Spinach and Ham Strata

This smells so good while it's baking. We made it for dinner, using up leftover Christmas dinner ham the first time I made it. The sourdough bread is a must to make this recipe really stand out!

1 large loaf fresh sourdough bread, cut into 1" chunks

1 glug of oil (I use canola)

1 pkg (10oz) frozen spinach, thawed and drained very well

1/2 onion, finely chopped

1 red bell pepper, finely chopped

1+ cup ham, cut into small bite size pieces

7 eggs

2 1/2 cups milk

2 handfuls Italian mix shredded cheese (parmesan & mozarella mix)

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

2 shakes of ground nutmeg

In a saute pan, add oil, red bell pepper and onion. Cook until just tender. Add spinach and ham and cook for about 3 minutes on med-high heat. Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Then whisk in milk. Set aside.

In another very large bowl, combine bread chunks with the spinach/ham mixture with 1 handful of cheese. Spread mixture into a 9x13 baking dish.

Pour egg mixture evenly ontop of bread/spinach in pan. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top.

Bake at 350F degrees for 45-55 minutes or until set. YUMMY!

Breakfast Vegetables

This recipe comes from Trevor's family. He taught me how to make it when we were newlyweds. This dish is something his dad would make and it brings back sweet memories every time we make it.

2 zucchini, thinly sliced

2 summer squash, thinly sliced

1/2 medium onion, finely chopped

3 slices Ham, fully cooked

1-2 glugs oil

In a large skillet, add oil and vegetables. Cook for 10 minutes or until tender on medium high heat. Add ham, and cook 3 for min or until hot. Salt and pepper to taste!

Yields 3-4 cups.

Spinach and Ham Quiche

2 Frozen Pie Crusts OR Refridgerated pie crusts by Pillsbury (not the tube kind)
6 large eggs
1 pkg frozen chopped spinach*
8 oz. chopped Ham (or 6 slices cooked bacon, chopped)
1 ½ cup milk
1 tsp. Salt
¼ tsp. Pepper
Pinch of Nutmeg


Preheat oven 350 F. Unwrap spinach package. Thaw out spinach quickly by microwaving it on a plate for 2-3 minutes. Drain spinach into a strainer and really try to get as much liquid drained as possible.


In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Then whisk the milk into eggs. Place spinach into pie crusts by little fingerful amounts spread evenly inside crust (just however much you want). Add ham to each of the pie crusts. Pour equal amounts of egg mixture into pie crusts.


Bake the quiche until top is lightly browned and the filling is set when you give the dish a gentle shake, about 40-45 minutes.

Yield: (2) 9" Quiche
*Spinach is optional, but you can't really taste it in this dish.

**Even Brynlee, our egg hater, loves this dish!

Scalloped Potatoes and Ham

4-5 russett potatoes

1/2 onion

2 cans (10.5oz) cream of chicken

1-2 cups cheddar cheese (or Mexican blend cheese)

1/2 pkg of cooked Ham

Cut potatoes into thin slices (thicker slices take longer to cook) and place into a large bowl. Slice Ham into small chunks approx. 1 inch and add to the bowl. Next, add chopped onion to the bowl. Add cream of chicken and mix well.

Transfer the potato mixture to a 9x13 pan. Sprinkle with cheese and bake uncovered at 350F for 40-45 minutes.

**For quicker potato slicing, I use a mandoline. So easy!

Comforting Potato & Ham Soup

This is truely a "warm you up" or "cuddle with someone you love" soup. You can be very approximate with the veggies, adding more or less depending on what you have in stock or love to eat.

Potato & Ham Soup3 cups diced potatoes (you can peel them if you want, but I leave the peel on for more vitamins)
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup chopped celery
1 onion
1 1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)
1 cup Ham, fully cooked, chopped into small bite size pieces
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
2 cups milk
1-2 cups mozarella or cheddar cheese

In a large saucepan, combine first 6 ingredients. Add water into the pan until it just barely becomes level with the veggies. Bring to a boil. Cover with a lid and reduce to simmer, stirring occasionally until tender.

Meanwhile, add butter to a large saucepan and melt over med-high heat. Stir/whisk in flour until smooth. The flour mixture will start to bubble. Slowly add the milk, about 1/4 cup at a time. Whisk each addition of milk into the the flour until smooth and becomes thicker from bubbling. Stir in cheese until melted. Add to the soup and stir until completely incorporated.

*This tastes great with corn bread or with some homemade bread! We usually add pepper to our individual bowls since the girl's don't like things too spicy.