatoes are soft and cooked through add the remaining ingredients to the slow cooker. Hand mash or whip with a hand mixer for a creamier consistency.

Variations

  • Add a package of ranch dressing mix for Ranch Style Whipped Potatoes.
  • Add some garlic cloves to cook with the potatoes for Garlic Whipped Potatoes.
  • Add some pesto sauce for Pesto Whipped Potatoes.

 

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

Buy it now

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