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Easter dinner ideas

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pork be inspired

What is on your Easter menu? Each year we have ham. I love it! We might be a little less traditional than most families with our menu though. It’s just us so no need to get too fancy. This year we are having thyme-basted ham with roasted grapes, asparagus, a seven layer salad, and yeast rolls. As I typed that my stomach growled a bit. Let’s start with the star of our Easter lunch – the ham. I normally buy a larger ham than needed because my family loves it as much as I do. We will use the leftovers every day the following week making sandwiches, quiches, and ham & cheese tater tot casserole. Let’s get back to the Easter dinner planned for this year. I will be using one of the many delicious recipes I have found on the Pork Be Inspired website I visit frequently. I will adjust this recipe for the larger ham I will purchase.

Thyme-Basted Ham with Roasted Grapes

Easter dinner ideas


 Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 2 to 2 1/2 hours

Ingredients:
6 to 8 pound cooked bone-in ham, trimmed
Pepper
1/2 cup grape jelly
4 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/2 stick), cut into 4 to 6 pieces
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
3 cups whole grapes, red, green, or a combination
4 shallots, halved lengthwise and cut into 1/4-inch slices

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Position rack in lower third of oven.

Place the ham flat side down in a large shallow roasting pan and score a diamond pattern about 1/8-inch deep into any fat. Season with pepper and bake for 1 1/2 hours.

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the jelly, butter, and thyme, whisking occasionally until the jelly and butter melt together and the mixture comes to a gentle boil, 1 to 2 minutes. Cover and set aside. In a medium bowl, combine the grapes and shallots. Set aside.

Baste the ham with the jelly mixture. Continue baking, basting with the jelly mixture and/or pan juices about every 15 minutes. When the internal ham temperature reaches 120 degrees F, add the grapes and shallots to the roasting pan, stirring to coat with the pan juices. Continue baking and basting until internal temperature reaches 140 degrees F, 15 to 18 minutes per pound total cooking time. Remove the ham from the oven, transfer to a cutting board, and let rest 15 to 30 minutes. (If the grapes and shallots aren’t tender yet, return the roasting pan to the oven.)

Slice enough ham to serve and arrange on plates or a platter. Season the roasted grape, shallot, and pan juice mixture with pepper and spoon some on top of the ham. Serve the remaining grape mixture on the side.

Serves 15-20 (4-ounce servings)

Serving Suggestions:
Enjoy this amazingly delicious – and amazingly easy – ham with roasted potatoes, fresh peas, or steamed asparagus. Vary the recipe by using currant or apple jelly or orange marmalade instead of the grape jelly, and chopped fresh rosemary or sage instead of the thyme. You can also use 2 teaspoons dried thyme instead of fresh. If you’re cooking for a smaller crowd, adapt the recipe using ham steaks, brushed with a smaller amount of the jelly basting mixture, and heated in the oven with grapes and shallots.

Nutrition per serving
Calories: 280 Fat: 11g Saturated Fat: 4.5g
Cholesterol: 105mg Sodium: 2040mg Carbohydrate: 14g
Protein: 33g Fiber: 0

Roasted Asparagus:

Easter dinner ideas

Ingredients:
*about* 1 pound asparagus
olive oil
grated parmesan cheese
sea salt
pepper

Preheat oven to 425
Arrange asparagus on baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Turn the spears over to get the other side as well. Sprinkle the parmesan cheese, add as much salt & pepper as you like and bake for about 15 minutes. Easy and so delicious!

Seven Layer Salad – it’s make ahead but we love this so much!

hard boiled eggs



Ingredients:
1 pound GOOD bacon. So important!
1 large head iceberg lettuce – rinsed, dried, and chopped
1 red onion, chopped
1 package frozen green peas – I generally use enough to cover but you can go heavy or light with these depending on taste
3 cups Shredded Cheddar cheese – we like a lot!
2 cups mayonnaise
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 dozen boiled eggs. Shelled and sliced.

If you haven’t already boiled your eggs you can do that now. Put them in the fridge until tomorrow when you serve the salad. I usually wait until the day of to fry up my bacon as well so it is nice and fresh. Assemble the chopped lettuce in either a truffle bowl, upside down cake plate, or like I sometimes do a 13×9. Presentation isn’t there but it sure does work in a pinch. Layer the onion, peas, and cheese. Mix together the mayonnaise and sugar and spread it on top.

