Spiral sliced ham - what to do with it.

[cbayer]

I bought one on my last shopping trip and plan to open that baby up today.

It came with a packet of brown sugar sauce, so I thought I would bake it with that first.

What would you serve with that for the first meal?

What would you do with the leftovers?

[elleng]

1. Does it REQUIRE baking?

Probably not, in my experience.

DO with it? PARTY!

Dinner, lunch, breakfast, sandwiches, 'casseroles,' split pea soup!

[cbayer]

2. No, I think it just needs warming and glazing.

It's large and there are only two of us right now.

I've got some great cheeses and I am thinking sandwiches and quesadillas for sure. Need to see if I have any split peas and love the idea of soup.

[elleng]

5. I'd wait for the soup until bone is available,

so no need to run out for split peas!

When my family was together we had some large parties, and holiday meals of course; that's when we'd get one of these, and loved the leftovers for as long as possible.

[cbayer]

6. Good idea about the bone, and I can always freeze it, right?

[elleng]

7. Certainly freeze the bone!

DON'T clean it, just stick it in plastic bags w all the bits and pieces!

Holidays coming, and soup's GOOD!

Thanks for the ideas: I have odd logistical issues for Thanksgiving, so might get one of these. 2 daughters, don't speak with each other, one may or may not be near here on The Day, but I could use it for 2 'Almost Thanksgiving' dinners.

[cbayer]

8. So sorry to hear about the discord in your family.

We have all 4 kids coming in, one with her new husband and two with their loves. They almost never get a chance to be together.

Also, my mother, a niece and her assorted friends, my future in-laws and a couple of close friends.

Going to be a blast. Hope you get to see yours, together or not.

[elleng]

10. Sounds like you'll have a great one!

and thanks for your concern. Fortunately I do see both of my daughters, dog/cat/and fish-sat for younger one's animals a couple of weeks ago, and see older one around here or near Philly when possible.

[greatauntoftriplets]

16. Split pea soup is so good.

Make it with the bone!!

[cbayer]

17. I'm going to freeze the bone and it's bits for soup later and just

warm and glaze it tonight.

We can eat off it for a few days, then I will freeze what we don't eat.

It's been awhile since I had anything but those waterlogged ham steaks, so I'm pretty excited!

[greatauntoftriplets]

18. Sounds good.

Enjoy!

[pscot]

19. 2 people and a ham=eternity

[cbayer]

20. As I look at what we have left after eating our first meal, I am going to have to agree with you.

[Horse with no Name]

30. My Mother made a ham for the holiday one year

and eternity is correct. We ate ham all week and now, neither of my kids will eat ham. LOL

[TreasonousBastard]

3. The ham is the king of the meal so...

I wouldn't worry much about sides.

This being Fall, I'm big into winter squashes and roots like turnips with anything green to round it all out. I might avoid beets (except golden ones) Brussels sprouts, rutabagas and other very distinctive flavors that could overwhelm the ham.

Or, I might not-- maybe a strong vegetable that can stand up to the ham works. Kinda depends on the mood.

On edit...

Leftovers? Let your imagination free, but if there's any left by the time you're sick of it, you can freeze it.

[cbayer]

4. I've got some brussel sprouts and thought about an au gratin dish with them.

That tends to mellow them out a bit.

I also have a head of red cabbage. Slaw?

Freezing is a great idea. I have a big family reunion at Thanksgiving and could make sandwiches for all one day.

Thanks!

[KC]

21. I always like

having potato salad with it.

[pinto]

9. I like it diced and added to diced, browned Brussels sprouts, bell pepper, onion stuffed in

a baked potato. I scoop out a hole in the potato halves, stuff both, blend the extra potato with some butter and cheese and scoop on top. Run under a broil for a quick brown.

[cbayer]

12. Oh, yeah! That's what I am talking about.

Definitely putting that on the list for one of our meals off this. I even have everything I need.

[HappyMe]

11. You can dice up some of

the left overs and throw them in with scalloped or au gratin potatoes. I throw some cauliflower or string beans in also. Pretty good one dish meal.

[cbayer]

13. Loving the casserole ideas.

I've still got groceries, but they are getting more limited, so this is going to be a big problem solver.

Thanks!

[northoftheborder]

14. I always freeze the bone & leftover ham bits to cook with pinto beans later.

[cbayer]

15. Good idea. I'm going to start a freezer bag and just put waste bits in as I go.

Thanks!

[Le Taz Hot]

22. For our home,

the ham sort of takes care of itself -- can be used for any meal or snack. The big thing is that ham bone. My favorites are ham bone and lima beans, black-eyed peas, or greens such as collards, turnips, or swiss chard. (Can you tell I do a lot of Southern cooking? -- Healthy versions, of course.) And, of course, split pea soup.

For sides, I've always liked a homemade Au Grautin potato -- something about cheese just really goes well with ham.

[cbayer]

28. Ham and cheese - one of my favorite combinations. And better for me than bacon.

That is what is on the menu tonight - grilled ham and cheese with black bean soup.

Then I am either going to freeze the rest or proceed to making some soup and freeze some of that.

[noamnety]

23. Ham's great in omelets or quiches

and if you do that instead of adding it to potatoes, you can cram a lot of green veggies into the meal. I also like it diced into cole slaw or added to a giant tossed salad.

[cbayer]

27. And I am encouraging my husband to do so. I don't like eggs, so out for me.

[Major Nikon]

24. Here's how leftovers go with me

I'm very frugal when it comes to meat. I use everything. Even the bone goes into the bean pot. I love spiral sliced hams for entertaining when you don't know how many are going to come. You just prepare for the worst and chalk the rest up to leftovers. I can make leftover ham do just about anything. Well, except dessert, but I'm sure someone has.

In addition to the obvious stuff like sandwiches, omelets, quiche, etc., one of my favorite things to do with it is make ham pate. Just throw in some ham cubes in the food processor with some chopped shallots and cream cheese. Spread on a toasted baguette slice with a dollop of creme fraiche. Serve as an appetizer with champagne.

[cbayer]

25. That pate sounds great!

My mom used to make a ham salad when I was a kid and basically pureed the ham. I loved it, so I will definitely check this out.

Thanks!

[Major Nikon]

26. I make ham salad also

I love my food processor.

[Le Taz Hot]

29. Oh, yum

on the ham pate.

[grasswire]

31. have you ever made ham loaf?

It's my favorite thing to do with ham. With a brown sugar-vinegar glaze. Mmmmmmm.

[cbayer]

32. No, but will look at recipes today. I think I may be able to finish this puppy off and not have

to freeze any of it.