The Forgotten Ham

Every year at Easter, ham takes the spotlight. A traditional slow roasted smoked ham with brown sugar glaze was my family’s favorite. Yet what about the “forgotten ham” – the uncured, fresh ham? Pick out a fresh picnic ham (shoulder roast) and you’ve got a delicious alternative for the holidays.

Comfort Food: Tomato Dill Soup

This recipe is modified from a soup made by the Ovens of Brittany in a small cafe on a busy business thoroughfare in Madison WI. For nearly five years, I ate this soup at least once a week; it’s still my very favorite tomato soup.

Noodles: Like Mama Used to Make

Why would I make noodles when I can pop into my neighborhood grocery and get them for less than $2 a pound? And that question has a logical answer: Because if I make them, they are fresh, and I know exactly what goes into them.

Ina’s Unmeatloaf

Unmeatloaf is a “mileage” food for sure (when something takes a little longer to prepare but you can freeze some for later use). It’s not hard to make, but there are a few steps involved. I think you could add whatever vegetables you wanted into the saute, just as if it were your own “meatloaf” recipe. Feel free to experiment. It feels great to have this in the freezer for that weeknight home cooked meal.

Sourdough Crackers – Easy and Versatile

We’ve been slowly moving away from any processed foods in our household, and crackers have been a holdout. I never could seem to get something that was crisp enough and with enough flavor. These are yummy, crispy, and soooo easy to make with real ingredients!

Meatless Monday: Cauliflower Croquettes

These croquettes are tasty. They are made with millet and short grain brown rice, which together, create a chewy binding for the vegetables. If you only use one grain, I suggest trying the millet, especially if you’ve not tasted it before. The addition of red pepper adds beautiful flecks of color throughout the croquette.