Ham and Bean Bake

 I saw this recipe on the Internet and couldn't wait to try it.  It did not disappoint.  It was really delicious.  It tasted kind of like funeral potatoes, but instead of potatoes, it has beans, so it is lower in carbs.  I've made it twice now in a month and will surely be making it again!

Ham and White Bean Bake

2 cans (15 oz each) white beans

1 can cream of chicken soup

2 cups sour cream

2 cups grated Mozzarella cheese

2 cups ham, cubed

 1 small onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp. thyme

1 T. olive oil

Kosher salt and ground pepper

Heat the oven to 350.  Grease a 2-quart casserole dish.

In a large skillet, heat oil over med. heat.  Add onion and cook until soft and transluscent.  It will take about 8 minutes.  Add the garlic and cook another couple of minutes.

Drain 1 can of beans and add to the skillet.  With a potato masher, mash up the beans until mostly smooth.  Add the other can of beans with the liquid.  Reduce heat and cook for 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and add soup, ham, sour cream, thyme, and half of the cheese.  Stir to combine and season with salt and pepper to taste.

 Put into the prepared casserole dish and top with the remaining cheese.  Bake until the mixture is hot and bubbly and the cheese is golden.  It should take about 40 minutes.  Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

Chicken Fettucine

 This is another great recipe from my sister, Joan.  I have changed it only slightly.

Chicken Fettuccine

1 lb. fresh fettucine

1/4 cup butter

1 cup cream or you can substitute evaporated milk

Chicken tenders or chicken breasts, cut up

1 box mushrooms, sliced

olive oil

Garlic

Parmesan cheese

Fresh Nutmeg

Salt and Pepper

Brown the chicken and garlic in the olive oil and some butter. Let cook until chicken is tender.  Remove from pan.  Boil the pasta until el dente.  Drain.  Melt the butter in the pan and add the mushrooms.  Cook until done, and whisk in the cream.  Heat.  Add the noodles, Parmesan, and nutmeg.  Whisk together.  Put the chicken on top or you can cut up the chicken and mix it in.  Serve with more Parmesan cheese.

Pork Tenderloin with Coconut Rice

 I got this delicious, crazy-good recipe from my sister, Joan.  She got it from our wonderful niece, Jodie.  You will want to try this one.

Pork Loin with Coconut Rice

2 pork tenderloins (2 come together in a package at Costco)

Rub:

2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 tsp. cumin

1 tsp. cinnamon

Mix together on a plate.

Coat the tenderloins all around in the spice mixture.  Heat oil in an heavy oven-safe pot (enameled cast iron is great).  Brown all sides of the pork.  Take off the heat and cover the meat with 1 cup brown sugar, 3-4 minced garlic cloves, and 1 Tablespoon Tabasco sauce.  Roast in a 375 oven for about 22 minutes.  Pork should be about 145 degrees when taken out.  It will heat to 155 as you let it sit.  Slice and serve with pan drippings and Coconut Rice.

Coconut Rice

1 1/2 cups rice

2 cups water

1 13-oz can coconut milk

1 cup sugar

Mix together in a rice cooker or on the stove.  Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and put a lid on.  Let cook until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.

Ham Roll-ups

 I have been making this recipe for many years.  I originally got it from my sister-in-law, Ada.  I have altered it a bit, but it's basically the same idea. It is easy and yummy.

Ham Roll-ups

12 nice, big slices of ham from the deli.  I have used Black Forest and Honey.  Both are good.

1 package Stove Top Stuffing

Chicken stock

1-2 ribs celery, chopped

1 onion, diced

2 cans cream of chicken soup

1 cup sour cream

Make the Stove Top according to directions, except substitute the water for chicken stock.  Add the vegetables in the stock and cook until done, then add the seasoned stuffing mix.  Let sit for several minutes, then fluff with fork.

Prepare a 13x9 pan by spraying with PAM

Roll 1/12 of the stuffing in each of the ham slices.  Put in the pan, seam side down- six rolls down each side of the pan. Mix together the soup and sour cream.  Spread the mixture over the rolled ham.  Bake at 350 until hot and bubbly- about 35-45 minutes.