Day of: Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top of mayonnaise mixture. Fry bacon & crumble. Layer on top of parmesan cheese. Slice up the eggs and arrange them nicely on top. This is the time I have to cover it up otherwise my husband would eat.it.all.up before dinner.

There it is! Sound good? If you are ever stumped for ideas on what to do with all your Easter ham leftovers or how to prepare your pork product you need to check out the Pork Be Inspired website. There is a Parmesan, Bacon, Rice and Summer Squash Casserole that would put smiles on all of our faces it looks so good! For your Easter ham leftovers try a Anytime Ham and Cheese Frittata or maybe a California Club Ham Sandwich (YUM!!) is more your taste. Regardless there is so much to choose from. The Pork Be Inspired website has sections to aid with cuts and cooking methods. A section that is all about the nutritional values. Even a Recipe Box of your very own to store those delicious recipes so that you can make them over and over again.

No purchase necessary. Open to residents of US only. Giveaway ends April 3rd at 9:00 p.m. (PST).  ONE ENTRANT PER HOUSEHOLD/IP Address! I check all entries – cheating will not be tolerated.  Winner will be notified via email and needs to reply within 48 hours, or a new winner will be chosen. Please make sure you check your spam folder – I will not be responsible if you did not receive winning email notification. Winners name(s) will also be posted on Winners List immediately after drawing has occurred. Winners will be chosen using the “And the Winner is” plugin.  Screenshots of winners available by request.  Prize will be shipped directly from sponsor or their PR Agency unless otherwise noted. **By entering this giveaway, you confirm that you have read and agree to my giveaway rules. Sponsor reserves the right to limit one prize per person/household (of this item/prize pack). Please allow 6-8 weeks for deliver of prize {though it is usually much sooner}. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. We hereby release Facebook of any liability. Odds of winning: The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. All prizes will be awarded. Void where prohibited by law.

Please see Eighty MPH Mom giveaway rules for further information.

*Jessie received a coupon for a free ham for writing this post.

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Comments

  1. My favorite is with brown sugar and pineapples on it so kinda glazed and slowly roasted to perfection.

  13. My favorite way to cook ham is to use a cherry glaze- so good. There is a cranberry glaze that super good too but hubby prefers the cherry type.

    BTW your 7 layer salad sounds yummy!

  25. My favorite is to make a glaze of brown sugar, mustard and pineapple.
    crochet4hats[at]gmail[dot]com

  73. I like it when someone who knows how to cook makes ham…especially with pineapple and cherries.

  78. I love ham sandwiches and I also have an awesome way to cook a pre-cooked ham. A butcher once said to cover it with foil and bake on a low setting (200-250 degrees) for 5-7 hours…it is delicious!

  89. I love to bake ham in the oven an serve with mashed potatoes ,corn rolls

    vlbelk(at)Hotmail.com

  105. I haven’t cooked ham that much, but it would have to be with a brown sugar glaze.
    magickalblessings26{at}gmail.com

  117. I follow Alton Brown’s recipe for City Ham: combination of mustard, gingersnap cookie-crumb crust (we skip the bourbon spritz). Delish

  126. I like to cook ham with a mustard and brown sugar glaze…and pineapples.
    Thanks!
    jackievillano at gmail dot com

  134. REQUIRED ENTRY: Tell me in a comment what your favorite way is to cook ham.

    in a frying pan to make sure its done

  135. If you like Pork Be Inspired on Facebook or @AllAboutPork on Twitter- 1 entry each

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  136. If you like Pork Be Inspired on Facebook or @AllAboutPork on Twitter- 1 entry each

    @kelsweeps twitter

  137. Fan Eighty MPH Mom on Facebook (leave your name or first initial and last name) – 1 entry

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  139. Follow Jessie (The Lucas Zoo) on Twitter, like The Lucas Zoo on Facebook, Pinterest, and/or Google Friend Connect – 1 entry each

    @kelsweeps

  140. My favorite way to cook ham is to bake it! I love honey spiral ham with no pineapples 🙂

  229. Ham Wellington – but isn’t everything better with puff pastry?

    ky2here at msn dot com

  234. Last year i put the ham in a big dish and covered it in coke a day before cooking, made it so sweet and tasty

  235. Once I made a ham in my slow cooker and it was amazing! You have to buy a uncooked ham packed in water which was very difficult to find. But if you do it’s so easy and I’ve never made anything more delicious.

  244. I love a good ham warmed on the grill! The outside gets crispy while the inside is juicy! Delish!

  256. I like it in pineapple juice cooked down in the crockpot
    vmkids3 at msn dot com

  260. My husband’s father was a baker and he would take the ham to the bakery , cover it with bread dough and put it in the oven and when he went home the ham was ready. So this is a tradition we have continued . No not at a bakery but at home. We use thawed frozen bread dough. the ham is always moist and flavorful.

  265. My favorite really is to fry a slice for breakfast. If I bake a ham, it’s just plain, no sugar or fruit because I do not like any meats sweetened in any way.

  284. I bake my ham in the oven and about 20 minutes before it is done, I brush a light coating of maple syrup on it. Thank you for the chance to win!

    kdones (at) optonline (dot) net

  285. I am an email subscriber. Thank you for the chance to win!

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  305. Our fav way with ham??? Slices, then fry in butter… oh my gosh.. nothing much is better

  335. Love to make Brown Sugar basted ham and serve it with whole cranberry sauce! Ok now I am hungry!

  336. I LOVE TO GLAZE AND BAKE OUR HAM AND THEN USE LEFTOVERS FOR OMLETS, SCALLOPED POTATOES, OR CREAMY HAM AND POTATO SOUP.

  341. I like to bake it and glaze it with honey, pineapple and apples.
    lauraemerson17 sat yahoo dot com

  342. I like Pork Be Inspired on Facebook.
    Laurie Emerson
    lauraemerson17 sat yahoo dot com

  343. I like All About Pork on twitter.
    laurallee56
    lauraemerson17 sat yahoo dot com

  350. We are traditional in that we like making a brown sugar glaze using pineapple juice then laying the pineapple rings on top as it cooks.

  351. Um, in the oven. I usually (always) let someone else cook it. I do cook, just have not done the whole thing on my own. I’ll put it in or take it out if a note is left for me 😉

  376. My husband marinates our in a special marinade he makes that includes raspberry peach juice, but I don’t know the rest. Then he grills it..it is omg sweet and good!

  397. i like a boneless ham cooked in crock pot with a can of crushed pineapple or pineapple rings easy

  405. I like to put mine in my roaster and put it on a low heat to cook all day. During the last hour I add a honey spiced glaze and it comes out tender and delicious every time!

  408. I like to bake ham with a bit of brown sugar, cinnamon and pineapple. 🙂 Thank you.

  430. I love a honey, brown sugar crusted baked ham. We’re having one for Easter. And, I might also try your salad recipe in this post – sounds yummy.

  434. My favorite is low and slow cooking w/pineapple and a honey glaze.
    michedt at yahoo . com

  438. Follow Jessie (The Lucas Zoo) on Pinterest
    Michelle tucker (michedt)
    michedt at yahoo dot com

  439. Follow Jessie (The Lucas Zoo) publicly via GFC, Michelle Tucker (the pic w/the frog)
    michedt at yahoo . com

  444. Gordon Ramsey has a recipe for his ham that I follow. It’s so good that I never want to make a ham any other way.

  445. I love to pop it in the smoker for a few hours. There is nothing better than smoked pig. Yummy!

    ezmerelda at mail dot com

  447. I like to bake mine with cloves and just before it’s done, brush it with the cherry ham glaze, Thanks for the contest!

  448. My favorite way to cook ham is to bake it with a glaze of cola, brown sugar , and mustard.

  462. I don’t recall EVER cooking a ham–that’s why I need to win this $30 to BUY a ham 🙂
    yeloechikee at hotmail dot com

  466. I like baked ham with a mustard and brown sugar glaze.
    jtmagmom73(at)gmail(dot)com

  469. I’m a facebook fan of Eighty MPH Mom under username Jennie Tilson.
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  470. I’m a facebook fan of Pork Be Inspired under username Jennie Tilson.
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  471. I’m a facebook fan of The Lucas Zoo under username Jennie Tilson.
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  472. I follow The Lucas Zoo through Google Friend Connect.
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